Finding a container from the old fitzgerald 7 year old bottled in bond bourbon 700ml feels a bit like getting a vintage leather jacket that will fits perfectly on the first try out. It's rare, it's stylish, and this carries a weight associated with history that you can sense before you even take a drink. If you've spent at any time looking from whiskey shelves lately, you know that the Old Fitzgerald decanter series has turn out to be a bit of a "holy grail" for collectors. But beyond the fancy bottle and the prestige, there's the really interesting story about what's in fact inside the glass.
The 7-year-old expression is often considered the "entry point" of this high quality series from Heaven Hill, but don't let the age statement fool you. In the entire world of wheated bourbons, seven years is usually often a "sweet spot" where the grain's natural sweet taste hasn't been completely overtaken from the wooden of the barrel. It's a balance that a lot of people really prefer over the particular much older, oakier 15 or 17-year-old releases.
Exactly why the Bottled in Bond Label In fact Matters
Whenever you see "Bottled in Bond" upon the old fitzgerald 7 year old bottled in bond bourbon 700ml , it's not just some marketing fluff made to make the container look old-timey. It actually refers to the Bottled-in-Bond Action of 1897. Back again then, people had been putting all kinds of nasty stuff in whiskey—tobacco spit, iodine, you title it—just to create it look aged. The government stepped in to make a group of rules that guaranteed quality.
To put on that "Bonded" label, the whiskey has to be the product of one distillery, from one distilling season, aged in a federally bonded warehouse for from least four years, and bottled at exactly 100 proof (50% ABV). When you're drinking this Old Fitz, you know exactly exactly what you're getting. There's no blending through different states or watering it down to a lower evidence to save money. It's honest rum.
That Well-known Decanter Design
Let's be actual for a second: part of why we all like the old fitzgerald 7 year old bottled in bond bourbon 700ml is the bottle by itself. It's inspired by an innovative 1950s Old Fitzgerald diamond decanter. It looks such as something your grandfather would have maintained a mahogany sideboard next to a stack of jazz music records. It's large, it's glass, and it has that satisfying "thunk" when you arranged it down upon a table.
Heaven Hill do a brilliant work reviving this look. In an ocean of standard wine-shaped whiskey bottles, this one stands out there. It's the type of bottle a person don't throw apart once it's empty. You rinse it out, peel away from the tax strip, and use it being a water carafe or an infinity bottle for your own home blends. But while the packaging is excellent, we're in charge of the bourbon.
What Does It In fact Taste Like?
If you're utilized to spicy rye-heavy bourbons like Wild Poultry or Bulleit, this really is going to be a change of pace. Old Fitzgerald uses wheat since the secondary materials instead of rye. This makes the profile less harsh plus "rounder. "
When you put a glass associated with the old fitzgerald 7 year old bottled in bond bourbon 700ml , the particular nose hits you with a lot of classic wheated notes. I'm speaking about honey, butterscotch, and maybe the little bit associated with dried apricot. It doesn't have that sharp black spice up burn on the nose. Instead, it smells a little such as walking right into a bakery where someone simply pulled a tray of cinnamon proceeds out of the oven.
Upon the palate, it's oily and finish. That 100 evidence is the ideal "Goldilocks" strength. It's strong enough in order to carry the flavors—cocoa, toasted oak, plus a bit associated with cherry—but it isn't so hot that will it numbs your own tongue. The 7-year age statement maintains it bright. You still get some of this fresh grain sweetness, which performs really well with the particular vanilla notes through the charred oak. The finish is definitely medium-long, leaving the nice warm glow and a lingering taste of caramel.
The 700ml Shift in the particular Whiskey World
You might notice that the old fitzgerald 7 year old bottled in bond bourbon 700ml comes in a slightly smaller size compared to traditional 750ml bottles we've seen in the particular States for decades. This particular is actually component of a bigger change in the industry. With regard to a long period, the US needed 750ml while the particular rest of the world used 700ml. Recently, the laws changed in order to allow 700ml containers in the united states market.
Regarding collectors, this is actually a good thing. It makes it easier for distilleries in order to ship exactly the same bottles globally, which ideally means really this "good stuff" makes it onto racks everywhere. Though, let's be honest, 50ml less just means you need to savor those last few falls a bit more carefully.
Is the 7-Year Worthy of the Hunt?
This is actually the big question. Because are limited in season releases (usually being released in Spring plus Fall), they get snatched up fast. If you find a bottle associated with the old fitzgerald 7 year old bottled in bond bourbon 700ml at its recommended retail price, you need to grab it with out hesitating. It's an incredible example of a premium wheated bourbon.
However, the particular secondary market may get a little bit silly. Some individuals try to turn these for three or four occasions their value. Is usually it an excellent whiskey? Absolutely. Could it be worthy of $500? Probably not. Simply no whiskey really is, unless of course it comes along with a deed in order to a small tropical isle. But if you're looking for a special bottle to celebrate the birthday or the promotion, or else you just want to treat yourself to 1 of the most lovely bottles in the business, the 7-year Old Fitz is usually a stellar selection.
How in order to Enjoy Your Container
Some individuals get really precious about high-end bourbon, but I'm a firm believer that you ought to drink it nevertheless you enjoy it most. That mentioned, if you've managed to get your own hands on the old fitzgerald 7 year old bottled in bond bourbon 700ml , I'd suggest starting neat. Give it regarding ten minutes in the glass in order to breathe. Because it's a wheater, this opens up attractively with a little air.
In case you find the particular 100 proof a bit punchy, add just a couple of drops of room-temperature water. It's like arriving the particular volume on the fruit and flower notes while phone dialing back the alcohol heat. I probably wouldn't use this particular for a cocktail—not because it wouldn't make a killer Old Fashioned, but because it feels like a bit of a waste to hide these subtle flavors below sugar and bitters.
Final Thoughts
The old fitzgerald 7 year old bottled in bond bourbon 700ml symbolizes a cool intersection of history and modern craft. It's a tribute to the legacy of Julian "Pappy" Van Winkle (who once ran the Stitzel-Weller distillery where Old Fitz was born) plus the modern mastery of the folks at Heaven Hill.
It's not just a trophy regarding a shelf; it's a really well-put-together bourbon that will remind us why we all started drinking the particular stuff in the very first place. It's compound, it's inviting, and contains a personality almost all its own. In case you note that natural label which well-known decanter staring back at you from a liquor shop shelf, do yourself a favor and bring it home. Just create sure you might have a few good company to talk about it with, mainly because whiskey this good shouldn't be drank alone.