Old Fitzgerald 7 Year Bottled-in-Bond vs Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond
Heaven Hill Bourbon
Wheated Elegance vs Rye-Driven Tradition
Some bourbon comparisons feel unfair.
This one feels perfect.
In this episode of Tortured Bourbon, we line up two bottles that share more DNA than most people realize — same distillery, same age, same proof — and let them fight it out the only way that matters: in the glass.
Old Fitzgerald 7 Year Bottled-in-Bond goes head-to-head with Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond, a classic wheated vs rye bourbon showdown that highlights just how much a mash bill can change the final experience.
👉 Watch the full episode here:
https://youtu.be/QYCK9XLYfL4
Why This Comparison Matters
Both of these bourbons are:
Aged 7 years
Bottled-in-Bond at 100 proof
Produced by Heaven Hill
Priced within $10 of each other at MSRP
And yet, they couldn’t feel more different.
This episode is less about declaring a “winner” and more about understanding style — softness versus spice, polish versus punch, elegance versus work-ethic bourbon.
Old Fitzgerald 7 Year Bottled-in-Bond
Old Fitzgerald has long been associated with wheated bourbon, and this 7-year Bottled-in-Bond release leans hard into that identity. It’s rich, rounded, and unapologetically refined.
Mash Bill
68% Corn
20% Wheat
12% Malted Barley
Proof: 100
Age: 7 Years
MSRP: ~$60
Official Tasting Notes (Katie’s Corner)
Nose:
Graham crackers, honey, brown sugar, light citrus, summer and dried fruits (cherry, red berry), baking spices, toasted oak, and vanilla.
Palate:
Rich and viscous with a buttery mouthfeel. Fresh bread, brown sugar, vanilla custard, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, toffee, almonds, dark cherry, and nutty notes throughout.
Finish:
Long-lasting and warming with brown sugar, cinnamon, oak spice, lingering leather, pepper, and dried fruit.
Old Fitz 7 drinks like a bourbon that knows it doesn’t need to shout. It’s comfortable, confident, and absolutely a “slow-down” pour.
Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond (7 Year)
If Old Fitzgerald is elegance, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond is tradition. This is classic rye-forward Kentucky bourbon — structured, dependable, and honest.
Mash Bill
78% Corn
10% Rye
12% Malted Barley
Proof: 100
Age: 7 Years
MSRP: ~$50
Official Tasting Notes (Katie’s Corner)
Nose:
Caramel, vanilla, oak, cinnamon spice, and a noticeable rye warmth that builds as it opens.
Palate:
Smooth, sweet, and warm with prominent vanilla and caramel, followed by rye spice, oak, dark chocolate, and hints of butterscotch or graham cracker.
Finish:
Long and lingering with oak, caramel sweetness, cinnamon spice, and a slightly dry, buttery aftertaste.
This is bottled-in-bond bourbon exactly the way people fell in love with the category in the first place.
Wheated vs Rye: Same Specs, Different Souls
What makes this episode work is how clean the comparison is. No proof games. No age gaps. No finishing tricks.
Just:
Wheat vs rye
Softness vs spice
Dessert bourbon vs classic backbone bourbon
It’s a reminder that mash bill isn’t a footnote — it’s a defining choice.
Final Thoughts
If you love:
Wheated bourbon
Rich, viscous mouthfeel
Dessert-leaning profiles
Old Fitzgerald 7 Year Bottled-in-Bond is worth the hunt.
If you value:
Classic rye spice
Structure and balance
Bottled-in-Bond value
Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond continues to be one of the safest bets in bourbon.
Different moods. Different moments. Both absolutely legitimate.
👉 Watch the episode: https://youtu.be/QYCK9XLYfL4
🌐 More episodes, merch, and reviews: torturedbourbon.com
