Old Fitzgerald 14 Year Bottled in Bond Bourbon (Fall 2020)

Just did the OF13 sample a couple days ago, so now it's time for OF14. I know this is great juice - I haven't had it, but I've heard so many things from friends I know it's magnificent. If this disappoints, I'm gonna blame the samples. Nose: Floral, herbacious, like a four roses, cinnamon, cotton candy, slight oak, leather, cherry, caramel, cola Palate: mmm that's tasty, initial sweetness, pepper spice, black liquorice, Finish: little drying on the finish, cola, tannins, brown sugar, nutty, getting more and more oak on the finish 75/100 - I'll pass. The nose is fantastic. But the palate seems kinda short/simple and the finish is kinda short, which has been my experience with Old Fitz. I'm not getting any of the bananas, bread, or vanilla I was expecting with this. I have an unopened bottle of this, but I'm not opening it after this tasting. I may ask a friend who is happy with his to share a pour, b/c this did not hit the spot at all and I'm actually disappointed. Knowing the rarity of this, the secondary pricing (or even the MSRP after this tasting) I'm gonna pass and just drink something else.

Really sweet vanilin coming in on the nose, some toasted almond, seems just a bit dusty as of very old oak. Amazingly pure and free of any ethanol notes for a 100 proof. The early front really springs the toasted oat/almond in a bursting sensation, following come middle sweet notes with a flash of sweet corn bread then burnt butter toast. This menage a troi of notes hangs on for the duration, you can get up walk out for a smoke and you will still have it as a reminder when you come back in. The sugars are a bit sparse comprised mostly of vanilla and feint caramel. I would be remiss not to mention the almost Bartons level of old oak mustiness trailing at the finish that reminds us this is indeed a well aged oak barrel product. All of that and an incredible smooth ending and the burnt almond butter cracker that lasts forever. Hard to get but well worth it.

Nose: malty bread, caramel, oak and a Whiff of caramel & vanilla Body: medium Palate: lot of oaky, ripe fruit, old banana, caramel, vanilla. Finish: medium to long but more like medium, nice old smoky banana dipped in vanilla. Really it’s good. Note: an ounce from don. A nice dram. Not amazing but good. 2/2/22: I was able to buy a bottle and I cracked it. I found I liked it a little more than my original assessment. Nose was still classic caramel, oak, vanilla. I do get some peanuts this time around. Body still medium. The palate is as above but their is late smoke that lingers into a nice long smokey finish which I really love. I was update the finish to long and more smokey than I recall. I’d update this to 4/5

Rich, spicy, and complex with notes of cloves, root beer, peaches, caramel, cola, butterscotch, apricots, vanilla, and maple syrup. Nose: Vanilla, Raspberries, Luxardo Cherries, White Chocolate, Peanuts, Apricots, Peaches and Cream, Marshmallows, Maple Syrup, Butterscotch, Cloves, Cherry Cola, Root Beer, Anise Palate: Maple Syrup, Cloves, Brown Sugar, Peaches, Pecan Pie, Walnuts, Caramel, Butterscotch, Apricots, Papayas, Root Beer Finish: Peaches, Pineapples, Vanilla, Cloves, Cola, Root Beer, Licorice, Tobacco, Leather, Caramel

Was really stupendous. I wrote my notes here before seeing the sites score and flavor profile. I can't believe they show this as lower on vanilla notes. It was a total vanilla bomb for me. Vanilla, mint and other herbal notes with a beautiful finish. Very Creamy Vanilla notes. The more I went through the glass, the more I enjoyed. Look for this!

One of the older bourbons I have tasted. Oily with notes of caramel and vanilla, packed with flavor with some spice in the front and a very long finish. Very good but not close to worth these nutty secondhand market prices of $600.