Jim Beam Old Grand-Dad 43% Bourbon Whiskey

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Chris Goodrum (Gauntleys)

Another historic, high rye content brand. Originally produced at the Old Grand-Dad distillery situated at Hobbs Station in Kentucky from 1882 until its closure during prohibition. Production was then switched to the K. Taylor Distilling Company distillery at Elkhorn Forks near Frankfort with the brands sale to National Distillers (who incidentally re-named the distillery ‘Old Grand-Dad). Like Old Crow the brand was bought by Jim Beam in 1987 and the distillery closed. It’s believed that Old Grand-Dad and its variants (Basil Hayden) are the only brands Beam makes that use a different mash bill and yeast.

Tasted: Mar 2012
Initially the nose is a tad shy but there’s no mistaking the clarity of the sharp rye grains. Quite complex with caramelised citrus, burnt toffee and a touch of fat corn, but it’s the buzzy rye that impresses. Relatively light with a touch of unobtrusive oak.

Soft on the palate, opening with the slightly burnt, sugary corn with the rye kicking in on the middle. Seriously mouth-watering with a long violet tinged finish. Still fairly young and displaying some youthful cerealy marc like notes and just enough oak to give it structure and a dry, wood spiced finish. Well balanced with the sweetness of the corn lingering enough to offset the bittering oak at the death.