Hannah’s Old Grand-dad 114 Bourbon Review
Original review written November 12, 2020
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
The nose is phenomenal, but the taste sticks to a grainy acidity and nutty bitterness, with not enough colorful pops to keep my attention. 80/100
VITALS:
– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Beam Suntory Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
– Age: nas (believed to be about 6 yrs.)
– Mash Bill: Corn=63%; Rye=27%; Malted Barley=10%
– Casks: unpublished char
– Barrel Entry Proof: undisclosed
– ABV: 57% (114 proof)
– Price: $30.99 USD in Dickinson, North Dakota
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn glass with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.
Check out his review for this bourbon here!
SETTING:
Sit in a field at nighttime with your back pressed up against a rusty, old truck with only the stars and moon to shed light on your corner of the world. Listen to surrounding crickets and breeze as you sip Old Grand-dad and be transported to a simpler time with simpler and imperfect flavors to keep you company.
Photo by Ian Parker on Unsplash
NOSE:
Rye and apricot fruit leather/jam emerge from the glass on the first inhale. I find a bit of pepper and chocolate too, along with a hint of butterscotch which contributes to an undercurrent of softness despite the evident spice. Along with that peppery spice is ginger and sour cherry.
Crystalized maple sugar makes for an interesting edge to an otherwise minimal alcohol twinge. Not too much wood, but there is a bitter nut that almost seems woody, just not quite.
The rye seems similar to Jim Beam products in its strength; however, all of these other aromas are very unique to this bourbon, all of which are actually very well-blended.
PALATE:
– Mouth Feel: Tickly, but not enough to really hurt.
– Balance: Unexpected. I can’t shake a bitterness that’s a little bothersome.
– Visual: Tawny in color, there is a strong, lingering crown with minimal legs.
– Taste: Ginger crosses the palate first, along with rye and a little grass. I can get a citrus zest and maybe some mint that make the palate both edgy and bright. I can’t find any bold fruits, rather mostly earthy tones. It’s almost as though I can taste the acidity of the soil where the corn or rye was grown. And though there is this noticeable acidity, I can also find a distinct bitterness, like the nut (perhaps walnut) from the nose. If I’m being honest, I’m a little underwhelmed as a whole, especially given the smattering of deep and cohesive scents from the nose.
The alcohol is here, but not quite enough to go for a full burn, rather a pleasant tickle. A Kentucky chew makes the grains, as a whole, pop more against an elevated alcohol backdrop. Still, that tang or sour and bitter sits on my tongue.
FINISH:
– Lasting Power: Long. I have warmth and an aftertaste clinging to my tongue and throat.
– Between Sips: I get a mix of mild cherry and grass between sips… This is actually my favorite aspect of this bourbon.
– No More: The glass stays consistent as I continue to sip, with only dryness becoming more apparent. This is decent, but at 114 proof ($30 or not), I do have higher expectations.
The empty Glencairn is a straight-up, beautiful oak. I’m almost offended that these weren’t flavors I could find on the palate, where they were definitely needed.
WORTH THE PRICE?
$30 sounds nice for a 114 proof bourbon, but I will confidently say that I would sooner purchase Old Forester 1920 at $60 and 115 proof than Old-Grand-dad 114 at this price. Take that how you will.
RATING: 80/100
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