If there's a single bottle that defines "special occasion bourbon" for a lot of collectors, it's the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Decanter Series. Each release comes in a heavy glass decanter inspired by the brand's 1950s diamond design, each one is a wheated Kentucky straight bourbon, and each one is bottled at a full 100 proof. This is the 10 Year edition, and it's every bit as good as it looks on the bar cart.
Old Fitzgerald's story runs deep. The name traces back to John E. Fitzgerald and a trademark registered in 1884, and the brand later became famous under Julian "Pappy" Van Winkle's Stitzel-Weller distillery, home of some of the most revered wheated bourbons ever made. Today Heaven Hill distills it at the Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, releasing new editions each spring and fall.
A decade in barrel gives the wheat recipe real depth. Recent 10 Year editions have opened with crème brûlée, old oak and a twist of citrus oil, moved into butterscotch, sugar and toasted bread on the palate, and closed with soft caramel that gives way to clove and pepper. Expect small variations from release to release; that's half the fun of collecting them.
Bottled-in-Bond means one distillery, one distilling season and at least four years under federal supervision. This one simply goes well beyond that minimum.
Pour it neat in your best glass. It makes a memorable gift, and an even better reason to open something good.
Allocated release. Very limited stock.
