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This Old Grand-Dad 114 Bourbon Review has taken me a while to write, and I'm still trying to figure out why. It's a bourbon I have enjoyed for years and is one of my budget-friendly bourbon recommendations. OGD144 is a James B. Beam Distilling Co. bourbon with a spicy, flavor-packed Jim Beam mash bill of 63% Corn, 27% Rye, and 10% Malted Barley. Let's delve into this tasting.
Rating: 82
| Nose |
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| Palate |
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| Finish |
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| Uniqueness |
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| Value |
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Ratings breakdown based on a 100 point scale.
- 90-100 Exceptional
- 80-89 Very Good
- 70-79 Average
- 60-69 Below Average
- 50-60 Drain Pour
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Detailed Tasting Notes
Nose Review - Rating: 80
Immediately my nose felt the heat. I didn't drink it right away. I let it sit for a few minutes, then began to smell red hot candy (cinnamon) and spice. If you can nose past the ethanol, there are some pleasant spicy aromas. After you let Old Grand-Dad 114 sit for about five minutes, you begin to nose the mild sweet caramel and brown sugar aroma. Light oak and citrus peel notes are there too. The good thing is that the longer you let it sit, the more friendly the nose gets.
After a few days or weeks of sitting in the bottle, I noticed the aroma of Old Grand-Dad 114 was less intense than when I first opened the bottle.
Palate Review - Rating: 82
On my initial opening of the bottle, I was afraid to taste Old Grand-Dad 114 because of the heat I sensed on the nose. However, it wasn't as hot as I anticipated, but it was very aggressive. I typically taste from the front of my tongue and then move the bourbon back over the rest of my tongue. It always cuts down on the heat and allows my tongue and saliva to work. The red hot cinnamon candy spice flavor punches you in the face. A little bit of creamy sweetness lasts for a while, and then cinnamon spice heat retakes charge. If I didn't know better, I would assume Old Grand-Dad 114 was an infused whiskey because of the intensity of the flavor. However, it is not.
The palate is flavorful yet hot and aggressive. Old Grand-Dad 114 drinks hotter than its 114-proof but is very tasty.
Finish Review - Rating: 80
The creamy cinnamon heat finish lasts a long time. Despite the intense heat, I love that the flavor doesn't dissipate on the finish.
Uniqueness Review - Rating: 80
Don't make the mistake of letting this fairly unique bourbon hit your throat too fast; otherwise, that 114 proof will put you through some changes.
Value Review - Rating: 86
Overall, the spice-driven Old Grand-Dad 114 is much better than I anticipated, and I tend to like sweeter bourbons. At this price point, OGD114 is something I will definitely keep on my shelf.
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Smell IS taste. I am just a guy who has been hit with the bourbon bug and who has come to the conclusion that life is too short to drink average tasting bourbons. Go Gators!
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