Old Grand-Dad 114

Maker: Jim Beam, Clermont, Kentucky, USA (Beam Inc)

Age: NAS

Style: High rye bourbon

Proof: 114 (57% ABV)

Appearance: Caramel, with thick legs and necklace around the rim of the glass

Nose: Alcohol, butterscotch, vanilla, toffee, coconut.

On the palate: Full bodied, fruity, and bold. Vanilla, caramel, cocoa, and then burn. Sweeter with water, but still aggressive. Tropical fruit, vanilla, toffee.

Finish: Hot and long with a bit of vanilla, then a hot tingle all over the mouth. Fades to toffee with a hint of char. With a bit of water, dark chocolate, caramel blondies.

Parting words: This is one of the best bargains in bourbon, arguably the best. Although I am a maverick in this respect, I prefer the current Beam-manufactured edition to when Old Grand-dad was made by the now-defunct National Distillers Corporation. The ND version had even more butterscotch flavor, but always struck me as a bit unbalanced.

My friend Joe describes OGD 114’s aroma and flavor as that of the burnt edges of a pan of brownies. I think he nails it. Not only is this stuff delicious, but around $30 a bottle for virtually barrel-proof bourbon is nearly impossible to beat for value. Old Grand-dad 114 is highly recommended.