AMS was absorbed in 1929 when National Distillers Products Corporation began actively acquiring brands towards the end of Prohibition. Jim Beam acquired National Distillers brands in 1987. It’s a little strong and numbing. I’ve had 100 proof whiskey that is a bit smoother ( Wild Turkey 101), but it’s still incredibly drinkable. A splash of water will calm things down a bit without sacrificing any flavor so if you’re finding it a bit unruly give that a go.

Old Grand-Dad 114 is great and if the nose were balanced out it would be in the 90s but, as is, it’s the one thing keeping it out right now. Regardless, it’s still a great bourbon with a hearty, sweet and rustic, character that’s easy to enjoy. It comes in at a high proof and adding a splash of water helps open it up a bit. A splash can also help tame it if it’s feeling hot for your tastes. OGD 114 is a tasty full bourbon with a lot to offer and if you get the chance, give it a try. He knows how much you care, but why not show him through a personalised gift? You can add a personalised message or his name to a gift that he’ll love and keep for years to come. Whether it’s a personalised spirit level if he likes getting hands-on or putting his name on a tumbler for drinking his favourite tipple, choose a truly unique gift for him. For more inspiration, see our full range of personalised gifts. Foodie Gifts for Grandad Along with bargains, hidden gems remain a scarcity in the bourbon hunting world. But while many cult favorites have seen their prices double and even quadruple in recent years, one brand has remained firmly rooted to the bottom shelf at the liquor store. This, despite the fact it is revered by both bartenders and whiskey collectors, and uses the exact same mash bill as a more expensive, better-known bourbon.Contrast this scenario with shutting down production for an evening to swap out between Jim Beam and Old Grand-Dad runs. Cookers, fermenters, stills and lines can all run clean, and the production team can look for the subtle flavor characteristics distinct to each brand as the spirit comes off the still. Old Grand-Dad bourbons are made from a high rye mashbill containing 27% rye, which is likely the source of its heavy cinnamon spice flavor found throughout the 100 proof Bonded variant. It also falls in between the lower 80 proof and higher 114 proof versions, and to that end, balances flavor and drinkability the best of the three. On The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Lou offers Mary Old Grand-Dad at a party; Mary mistakenly assumes he's referring to her 68-year-old date. Like a rising tide, we’ve watched bourbon’s prices climb with many new releases, but less so with existing brands. This is true of Old Grand-Dad, which has maintained low prices across the brand.

Old Grand-Dad is owned and produced by Beam Suntory, the third-largest spirits company in the world. In addition to the standard Old Grand-Dad offering, additional products are widely available for bourbon enthusiasts to enjoy. Old Grand-Dad was created by Raymond B. Hayden, a third-generation distiller, in 1882. He chose the name to honor his own grandfather — and the family’s first-generation distiller — Basil Hayden Sr. If the name sounds familiar, it may be because another bourbon label popularized it. Basil Hayden’s bourbon was crafted by master distiller Booker Noe in 1992. While he had no relation to the Haden family, he was inspired by Hayden Sr.’s expertise in the field and named the product after him. The Old Grand-Dad brand was created by Raymond B. Hayden and named after his grandfather Meredith Basil Hayden, Sr. The bourbon has been in production since the 1800’s, including during Prohibition when it was produced by American Medicinal Spirits Co., a pharmaceutical company. The brand has changed ownership numerous times since it was originally created and is now owned by Beam Suntory and marketed as part of their “The Olds” Collection which also includes Old Overholt. Old Grand-Dad is currently released in three different bottling proofs: 80 (changed from 86 in 2013), 100, and 114.

It was a former president’s favorite bourbon.

There is an initial astringency that takes a second to blow off. Once it does there is a classic bourbon profile of caramel and vanilla that is paired with some honey, brown butter, and bruleed bananas. A very light fruit runs underneath the whole nose with a bit of fresh corn keeping it company. Pull up a chair, and we’ll tell you a story about one of the oldest and most prominent names in the long chronicles of bourbon history: Old Grand-Dad Bourbon. History For example, the Jim beam Distillery has a 10,000-gallon cooker — or mash tun — and nearly 20 large-scale fermenters. The large column stills are fed through a continuous distillation system, where beer is fed to a beer still, collected and then fed into the spirit still or thumper. This type of system could ideally run indefinitely, although, in reality, it will shut down from time to time for maintenance and cleaning. The flavor contains more facets than the aroma and, like the nose, is nice and rich. Oak, caramel heavy dark sweets and dark fruit give way to, and mix with, notes of leather, hay, pepper and baking spices. A feathery light bit of vanilla comes and goes like a flash in the distance. During its more than 100-year history, Old Grand-Dad has seen several ownership changes and has been produced at multiple distilleries. Throughout that time, the brand has been continually available to American drinkers.