This Whiskey Wednesday with Brian, I will be toasting to: Old Grand-Dad Bonded = 100 Proof
“He has a profound respect for old age, especially when it’s bottled.”
– Gene Fowler
As we are knee deep in the holiday season, there are many things to look forward to while visiting friends and family. No, it’s not the cookies and conversations, it is the rare opportunity for them to clear out their liquor cabinets for everyone to enjoy their libations. If you are very lucky, you will discover a “dusty bottle”. A “dusty” bottle, is a bottle that has been left untouched and abandoned by its owners for many years. It has sat patiently waiting for the day when someone would come along to appreciate them and not take them for granted anymore!
Lucky for me, I found this bottle of Old Grand-Dad Bonded this year. Based on information I could find, I believe this bottle is from 1984. Which means this bottle of Old Grand-Dad was bottled by the National Distillers company who distilled in the 1960’s – 1990’s. National Distillers was acquired, along with it’s brands, by Jim Beam in 1987. Old Grand-Dad Bonded from National Distillers is sought after by many bourbon collectors while hunting “dusty” bottles across the country. National Distillers has a reputation for distilling high quality bourbon that is no longer available.
So what does Bonded mean? This label lets the drinker know that this beverage has aged and bottled according to a set of legal regulations contained in the US government’s Standards of Identity for Distilled Spirits, as originally laid out in the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897.
Now that we’ve had a little history lesson, let’s get to the Old Grand-Dad!
Smell: Rye, carmel and oak
Taste: Carmel, burnt sugars, rye with hints of spice
Finish: Long and smooth butterscotch with spicy notes & nostalgia.
I feel like I should be drinking this bourbon while watching an episode of Dallas or Miami Vice, while wearing a Michael Jackson red leather jacket, sequined glove and my first pair of Air Jordan’s while checking my Swatch watch for the time.
Old Grand-Dad is still sold today, but as I mentioned earlier, it is now coming from Jim Beam. The bottle looks the same, but the tastes are different. You can easily find a bottle of the new Old Grand-Dad today at your local store and most bars. Bottles are about $20 and is a good bottle to keep on hand to enjoy from time to time. If you prefer a higher proof whiskey, check out the Old Grand-Dad 114 as well.
What’s your best “dusty” bottle find?
Have you ever tried Old Grand-Dad from National Distillers?
Do you still wear a Michael Jackson red leather jack and sequined glove?
Let me know in the comments!