I do appreciate people who give opinions as their job; you know, actually giving an opinion. Thanks for not dodging as well as telling an interesting story. I’m entertained.
As a certified geezer, you youngsters make me feel a little validated. At my age I have had the pleasure of drinking pre conglomerate Bourbon. I thought it was just nostalgia that made me think they were better. My purely subjective nomination for best is pre BT Eagle Rare 10 year old and Stitzel-Weller Pappy 15. Stitzel-Weller Old Weller 107 is a close 2nd. Old Grandad 114 was a favorite of my late father in the '80s.
I agree the “what’s the best?” is very hard to answer. For me, after trying 100 +, it’s much easier for me to answer “what’s the worst? There are only 2 or 3 that I won’t drink. Defiant and Widow Jane 10 come to mind.
That's like asking an eclectic what their favorite type of music is. I have a favorite whiskey for every type of whiskey there is. I have a favorite type of whiskey for every distillery there is. I have favorite whiskies for certain occasions. I think the best answer is "All of them".
I have a bottle of Evan Williams 200th Anniversary Edition that I got from my grandfather’s home bar. Bottled in 1983. Waiting to open it when I retire.
I was gifted a Old Grand Dad bib 100 proof unopened distilled and barreled in 1972 then bottled in 1980. A 41 yr old 8 yr old bottle. I'm saving it for a special celebration but really looking forward to it.
For those who are into opening vintage whiskey, I recommend keeping a big bag of assorted corks, several empty bottles for filtering and transferring, good sharp blades for shaping a new cork. Be prepared for cork breaks and debris. Vintage whiskey is a special treat!
Lots of RUclipsrs have hit their stride, creating great content that fits within their matrix norms. Chad & Sarah consistently pushing their own bar higher and higher creating exceptional content and not resting on their laurels all while not taking themselves too seriously. Keep it up you two
Great vid. Thoughtful response. Congratulations on that bottle! Wow!! As I watched I started thinking there could be a wide margin between “best I ever had that one time” and “favorite that I look forward to regularly”.
Thanks for walking us through your story and this bottle. I too get asked this question nearly all the time and the more I enjoy whisky the harder it is for me to answer. Also, everyone's taste is so personal that I hesitate when answering. Sure, this is what I love, but will they? Anyway, thanks again for sharing, cheers!
The best whiskey I've tasted is Eleanor from Crowded Barrel distillery in Texas. I pulled the trigger and bought it online and my son picked it up and brought it to me in Michigan. I love it.
When I was in college (1978) I got a bottle of Ezra Brooks 15 year old while on spring break in Florida that was fantastic. I had bought a backup bottle and opened it with my college friends in the early 2000’s and it was as fantastic as I remember. I do with I had kept the empty bottle.
Way back in the 70’s I remember Old Granddad as a classy bourbon in magazine advertisements, but being a child there no way I was getting a bottle let alone a pour in bar lol. The way I see it these old dusty’s are window into a by gone era, and I appreciate both of you sharing your experience.
The best (ever) bourbon I've had the pleasure of drinking was... 1979 Old Weller Special 107-proof "Bottled in Bond"... So smooth, with no "burn" going down, and had strong hints of vanilla and coconut cream pie after-taste...!!! Simply Yummie Note : This was back in 1987...
When you think about it the best whisky you've ever tasted its really a quest were all on is it not? Its a description of the whole process. Thats why we try so many different ones. But the quest if never ending really. You know that in the back of your mind there's going to be something better, better is subject i know, but its the journey were all enjoying is it not. The sense of joy when we open a new bottle and the slight sadness when that bottle is empty like a farewell to an old friend. Ive been questing for 25 years and there are hundreds of bottles left to try. Great isnt it
My 1A, 1B, and 1C are OGD BIB ND 8yr from 1989 ( age stated on tax strip), Wild Turkey 12yr CGF, and Willett 24yr 94 proof Rye Bonilli barrel #446. All old whiskeys, all bottles i owned, 2 out of 3 i found in the wild back in the day. The Willett i traded a Pappy Van Winkle 15yr for it. Best trade i ever did. I miss vintage whiskey that was easily accessible. Great video!
Totally agree with the categories for bests. Otherwise super difficult to narrow things down. Wonder what your all time favorite non-vintage would be. Look forward to seeing more "best ever tasted" episodes in certain categories. Thanks!
It's an easy question. Just answer. The best whiskey I've ever tasted was a bottle of jack Daniels SB, BP from winter of 2020 it was 135.1 proof. The second best so far was the knob Creek 2018 cask strength Rye. You have to do a little searching for it but it's still pretty well available even in the second half of 2021.
I got lucky enough to find nine pints of 1969 Cabin Still Stitzel Weller juice a little over a year ago at a liquor store for $6 a piece and I was amazed by the thickness and flavor compared to today's bourbon. Even though it was 86 proof , I enjoy it more than most of my allocated bottles. Modern bourbon isn't made like it used to be made.
I usually watch all RUclips videos at 3.2X speed but this one I ran at 1X just so I could enjoy this experience with you guys. Great video and congrats on the find.
Great. Now I'm on the hunt for vintage OGD 114l Lol My best experience was also at Justin's House of Bourbon. I had the pleasure of drinking a 1984 Wild Turkey 101. Sublime...
My daughter used to ask me what my favorite ___ was, such as favorite car, favorite watch, etc. I finally told her that I have to have a favorite daughter since I only have one, and a favorite wife, but anything else I can have multiple ones that I like and I don't have to pick one single favorite.
Sounds so good! Thanks for taking us on the flavor ride of this delishous sounding whisky! Some of the best bottles I have had are low bottle count single barrels also some of the worst I have had are low bottle count single barrels. 😄
I hope yall dont get hate for this, there are so much amazing whiskey in the world we should all be happy to live in such times where there are literally thousands of options from all over the world and all of us get to have a slightly different experience in our whiskey travels. Enjoy what you can and be grateful so much exists.
Rebel Yell 101 10yr bottled in 1985. I worked at Stizel-Weller in early 90s when United Distillers owned it. I still have 4 bottles of SW juice left. I’m a little afraid to open another bottle knowing that I’ll never have any more and the new juice just doesn’t compare.
My roommate and I bought a chair from someone moving and he also gave us bottles he didn't want from his dad. I ended up with a 4/5 quart of OGD 86 proof screw cap that's been drank to the bottom of the next. I think it's 1980's. Also got 2 Canadian club's from the 60's (opened) and a black velvet from 1955 that's unopened.
It's such a good question because 1 it's all subjective 2 there is so much out there I have never tried many times due to cost or straight availability but of what I have tasted cause that's all I can go by its Stagg Jr. But I also have to say JD single barrell barrell proof might be my favorite everyday sipper
Wow. Maybe a tough question, but this shot up to my favourite video on your channel. Thanks for opening that gem and sharing your thoughts. Please send ANY vintage of OGD114 to Canada! None here 😭
Im not much of bourbon drinker, more of a single malt Scotch preference. To date, my favorite Scotch is one my brother bought to share (he also bought a few to collect) called Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix. If memory serves it is a 92 proof that was created when one of the Glenfiddich aging houses collapsed under a heavy snow load. It was amazing! Sadly, you cant find them anymore unless you know someone that has some and last time I checked, a bottle was going for $800+ so my brother isnt willing to part with the 6 he has left lol (I dont blame him)
Even the new OGD 114/BIB IMO is a fantastic buy. I picked up an oddball bottle of Dickel 12 that blew my socks off. Can't seem to find that exact taste again though. Every sip was mindblowing. Same with a bottle of Laphroaig Select that initially tasted like gasoline. the 2nd half of that bottle was savored with only the tiniest of sips just so I could hold onto that flavor with a deathgrip.
I'm afraid to try current OGD 114 because the worst whiskey I've ever had was a bottle of old Grand dad bottled in bond and I imagine the extra extra proof (lack of dilution) is just going to create a stronger version of the flavor profile that I did not like.
When I first had OGD 114 I didn’t like it. Tried it again a couple of years later and I liked it a lot. I just wasn’t ready for it when I first had it, but tastes really change when you’re really diving into whiskey.
I introduced my sons to a range of whiskeys so they could find their preferences. My youngest son tasted OGD114 one time and said “that’s it!” That WAS it. He knew right away. My older son has different preferences (likes rye, for instance) but still loves OGD114. It’s only one bottle! Buy it, drink it, savor it, try something else. It’s easy!😊
You two always do a great job, but I especially appreciate this episode. Obviously, we're not all going to be able to magically grab a bottle of OGD 114 from the 1980s, but it's so cool to know that you did and to hear your thoughts on it. Great advice about trying elusive and expensive pours at bourbon bars, which I will definitely do. Final note: I had a friend over serve me some Templeton Rye a few years back when I was a newb and the ensuing hangover was vicious. But after listening to Sara rave about Pikesville, I decided to give it a try and it was very nice. Keep doing what you do.
Hay Chad just an FYI there is a product called Bloxygen that you can put in the bottle of your OGD 114 to displace the air in the neck and help preserve it for a much longer time check it out
I haven't had nearly as much experience as y'all have - I only started drinking whisky in September of 2021. But I have no trouble saying that the best whisky I've ever had is Balcones Texas Pot Still Bourbon (the second best is very nearly as good - Balcones Lineage Texas Single Malt Whisky). There may be better juice out there, but if so I've never tasted it, and probably it's out of my price range anyway (the Pot Still Bourbon is only $30 here in Albuquerque). 🙂
I don't even like being asked "What's your favorite whiskey? " . I mean, how does a parent answer when asked which child is their favorite? Lol. But seriously, because there's a broad spectrum of categories it can be a tedious question. I can tell you my favorite daily drinker, best bang-for-your-buck whiskey, favorite Bottled in Bond or Cask Strength... but I can't just tell someone my favorite overall. It's too hard!
Yep, pour it into another bottle, using a sieve if any cork got into the whiskey, and then look for another cork to replace the original after washing out the bottle to get any cork bits out of it.
Great video, thank you for sharing your tasting experience with these very old OGD’s that you’ve tried. I think older whiskey most times does taste better than it’s current version, I’ve experienced this myself in blind tastings. I have my theories as to why but perhaps we’ll never know why. A couple months from now after some air has mixed in the bottle your OGD 114 will taste even better, and who knows maybe as good as your friend’s OGD.
Q: have you tried any of the Balcones products? They have a single cask, single malt bottled at cask strength that is super. I find that decanting it into another vessel gets some air into it then about 10 ml of water produces an outstanding if intense experience. Cheers, M D
I can't afford the higher priced Balcones stuff, and I couldn't stand their rye. But my favorite whisky of all time (so far - I've only been drinking whisky for 16 months) is their Pot Still Bourbon. The only thing I've ever had that even comes close is the Lineage Single Malt. These whiskies are so dense, so intense, so vibrant, that it amazes me that anyone could ever not like them (though some people have downright nasty things to say about Balcones). And their Baby Blue corn whisky is right fine too - it drinks like a pretty good bourbon.
Tonight was a good example. We got to Red Robin and they have a shit selection. I ended up with a 2 shot neat of Pendleton. I am not a fan of Canadian, but this was at least better than CR which was also on the shelf.
Speaking of vintage, we found a bottle of Henry McKenna Sour Mash 6 year from the late 1960’s in my parents’ house. Not sure what to do with it other that pop it someday and drink it because I don’t know if anyone would be willing to pay much for it.
I absolutely love OGD 114 (modern), and it’s now my go-to “cheap” bourbon. Just so many great flavors to be had for around $23 here in Austin when I can find it. I’d love to have a sip of the original brand. Enjoy!
Very interesting video! I feel the same way with how you explained best movie- Are we talking about what I think is the best movie ever made, or the movie that I could watch a 100 times and still enjoy it? They're not the same thing. I have still never tasted a bourbon that I would pay over $200 for, maybe someday. Cheers
Have you sampled 1984 wild turkey 101? My friend at work asked me if I was interested in some old decanters and of course I said yes! Well one of them was full 😎 It is delicious and definitely has a nice subtle dry antique flavor. Makes me want to explore more antique bottles
We’ve had some 101s around that year but I don’t think we’ve had exactly an ‘84. Would love to try one, obviously! Always on the look out for dusty pours.
I love your choice (!!!) even though we will never see this bottle, ever. Had you pulled a bottle of something less unusual I would have been disappointed.
Now I have to look for one)))) I had pleasure to taste couple of vintage ones probably was impressed with wild turkey and for roses, I will definitely looking forward trying this one. Awesome knowledge great job thank you guys.
quick story. my daughter was born in 1980. instead of cigars, i passed out nips of old grand dad with pink ribbons. but for myself, i bought a bottle of the og 114. after drinking, i filled it with bourbon-food-colored water and still have it on a bookshelf (with one of the unopened nips). just checked it. it says special edition on the neck (and lot 1, barrel proof on the back) but otherwise the same. thanks for letting me know what it tasted like!
In 1983 I knew nothing about whiskey. I did work in a liquor store when in college and remember buying airplane size bottles of OGD 114 to mix with ginger ale. I remember it being so much better than Jack Daniels.
Smoke wagon UCUF batch 55. The best I’m pretty sure I have ever tasted. I can’t think of anything else at the moment. Ask me this time next year and I’m sure my answer will change.
Great video, guys, and I agree, I'm often asked this question and even after almost 4000 tastings now, I can't answer this question easily because of many factors (mainly because it is due to personal taste, personal sensorial history, specific moments of time, etc...) but I tried to answer to it at least for me & my viewers in a video called "15 exceptional whiskies to try before you die", but, as many of these whiskies weren't available anymore or for some crazy money, I brought up some affordable alternatives to them, hoping people will accept the idea of it & maybe have a hint of what the "first choice" whiskies could be...And even if there is a kind of order in the video, any of those ones picked could be "said to be" my favorite whisky...Well done also for some statements in the video in the beginning explaining the difficulties of a proper assessment...About your OGD 114, I almost had my hand on one from after 1989, but probably very close to it...To put a long story short I was given a difficult choice to pick at fair prices rarities in an estate lot & I did pick rather old scotches but I was told this was good, despite not being as rare (& from the original distillery) as yours. I hope we'll hear again of this bottle once it'll open up more, Cheers & enjoy your treat !
The greatest bourbon I ever had was a 2009 Stagg (141 proof) that I won in a lottery at infamous Le'Nells Brooklyn back in the day. The greatest vintage bottle I've ever tasted was at Canon Seattle, 1972 Taragona Green Chartreuse (also the most expensive pour I've ever had the pleasure of paying for @ $450 for 2 oz taste)...and worth every damn penny.
In reading through the comments I came across a few people wondering - and it's a valid question - why bourbon today isn't what it used to be. I've only been drinking whisky for a bit more than a year, so I have no experience of that, but I do know that Four Roses, which today is a right good bourbon, was a crummy blended cheap thing back in the 70s. So sometimes distilleries (or their owners - very few big distilleries are still independent) just decided to change things. They may even think they have compelling reasons to do so (e.g. Maker's Mark, some years ago, deciding to lower the proof on their main expression...though they almost immediately rescinded that idea when people rose up against it). But I think one factor is likely to be the stills. Column stills of course go way back to the 1800s, but for a long time pot stills were the traditional way to make all whisky (and in some places they still are - Scotland, for instance, finally starting using column stills for some things, but all the major distilleries, if I'm not mistaken, use pot stills for their base spirit). And because a column still is more efficient, it produces "purer" alcohol, with fewer congeners in it - and congeners are what provide the flavor going into the barrel. The barrel provides a lot of the flavor in the final product (at least 50%, from what I gather, and some would say considerably more than that), but the more flavorful the white dog, the more flavorful the whisky when you dump the barrel. If we give numerical figures to the white dog and to the barrel, just to make things easy, we might say that the one is 3 coming off a column still and 5 from a pot still, and the barrel is also a 5. Well, 3+5=8, but 5+5=10 - meaning that the more flavorful white dog from a pot still will produce a more tasty final product. Now I don't know when column stills became standard in bourbon, and if they came in early enough then that'll blow my hypothesis out of the water. But I suspect that is at least in part the answer to the question.
I don’t think we’ve had the ‘16 WLW, but we’ve had half a dozen or so different years of WLW and they never disappoint! The hazmat WLW was incredible. We’ve had the Van Winkle 25, but unfortunately it was on a night where we had a lot of other things. Couldn’t really fully appreciate it.
@@ItsBourbonNight The WLW had the wheat smoothness (yeah SMOOTH at 136 proof) and an absolute flavor explosion that is stunning. Like being in a bourbon avalanche.... The P25 was a tiny quarter shot, but was a freebie. I also love a good old Willett Family Estate bourbon.... NOBODY makes bourbon that tastes like Willett FE. The 20+ year olds make my eyes roll back....
@@raminadeo1 I dig it, man! Thanks for sharing! Technically, someone makes it like Willett Family Estate though, because stuff that old is sourced since their distillery didn’t get back online until 2012. BUT, if it’s not a single barrel and maybe a small batch, there is expert skill in blending barrels together, in which at that point, yeah no one could do it as well as them!
Nice! Now blind flight it and see if it holds up for real!
I do appreciate people who give opinions as their job; you know, actually giving an opinion. Thanks for not dodging as well as telling an interesting story. I’m entertained.
As a certified geezer, you youngsters make me feel a little validated. At my age I have had the pleasure of drinking pre conglomerate Bourbon. I thought it was just nostalgia that made me think they were better. My purely subjective nomination for best is pre BT Eagle Rare 10 year old and Stitzel-Weller Pappy 15. Stitzel-Weller Old Weller 107 is a close 2nd. Old Grandad 114 was a favorite of my late father in the '80s.
The best whiskey is always the one shared with friends!
I agree the “what’s the best?” is very hard to answer. For me, after trying 100 +, it’s much easier for me to answer “what’s the worst? There are only 2 or 3 that I won’t drink. Defiant and Widow Jane 10 come to mind.
see - and I happen to really like Widow Jane 10 (I just think it's overpriced) so it really is just so subjective
That's like asking an eclectic what their favorite type of music is. I have a favorite whiskey for every type of whiskey there is. I have a favorite type of whiskey for every distillery there is. I have favorite whiskies for certain occasions. I think the best answer is "All of them".
Yes so true. I love my Bourbons, my Rye's, my Scotch's, my Irish Whiskeys and my Japanese.
I have a bottle of Evan Williams 200th Anniversary Edition that I got from my grandfather’s home bar. Bottled in 1983. Waiting to open it when I retire.
I have a handle of 86 proof OGD from 1979 and it is delicious, I can imagine that 114 is pretty amazing! Cheers Chad and Sara!!!
I was gifted a Old Grand Dad bib 100 proof unopened distilled and barreled in 1972 then bottled in 1980. A 41 yr old 8 yr old bottle. I'm saving it for a special celebration but really looking forward to it.
No hate from me. My dad used to drink OGD back in the 70s when I was in high school. I used to sneak sips. This vid brought back some great memories.
OGD 114 is one of the cheapest in my collection but one of the best. Cheers Chad and Sara!
For those who are into opening vintage whiskey, I recommend keeping a big bag of assorted corks, several empty bottles for filtering and transferring, good sharp blades for shaping a new cork. Be prepared for cork breaks and debris.
Vintage whiskey is a special treat!
Lots of RUclipsrs have hit their stride, creating great content that fits within their matrix norms. Chad & Sarah consistently pushing their own bar higher and higher creating exceptional content and not resting on their laurels all while not taking themselves too seriously. Keep it up you two
Wow, thank you for this comment! Seriously, that means the world to us!
Qq
Great vid. Thoughtful response. Congratulations on that bottle! Wow!!
As I watched I started thinking there could be a wide margin between “best I ever had that one time” and “favorite that I look forward to regularly”.
Thanks for walking us through your story and this bottle. I too get asked this question nearly all the time and the more I enjoy whisky the harder it is for me to answer. Also, everyone's taste is so personal that I hesitate when answering. Sure, this is what I love, but will they? Anyway, thanks again for sharing, cheers!
The best whiskey I've tasted is Eleanor from Crowded Barrel distillery in Texas. I pulled the trigger and bought it online and my son picked it up and brought it to me in Michigan. I love it.
When I was in college (1978) I got a bottle of Ezra Brooks 15 year old while on spring break in Florida that was fantastic. I had bought a backup bottle and opened it with my college friends in the early 2000’s and it was as fantastic as I remember. I do with I had kept the empty bottle.
I need a Cigarette after this review and I don't smoke. 😅😅
Way back in the 70’s I remember Old Granddad as a classy bourbon in magazine advertisements, but being a child there no way I was getting a bottle let alone a pour in bar lol. The way I see it these old dusty’s are window into a by gone era, and I appreciate both of you sharing your experience.
The best (ever) bourbon I've had the pleasure of drinking was... 1979 Old Weller Special 107-proof "Bottled in Bond"... So smooth, with no "burn" going down, and had strong hints of vanilla and coconut cream pie after-taste...!!! Simply Yummie
Note : This was back in 1987...
Sounds amazing!
When you think about it the best whisky you've ever tasted its really a quest were all on is it not? Its a description of the whole process. Thats why we try so many different ones. But the quest if never ending really. You know that in the back of your mind there's going to be something better, better is subject i know, but its the journey were all enjoying is it not. The sense of joy when we open a new bottle and the slight sadness when that bottle is empty like a farewell to an old friend. Ive been questing for 25 years and there are hundreds of bottles left to try. Great isnt it
My 1A, 1B, and 1C are OGD BIB ND 8yr from 1989 ( age stated on tax strip), Wild Turkey 12yr CGF, and Willett 24yr 94 proof Rye Bonilli barrel #446. All old whiskeys, all bottles i owned, 2 out of 3 i found in the wild back in the day. The Willett i traded a Pappy Van Winkle 15yr for it. Best trade i ever did. I miss vintage whiskey that was easily accessible. Great video!
It's official. I just watched Chad and Sarah have a POURgasm.
Totally agree with the categories for bests. Otherwise super difficult to narrow things down. Wonder what your all time favorite non-vintage would be. Look forward to seeing more "best ever tasted" episodes in certain categories. Thanks!
Don't know if you guys remember but you also had 81 ogd on the first timbp meetup that you were blown away with that I brought!
Oh yeah, we do remember that! That was great stuff, especially for a lower proof!
It's an easy question. Just answer. The best whiskey I've ever tasted was a bottle of jack Daniels SB, BP from winter of 2020 it was 135.1 proof. The second best so far was the knob Creek 2018 cask strength Rye. You have to do a little searching for it but it's still pretty well available even in the second half of 2021.
Just acquired a 1980 Lot 4 OGD 114, very excited 🥃
Ohhhh! Nice!
I got lucky enough to find nine pints of 1969 Cabin Still Stitzel Weller juice a little over a year ago at a liquor store for $6 a piece and I was amazed by the thickness and flavor compared to today's bourbon. Even though it was 86 proof , I enjoy it more than most of my allocated bottles. Modern bourbon isn't made like it used to be made.
Very well done. I’m going to fund a vintage tasting 😎
Thanks for the insight.
I usually watch all RUclips videos at 3.2X speed but this one I ran at 1X just so I could enjoy this experience with you guys. Great video and congrats on the find.
Great. Now I'm on the hunt for vintage OGD 114l Lol My best experience was also at Justin's House of Bourbon. I had the pleasure of drinking a 1984 Wild Turkey 101. Sublime...
OGD 114 is a great bourbon and my favorite daily drinker. I can only imagine how great the OLD OGD 114 tasted!
Love your passion. Sad to realize the quality is no longer where it's at with current bourbon.
had an ounce of 80s ogd114 at Jack Rose a few weeks ago. Insane. reminded me of cognac funnily.
My daughter used to ask me what my favorite ___ was, such as favorite car, favorite watch, etc. I finally told her that I have to have a favorite daughter since I only have one, and a favorite wife, but anything else I can have multiple ones that I like and I don't have to pick one single favorite.
Sounds so good! Thanks for taking us on the flavor ride of this delishous sounding whisky!
Some of the best bottles I have had are low bottle count single barrels also some of the worst I have had are low bottle count single barrels. 😄
Mines Lagavulin 11 Offerman edition finished in Guinness cask. Absolutely wonderful dram. And one of the only whisky I own multiple bottles of.
I hope yall dont get hate for this, there are so much amazing whiskey in the world we should all be happy to live in such times where there are literally thousands of options from all over the world and all of us get to have a slightly different experience in our whiskey travels. Enjoy what you can and be grateful so much exists.
Rebel Yell 101 10yr bottled in 1985. I worked at Stizel-Weller in early 90s when United Distillers owned it. I still have 4 bottles of SW juice left. I’m a little afraid to open another bottle knowing that I’ll never have any more and the new juice just doesn’t compare.
My roommate and I bought a chair from someone moving and he also gave us bottles he didn't want from his dad. I ended up with a 4/5 quart of OGD 86 proof screw cap that's been drank to the bottom of the next. I think it's 1980's. Also got 2 Canadian club's from the 60's (opened) and a black velvet from 1955 that's unopened.
Awesome video! OGD 114, yes. So much goodness out there and getting to taste an Old Dusty is a privilege and an honor
It's such a good question because 1 it's all subjective 2 there is so much out there I have never tried many times due to cost or straight availability but of what I have tasted cause that's all I can go by its Stagg Jr. But I also have to say JD single barrell barrell proof might be my favorite everyday sipper
Nice! My best ever is WLW but have never owned a bottle :-(
I can vouch. It's a wonderful whiskey!
Wow. Maybe a tough question, but this shot up to my favourite video on your channel. Thanks for opening that gem and sharing your thoughts. Please send ANY vintage of OGD114 to Canada! None here 😭
Thanks! Appreciate that :) And we’ll work on finding more OGD so Canada can experience it!
Wow as a Bourbon Beginner you two just blew my mind 👍🥃
Thanks!
Im not much of bourbon drinker, more of a single malt Scotch preference. To date, my favorite Scotch is one my brother bought to share (he also bought a few to collect) called Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix. If memory serves it is a 92 proof that was created when one of the Glenfiddich aging houses collapsed under a heavy snow load. It was amazing! Sadly, you cant find them anymore unless you know someone that has some and last time I checked, a bottle was going for $800+ so my brother isnt willing to part with the 6 he has left lol (I dont blame him)
The old man that Old Grand Dad is 8n honor of is none other than Basil Hayden.
Jack Daniels old no 7 when it was bottled at 86 proof pre- 2002 still my favorite tasting whiskey
Wow just freaking awesome great vid and congrats on the bottle
Great, great tip about allocating money for the experience of crafting ones own Vintage tasting experience. Thanks.
Even the new OGD 114/BIB IMO is a fantastic buy. I picked up an oddball bottle of Dickel 12 that blew my socks off. Can't seem to find that exact taste again though. Every sip was mindblowing. Same with a bottle of Laphroaig Select that initially tasted like gasoline. the 2nd half of that bottle was savored with only the tiniest of sips just so I could hold onto that flavor with a deathgrip.
You guys are great. Thanks for your insight.
Only the best for now until you find the next best one. For me it’s an endless search. So I just sit back and enjoy the journey. Cheers
Great story and great video. Thanks for offering an answer to an impossible to answer question. 👏👏👏👏 Cheers!
I'm afraid to try current OGD 114 because the worst whiskey I've ever had was a bottle of old Grand dad bottled in bond and I imagine the extra extra proof (lack of dilution) is just going to create a stronger version of the flavor profile that I did not like.
When I first had OGD 114 I didn’t like it. Tried it again a couple of years later and I liked it a lot. I just wasn’t ready for it when I first had it, but tastes really change when you’re really diving into whiskey.
I introduced my sons to a range of whiskeys so they could find their preferences. My youngest son tasted OGD114 one time and said “that’s it!” That WAS it. He knew right away. My older son has different preferences (likes rye, for instance) but still loves OGD114. It’s only one bottle! Buy it, drink it, savor it, try something else. It’s easy!😊
You two always do a great job, but I especially appreciate this episode. Obviously, we're not all going to be able to magically grab a bottle of OGD 114 from the 1980s, but it's so cool to know that you did and to hear your thoughts on it. Great advice about trying elusive and expensive pours at bourbon bars, which I will definitely do. Final note: I had a friend over serve me some Templeton Rye a few years back when I was a newb and the ensuing hangover was vicious. But after listening to Sara rave about Pikesville, I decided to give it a try and it was very nice. Keep doing what you do.
Hay Chad just an FYI there is a product called Bloxygen that you can put in the bottle of your OGD 114 to displace the air in the neck and help preserve it for a much longer time check it out
I haven't had nearly as much experience as y'all have - I only started drinking whisky in September of 2021. But I have no trouble saying that the best whisky I've ever had is Balcones Texas Pot Still Bourbon (the second best is very nearly as good - Balcones Lineage Texas Single Malt Whisky). There may be better juice out there, but if so I've never tasted it, and probably it's out of my price range anyway (the Pot Still Bourbon is only $30 here in Albuquerque). 🙂
I hope current OGD 114 doesn't get any harder to find due to this. Mine is almost gone and I'm having a hard time replacing it.
The current OGD 114 is one of the best I have ever had. The oldest I have tasted was Old Rip Van Winkle from just before WW2 (30's or 40's vintage).
I don't even like being asked "What's your favorite whiskey? " . I mean, how does a parent answer when asked which child is their favorite? Lol. But seriously, because there's a broad spectrum of categories it can be a tedious question. I can tell you my favorite daily drinker, best bang-for-your-buck whiskey, favorite Bottled in Bond or Cask Strength... but I can't just tell someone my favorite overall. It's too hard!
We all know parents have favorite children.....
Thanks for sharing your thoughts,
What would you have done if the cork separated from the cap? Pour it into a different bottle? Look for another stopper that fit?
Yep, pour it into another bottle, using a sieve if any cork got into the whiskey, and then look for another cork to replace the original after washing out the bottle to get any cork bits out of it.
Great video, thank you for sharing your tasting experience with these very old OGD’s that you’ve tried. I think older whiskey most times does taste better than it’s current version, I’ve experienced this myself in blind tastings. I have my theories as to why but perhaps we’ll never know why.
A couple months from now after some air has mixed in the bottle your OGD 114 will taste even better, and who knows maybe as good as your friend’s OGD.
Great show, I watch/listen to every one. I learn a lot from you folks and Ralfy as well. Thanks, m
Q: have you tried any of the Balcones products? They have a single cask, single malt bottled at cask strength that is super. I find that decanting it into another vessel gets some air into it then about 10 ml of water produces an outstanding if intense experience.
Cheers,
M D
I can't afford the higher priced Balcones stuff, and I couldn't stand their rye. But my favorite whisky of all time (so far - I've only been drinking whisky for 16 months) is their Pot Still Bourbon. The only thing I've ever had that even comes close is the Lineage Single Malt. These whiskies are so dense, so intense, so vibrant, that it amazes me that anyone could ever not like them (though some people have downright nasty things to say about Balcones). And their Baby Blue corn whisky is right fine too - it drinks like a pretty good bourbon.
Very cool. I love the vintage bourbon library at BBC.
My best and favorite is Jack Daniels green label.
Is it bad that I knew what it was gonna be before I clicked on the video?
I have not had any vintage, but when out I always do try to taste things I have never had.
Tonight was a good example. We got to Red Robin and they have a shit selection. I ended up with a 2 shot neat of Pendleton. I am not a fan of Canadian, but this was at least better than CR which was also on the shelf.
Great episode and exceptional commentary on vintage bottles! Well played Chad & Sara!
"Make it stop... but don't!" Lolol
Speaking of vintage, we found a bottle of Henry McKenna Sour Mash 6 year from the late 1960’s in my parents’ house.
Not sure what to do with it other that pop it someday and drink it because I don’t know if anyone would be willing to pay much for it.
Hi. K&L has to vintage Wild Turkey 8 yrs 1987 and 1988!
I absolutely love OGD 114 (modern), and it’s now my go-to “cheap” bourbon. Just so many great flavors to be had for around $23 here in Austin when I can find it. I’d love to have a sip of the original brand. Enjoy!
This tastes nothing like the new stuff.
Proof Hounds rise up! 114 is the low end of high proof.
Very interesting video! I feel the same way with how you explained best movie- Are we talking about what I think is the best movie ever made, or the movie that I could watch a 100 times and still enjoy it? They're not the same thing.
I have still never tasted a bourbon that I would pay over $200 for, maybe someday. Cheers
Have you sampled 1984 wild turkey 101? My friend at work asked me if I was interested in some old decanters and of course I said yes! Well one of them was full 😎
It is delicious and definitely has a nice subtle dry antique flavor. Makes me want to explore more antique bottles
We’ve had some 101s around that year but I don’t think we’ve had exactly an ‘84. Would love to try one, obviously! Always on the look out for dusty pours.
I love your choice (!!!) even though we will never see this bottle, ever. Had you pulled a bottle of something less unusual I would have been disappointed.
Now I have to look for one)))) I had pleasure to taste couple of vintage ones probably was impressed with wild turkey and for roses, I will definitely looking forward trying this one. Awesome knowledge great job thank you guys.
Mouth watering! What a great review and an awesome bottle. Thanks for sharing
What do you consider a substantial amount of money for a vintage bottle?
Love me some good Whiskey history ! Cheers Chad & Sara !
I feel a trip to Justin’s HOB this weekend. Cheers! 🥃
You all are making my mouth water!
quick story. my daughter was born in 1980. instead of cigars, i passed out nips of old grand dad with pink ribbons. but for myself, i bought a bottle of the og 114. after drinking, i filled it with bourbon-food-colored water and still have it on a bookshelf (with one of the unopened nips). just checked it. it says special edition on the neck (and lot 1, barrel proof on the back) but otherwise the same. thanks for letting me know what it tasted like!
In 1983 I knew nothing about whiskey. I did work in a liquor store when in college and remember buying airplane size bottles of OGD 114 to mix with ginger ale. I remember it being so much better than Jack Daniels.
And the perfect Glen to pour the vintage spirit into.
Smoke wagon UCUF batch 55. The best I’m pretty sure I have ever tasted. I can’t think of anything else at the moment. Ask me this time next year and I’m sure my answer will change.
Such a cool videos and what a special bottle thanks you two!
Great video, guys, and I agree, I'm often asked this question and even after almost 4000 tastings now, I can't answer this question easily because of many factors (mainly because it is due to personal taste, personal sensorial history, specific moments of time, etc...) but I tried to answer to it at least for me & my viewers in a video called "15 exceptional whiskies to try before you die", but, as many of these whiskies weren't available anymore or for some crazy money, I brought up some affordable alternatives to them, hoping people will accept the idea of it & maybe have a hint of what the "first choice" whiskies could be...And even if there is a kind of order in the video, any of those ones picked could be "said to be" my favorite whisky...Well done also for some statements in the video in the beginning explaining the difficulties of a proper assessment...About your OGD 114, I almost had my hand on one from after 1989, but probably very close to it...To put a long story short I was given a difficult choice to pick at fair prices rarities in an estate lot & I did pick rather old scotches but I was told this was good, despite not being as rare (& from the original distillery) as yours. I hope we'll hear again of this bottle once it'll open up more, Cheers & enjoy your treat !
The greatest bourbon I ever had was a 2009 Stagg (141 proof) that I won in a lottery at infamous Le'Nells Brooklyn back in the day.
The greatest vintage bottle I've ever tasted was at Canon Seattle, 1972 Taragona Green Chartreuse (also the most expensive pour I've ever had the pleasure of paying for @ $450 for 2 oz taste)...and worth every damn penny.
I can't pick favorites. Whether I prefer chocolate chip cookies or brownies depends mostly on my mood in the moment.
In reading through the comments I came across a few people wondering - and it's a valid question - why bourbon today isn't what it used to be. I've only been drinking whisky for a bit more than a year, so I have no experience of that, but I do know that Four Roses, which today is a right good bourbon, was a crummy blended cheap thing back in the 70s. So sometimes distilleries (or their owners - very few big distilleries are still independent) just decided to change things. They may even think they have compelling reasons to do so (e.g. Maker's Mark, some years ago, deciding to lower the proof on their main expression...though they almost immediately rescinded that idea when people rose up against it).
But I think one factor is likely to be the stills. Column stills of course go way back to the 1800s, but for a long time pot stills were the traditional way to make all whisky (and in some places they still are - Scotland, for instance, finally starting using column stills for some things, but all the major distilleries, if I'm not mistaken, use pot stills for their base spirit). And because a column still is more efficient, it produces "purer" alcohol, with fewer congeners in it - and congeners are what provide the flavor going into the barrel. The barrel provides a lot of the flavor in the final product (at least 50%, from what I gather, and some would say considerably more than that), but the more flavorful the white dog, the more flavorful the whisky when you dump the barrel. If we give numerical figures to the white dog and to the barrel, just to make things easy, we might say that the one is 3 coming off a column still and 5 from a pot still, and the barrel is also a 5. Well, 3+5=8, but 5+5=10 - meaning that the more flavorful white dog from a pot still will produce a more tasty final product.
Now I don't know when column stills became standard in bourbon, and if they came in early enough then that'll blow my hypothesis out of the water. But I suspect that is at least in part the answer to the question.
I drank some Old Grand Dad 1984 in 1987. It was good, but I was chasing a buzz not a taste.
fully off topic from this succulent looking bottle
what knife did you open it with?
out of curiosity what did this bottle set you back?
For me, BTAC WLW from 2016 is the brst I have had out of about 400+. Pappy 25 would be next...
I don’t think we’ve had the ‘16 WLW, but we’ve had half a dozen or so different years of WLW and they never disappoint! The hazmat WLW was incredible. We’ve had the Van Winkle 25, but unfortunately it was on a night where we had a lot of other things. Couldn’t really fully appreciate it.
@@ItsBourbonNight The WLW had the wheat smoothness (yeah SMOOTH at 136 proof) and an absolute flavor explosion that is stunning. Like being in a bourbon avalanche.... The P25 was a tiny quarter shot, but was a freebie. I also love a good old Willett Family Estate bourbon.... NOBODY makes bourbon that tastes like Willett FE. The 20+ year olds make my eyes roll back....
@@raminadeo1 I dig it, man! Thanks for sharing! Technically, someone makes it like Willett Family Estate though, because stuff that old is sourced since their distillery didn’t get back online until 2012. BUT, if it’s not a single barrel and maybe a small batch, there is expert skill in blending barrels together, in which at that point, yeah no one could do it as well as them!
Honestly my infinity bottle