It has been two thousand, one hundred and twelve days since I last reviewed Old Fitzgerald Prime. It was during the first edition of the Bottom Shelf Brackets. Back then, Old Fitzgerald was the name that Heaven Hill sold their wheated recipe under. It was available in most of the US in both a bottled in bond version and an 80° proof “Prime” version.
Over the course of the last five to six years, Heaven Hill released Larceny as their new flagship wheated label and pulled Old Fitzgerald Prime back to being sold in a very small and select number of states. They also discontinued the affordable Bottled in Bond version and in the last few years, started to release a yearly luxury release of Limited Edition Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond. Its been a busy few years for the brand that Pappy started so many years ago.
Back in 2014, I had this to say about it:
This is a tv watching bourbon. It’s something to sip that tastes good for when you don’t want to concentrate on, or think too hard about your bourbon. It wouldn’t be my first choice for a pour, but I’d be happy enough to have it brought to me.
Let’s see how it holds up, shall we?
Old Fitzgerald Prime
Purchase Info: $16.99 for a 750 mL bottle, The Party Source, Bellevue, KY
Price per Drink (50 mL): $1.13
Details: 40% ABV, NAS
Nose: Spearmint, bubble gum, hints of baking spice
Mouth: Caramel, baking spice, hints of mint
Finish: Short and gentle with notes of cinnamon and caramel.
Thoughts: This is a very gentle bourbon. A decent enough sipper in a pinch if you aren't a proof-chaser. If like me, you like a little more heat in your bourbon, you might find this more than a little on the tame side. But the flavors that are there are very good and I agree with 2014 me. This would work just fine when you are playing cards, bullshitting with a group of friends, and not really paying attention to what is in your glass. I’m giving this one a meh. But I wouldn’t fault you at all if you liked this or even if it was your favorite. My rating comes solely down to how gentle it is.
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