Heaven Hill’s Old Fitzgerald bourbon has just released a 25th-anniversary edition, sending shockwaves through the whiskey community. As a collector’s item among serious whiskey fans, this limited release is expected to be highly sought after.
A highly sought-after bourbon
The Old Fitzgerald name dates back to 1884, when it was first legally registered. During Prohibition, the brand was acquired by the legendary Pappy Van Winkle, who turned it into a wheated bourbon by replacing some of the rye in the mashbill with wheat - a trait it shares with Pappy Van Winkle’s eponymous bourbon, produced at Buffalo Trace today.
After Heaven Hill acquired the Bernheim Distillery in 1999, the Old Fitz name became part of their portfolio. Since 2018, the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Decanter Series has been released twice a year, with only two VVS (Very Very Special) expressions in the first year and in 2020. Now, the VVS designation has returned with the launch of this new anniversary edition.
A highly anticipated release
The mashbill for this bourbon is the same as previous Old Fitzgerald releases and Heaven Hill’s Larceny brand: 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley. The liquid in the decanter came from 13-year-old barrels of whiskey distilled in September of 1999, the same year Heaven Hill acquired the brand, and was dumped in March of 2013. After 11 years of presumably being stored in stainless-steel vats, the bourbon was bottled in February of this year.
According to a press release, the barrels were tested in 2013, and the whiskey, deemed to be of very high quality, was set aside for a special release. The number 13 is actually lucky for Heaven Hill, since the distillery filled its first barrel on December 13, 1935.
A historic distillery
Official tasting notes from the brand describe cinnamon toast, nutmeg, allspice, and sweet oak on the nose, followed by honey, vanilla, and baking spices on the palate. The finish is said to be warm with notes of oak and gentle pepper.
“I’ve been waiting for years to get my hands on this bourbon,” a fellow whiskey enthusiast confessed to me. “I’m willing to do whatever it takes to add it to my collection.”
As a highly allocated release, this bourbon will be available exclusively at Kentucky retailers and the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience in Bardstown. The SRP for this bourbon is $230, although it’s likely to cost a whole lot more once it hits the secondary market, as it most certainly will do.
A sought-after collector’s item
If you’re looking to complete your collection, you can currently find other bourbons in the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Decanter Series at online retailers such as Flaviar.
