Old Tub Kentucky Straight Bourbon

BUDGET BOTTLED-IN-BOND BOURBON SHOWDOWN Evan Williams Bottled-In-Bond Old Tub Bottled-In-Bond Wild Turkey 101 Okay, I know that the WT101 isn’t bottled-in-bond; but it is budget, and it is bourbon, and it’s only 1 proof point above the other two, so that’s close enough for me (even if it is a bit older). I thought that a side-by-side comparison between the three would be interesting. Also, it’s college football Saturday, and this is a little pregame activity. Evan Williams Bottled-In Bond I’ve never had this bourbon, which is a Heaven Hill brand. Clear Pantone 138 in color (I have no affiliation with Pantone, but am using it in an attempt to achieve a little more visual precision). Sweet nose reveals an initial hit of tangy barbecue sauce, with orange, caramel, and vanilla. The palate is robust: great depth of flavor with sweet corn, simple syrup, and peppercorn spice, with a pleasant ethanol burn. The medium-length finish is primarily sweet, oaky vanilla. No hard edges or bitterness. This is flat-out delicious. Great aromatics and depth of flavor, and the BiB designation is wonderfully apparent. This Evan Williams expression qualifies as a great sipper neat, and at 100 proof would be great in cocktails as well, without breaking the bank. At just a tick over $20, the value here is amazing. I cannot believe that this is the first time I’ve tried this bourbon, but it definitely won’t be the last, and I’ll always have one on hand. Easy 4.0 on the Distiller scale. Old Tub Bottled-In-Bond Old Tub is a Jim Beam brand, and this is also my first experience with it. Clear Pantone 144 in color. Fruity nose, much different than the EW: pomander, apple pie, caramel, and vanilla. Palate is no wallflower, with sweet mulled cider and cigar notes. Cinnamon finish, with a little vanilla, short to medium in length. The ethanol is there, as it should be, but at an appropriate level corresponding to the flavor intensity. I’m similarly pleased that I’ve tried Old Tub. Like the EW, this could function as a sipper, on the rocks, or a cocktail base, given the 100 proof. It’s also around $20, and as such represents a great value. Not quite the experience for me as was the EW, but I’ll always have one of these on hand as well. 3.5 on the Distiller scale. Wild Turkey 101 Wild Turkey 101 is, of course, a Wild Turkey brand, and I’ve had it many times. Clear Pantone 138. The nose is focused more on caramel and vanilla, far more than the EW and OT, with banana bread and a splash of orange. The classic WT high-rye spice is immediately apparent on the palate: there’s a light viscosity—more than the EW and OT—likely the result of longer barrel aging. It finishes medium to long, with vanilla and cinnamon. Wild Turkey 101 is a must-have for me; I’ve never had any WT product that I didn’t like. They have a distinct house style, with a single mashbill for their bourbons. It retails for $1-2 more than the EW or OT, but likely has more age as well. Outstanding. 4.0 on the Distiller scale. N.B.: All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

alright… cinnamon candies, cherry, kind of slick–but not exactly “oily” (good thing). not much of a caramel-like note compared to most bourbons. i don’t get toffee from it either. it’s interesting for a 25 dollar bottled-in-bond. the fact that it’s essentially OG beam makes it super interesting, too. i need to look into the recipe. anyway, i got a popcorn note somewhere along the palate, which is found on some bourbons, usually described as caramel popcorn. but to me, my bottle has just popcorn, sans caramel. it’s a bit chewy, had a little of the usual oak & vanilla, w/ barrel spices. but this $24 BiB boasts an *almost medium finish. *not* a quick death. that, on a sub-30 dollar bottle is always a good thing bc i can’t think of any w/ somewhat of a long finish in this category unless the juice is…disgust-o, barf-o. i mean, it’s no knob creek, but it’s a close to medium, spiced finish. it also stands up to ice decently well for 50%ABV. unless you’re someone who regularly sips on 60%+ ABV’d juice & anything 100p or below seems like a light irish 80 proofer, which is doubtful, you’ll prob agree. it has body & texture, the beads in the bottle take longer than usual to subside / dissipate. but i have a bottle from 2022. not sure if that’s a factor in any of this. i can’t wait to revisit this bottle. i’m sick & taking a break, so i figured i’d stick this review up here since i’m already thinking about it. another thing…after the initial spice-hit, on my first (sort of big) sip, somewhat of a cilantro-cherry note combined w/ a hard-candy cherry (not a robitussin-like cherry mind you) is what i find directly after the cinnamon. it’s spiciest on the first drink, & maybe it’s from just having opened this beam bottle that’s been sitting on a gas station shelf in BFE kentucky for a good while. maybe it’s the neck pour. but the spiciness doesn’t disappear for the subsequent sips neither, just not as pronounced as the initial. another thing to note is that–i went into this bottle w/ low expectations, & the neck pour was very good. i could’ve been fooled, along w/ i presume most bourbon whiskey-heads. seemed like a $40+ bottle. so find this & keep one stocked. it looks old, it tastes good, it’s got history, it’s different, & it’s a great change-up that you may find yourself craving a lil dram of, or even a shot…? super easy on the wallet. what else you need to know? x X

Nose: Strawberry-raspberry jam and a touch of peanut butter on toast, mellow yet fresh American oak, peanut brittle, a hint of fresh rye, some background rye spice and baking spice (cloves, cinnamon and cardamom), a hint of dill, some burdoch root - root beer, fresh caramel, vanilla pods, spicy cream soda (interesting right?), candied green apple, sweet oakiness infused with sweet werthers original candies, oaky sweet tea, late spring appalachian forest, corn spirit, fruit roll ups, mature and sweet pine resin, ripe strawberries, over ripe pineapple, chocolate covered sultanas and dates Palate: Spicy stewed orchard fruits and peanut brittle, mature but fresh oak, high quality corn, baking spices (cinnamon, black pepper, cloves), bittersweet oak, medium dark chocolate with peanuts and hazelnuts, oak infused sweet tea, caramel, bittersweet vanilla pods, oak tannins and simple syrup, medley of sweet pineapple and red apple Finish: Tangy sweet tea infused oak, mild caramel, mulled apples with tannic oak, baking spices (cinnamon and cardamom), some white pepper

It may be that it’s my first sip of the evening but the proof point is performing nicely on the nose. Notes of sweet and tart cherries are delivered with ease. As you push past the fruit notes, gentle baking spices and brown sugar aromas round the bouquet out nicely. Upon first sip there is a nice little burst of sweetness. I am pleasantly surprised by the enjoyability of this dram. From what I remembered, I was expecting a little more simplicity to it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not mind blowing but not simply a one-noter, in my opinion. The red fruit found on the nose carries over onto the palate but, instead of the baking spices, it is accompanied by a rich vanilla that has it bordering on cherry cola flavours. This profile steadily marches through the mid palate and on to a finish whose expanse allows you to pause between sips but definitely has you wanting more. Upon quick reflection of this little surprise; I would categorise it as a good introduction to Jim Beam as well as Bottle in Bonds. This evening it gets 2.5/5.

I originally tasted and reviewed Old Tub here on Distiller back on December 20, 2020. At the time, I was a newbie to the world of bourbon, and enthusiastically gave it a 4.25 rating. Since then, I've had so many different bottles that I've liked and loved, but hardly ever bestow a 4-star or higher rating upon. So... I bought another bottle, and am revisiting Old Tub to see if it stands up to my initial enthusiasm. I am pleased to report that it does, indeed, live up to the hype from the novice bourbon drinker I once was... On the nose, cinnamon, Red Hots candies, leather, and alcohol. The palate is sweet and spicy with the cinnamon carrying over from the nose. It's a little thin on the tongue, but that's not an issue for me. The finish is medium with a slight warm hug in the chest. The only change to my original rating is 0.25 stars... down to 4.0. I purchased Old Tub back in 2020 for around $24.00. I got this bottle for even less. Excellent bourbon for the price. Highly recommend.

Haven't tried this bourbon in over two years. I'd like to recreate the three-bourbon budget bottled-in-bond showdown that I did with Old Tub and two others back then, but tonight's not the night. Pomander, cinnamon, apples, toasted oak. Fruity palate; smooth considering the 100-proof. Finishes with toasted oak and a spearmint note. Not particularly noteworthy, but it doesn't have to be at $22. I'd sip this whiskey neat (I am now), and at 100 proof this would work well in cocktails too. Would I buy it again? Yes. 3.75 on the Distiller scale.