As mentioned previously, the Bourbon Bossman Family found some solid bottles that made the top 5 list in 2021. Unfortunately, I was unable to write reviews on these bottles before the list was released, so in no specific order, let’s review the second bottle on the top 5 of 2021. Deemed the “Brown-Eyed Beauty” in our house, this bottle comes from the Heaven Hill Distillery; Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond Fall release.

From their website: Each spring and fall, a new edition to the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond series is released. Inspired by an original 1950’s Old Fitzgerald diamond decanter, the packaging and series honor both the history of the Old Fitzgerald brand and the historic Bottled-in-Bond designation. The Old Fitzgerald line is well-known for its distilling pedigree, as the brand was first registered in 1884 and was eventually sold to “Pappy” Van Winkle during Prohibition. In 1999, Heaven Hill bought the brand and began distilling it at Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, KY.

Going into 2021, this was a bottle I was very excited to try and hunt and hopefully capture. As the spring bottle was released several months came and went with no sightings. Summer turned to fall, the fall bottle was released, and then fall turned to “winter” and it seemed like this would be another unsuccessful hunt. But then, we walked into one of our regular local stores in Northern Colorado (NoCo), and there in the plastic case right in front of us was a brown-eyed beauty in a very seductive dress.

Now I know many of you are thinking the same thing, he said in a case, not on the shelf. Yes, in most cases this would be a red flag but surprisingly this bottle of Old Fitzgerald was not only elegantly dressed but also reasonably priced at $149. Although about $40 over MSRP, I knew it would be quite some time again until I had a chance at this in the wilds of NoCo. This hunt did not let me down, and this bottle turned out to be quite delicious and will be saved, if possible, to share with friends and family. With that said, let’s get our taste on!

• Nose: Oak Barrel, Marshmallow, Vanilla, Light Brown Sugar, Spices and Apples
• Palate: Brown Sugar, Cinnamon, Tart Green Apples, and Heavy Oak
• Finish: Dry, Medium Lasting Heat with Light spices on the Tongue
• 2022 MSRP: $110
• 2022 National Average: $425
• My Rating: Save it! (But it will become an empty bottle on my shelf!)

Please remember, drinking bourbon is a personal adventure, so do not be afraid to drink it neat, with ice, or add some water. It’s your bourbon, you bought it, and you should enjoy it how you want to enjoy it!

Cheers! Prost! Sláinte!

Bourbon Bossman