Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 9 Year Spring 2025

A little background

Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 9 Year Spring 2025, produced by Heaven Hill Distillery, is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey crafted from barrels distilled in the spring of 2016 and bottled in the spring of 2025. This fifteenth national release in the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Decanter Series adheres to the strict bottled-in-bond standards, featuring a single distillery and distilling season, a minimum of four years aging, and bottling at 100 proof (50% ABV), with a mash bill of 75% corn, 20% wheat, and 5% malted barley. Presented in an ornate decanter with a signature green label and a tax strip denoting production and bottling details, this 750ml release carries a suggested retail price of $129.99 and is available on an allocated basis.

Heaven Hill Distillery, founded in 1935 by the Shapira family, upholds a legacy of American Whiskey production, maintaining over 2 million barrels across more than 70 warehouses in Nelson and Jefferson Counties, Kentucky. The Old Fitzgerald line, acquired by Heaven Hill in 1999, is renowned for its luxury heritage, historically sold on elite rail lines and steamships, with its packaging inspired by a 1950s diamond decanter and featuring a key graphic symbolizing its “Your key to hospitality” slogan.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn glass)

Color

Gold

Nose

Honeydew, stone fruit (peaches), smoked bacon, apples, orange taffy, sweet lemon cream, cocoa, and oak.

Palate

Orange citrus, melon, Snapple lemon sweet tea, vanilla, cinnamon, butterscotch, apple pie, baking spice, and oak.

Finish

Mocha, lemon sweet tart, butterscotch, cinnamon, apple pie filling, oak, and vanilla.

In closing

The Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 9 Year Spring 2025 delivers a compelling experience that evolves with each sip, starting with a sweet and expressive nose of honeydew, peaches, and oak that grows more vibrant over time. Its corn-forward palate bursts with orange citrus, melon, and warm baking spices, offering a pleasant flavor attack and a satisfying, viscous mouthfeel. The long finish, rich with mocha, butterscotch, and apple pie notes, keeps you engaged, though a slightly youthful edge hints at untapped potential. This bourbon is a strong addition to the Old Fitzgerald legacy, rewarding patient sippers with depth and charm, even if it leaves just a touch to be desired.

The Bourbon tasted for this review was provided by Heaven Hill Distillery with no strings attached.