Old Grand-Dad 114
Beam Suntory · Jim Beam Distillery, Clermont, Kentucky
Old Grand-Dad 114 is the thinking drinker's value bourbon — a bottle that punches so far above its price point it almost feels like a mistake. That 27% rye mash bill, nearly double the industry average, gives it a backbone of spice that would overwhelm a lesser whiskey, but here it serves as architecture for layers of caramel, chocolate, and charred oak to hang upon. The high proof isn't a gimmick — it's a magnifying glass, amplifying nuances that lower-proof expressions wash away. At under thirty-five dollars, this is a bottle that seasoned bourbon drinkers quietly recommend to one another.
Nose
Rich caramel and toasted rye bread emerge first, followed by waves of cinnamon bark, dried orange peel, and a dark chocolate undertone that deepens with time in the glass. A few drops of water unlock a hidden layer of brown sugar and charred oak.
Palate
Bold rye spice leads, then yields to butterscotch, charred oak, and baking spices. The high proof delivers a mouth-coating richness that carries black pepper and warm honey through the mid-palate, with each sip revealing slightly different emphasis.
Finish
Long and warming, with slow-building waves of cinnamon, leather, and a lingering rye kick that fades gradually into toasted grain and a whisper of dark chocolate.
- Mash Bill
- 63% Corn, 27% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
Cocktail Suggestion
Cocktail — The Slow Old Fashioned: Combine 2 oz Old Grand-Dad 114, 1 bar spoon demerara syrup, 2 dashes Angostura bitters, and 1 dash orange bitters over a large ice cube. Stir gently for thirty seconds — the high proof means this cocktail will evolve in the glass as the ice slowly dilutes, revealing new layers over twenty minutes.
Food Pairing
Pair with: Smoked brisket with a brown sugar and black pepper bark — the caramelized meat crust mirrors the bourbon's charred oak and brown spice, while the fat tempers the proof.
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