Decanter Dreams – Old Fitzgerald 7 Year Bottled-in-Bond Review
Old Fitz 7 Year!
Welcome to Pour Decisions Wednesday!
On this week’s Tortured Bourbon, we cracked open one of the most talked-about bottles in the wheated bourbon universe: Old Fitzgerald 7 Year Bottled-in-Bond, Fall 2023 release.
With its ornate decanter, government-certified proof, and legendary lineage, this bourbon has hype written all over it. But is it worth the chase—or just a pretty face?
Let’s pour one out, get into the details, and see if this wheated unicorn lives up to its legacy.
🏛 The Story of Old Fitzgerald: From Stitzel-Weller to Heaven Hill
Few names in bourbon carry as much historical weight as Old Fitzgerald. First launched in 1870 by John E. Fitzgerald—possibly a distillery worker, possibly a whiskey thief—it earned early fame as a high-quality wheated bourbon long before that became trendy.
But the real magic began in the 1930s when none other than Pappy Van Winkle acquired the brand and started distilling it at the famed Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky. This is where the wheated mash bill—substituting rye with wheat—became iconic.
In 1992, Heaven Hill took ownership of the brand and now produces Old Fitzgerald at their Bernheim Distillery in Louisville. In 2018, they launched the Decanter Series, a biannual release of Bottled-in-Bond Old Fitz expressions aged from 7 to 17 years, each encased in an ornate retro-style glass decanter.
📦 About the Fall 2023 7-Year Release
This particular bottle is the youngest in the decanter series, but don’t let that fool you. It still packs pedigree—and exclusivity.
Bourbon Details:
Distillery: Heaven Hill (Bernheim, Louisville, KY)
Release: Fall 2023
Age: 7 years
Proof: 100 (50% ABV)
Type: Bottled-in-Bond
Mash Bill: 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley
MSRP: $59.99
Secondary Market: $250+
Availability: Extremely limited, allocation-only
🧠 What Is Bottled-in-Bond—and Why Should You Care?
The Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 is one of the most important pieces of legislation in bourbon history. It was designed to guarantee whiskey purity and authenticity in an era full of snake oil salesmen and toxic additives.
To wear the Bottled-in-Bond label, a bourbon must:
Be distilled in one season, by one distiller, at one distillery
Aged in a federally bonded warehouse
Aged for a minimum of 4 years
Bottled at exactly 100 proof
This means Old Fitzgerald 7 Year Bottled-in-Bond is not only transparent and traceable—it’s part of an old-school tradition of quality and integrity.
👃 What the Experts Say (Katie’s Corner)
Our off-camera producer Katie brought the flavor notes from Heaven Hill’s official tasting wheel and sprinkled in a few fan reviews too.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Butterscotch, floral honey, light oak, caramelized apple
Palate: Vanilla cream, baking spice, toffee, toasted wood
Finish: Medium-long with soft sweetness and warming spice
Basically, this is apple pie in a Glencairn glass—if you believe the hype.
🎥 Our First Impressions – Live Tasting
We saved the actual tasting for the live recording—because you can’t fake surprise or regret.
Heather brought the skeptical energy. B brought the reverence of Indiana Jones discovering ancient treasure. Somewhere between the two, we found the truth.
Expect:
Dramatic sniffing
Heated debate over wheaters vs. rye-forward BiBs
A full Tortured Bourbon ranking on our custom scale:
Piddlin’
Bless Your Heart
That Dog Will Hunt
Hush Your Mouth
Cock of the Walk
(Where did Old Fitz land? Watch to find out.)
💰 Is It Worth the Price?
Let’s be honest: at $59.99 MSRP, this is a phenomenal value—if you can find it.
But since the reality is $200+ on the secondary market, you have to ask yourself:
Do you value rarity?
Do you love wheated bourbon?
Do you collect decanters?
Do you have a friend named Patron Steve willing to share?
If you answered yes to at least two of the above… you might just want to chase this unicorn.
📲 Watch the Full Episode
Join us for the full tasting, banter, and breakdown on our Pour Decisions Wednesday episode. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a pour.
