Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond 100 proof - Current Stuff

[BunkerBooze]

Hello All:

I just found some current Old Fitz BIB 100pf (no faux tax stamp). I was wondering if you all can help me in deciding whether to buy it or not since this whiskey is not the old SW version.

1) How does it taste compared to the old SW?

2) Is it worth buying for $17 for a 750ml?

3) Is the current stuff being discontinued?

Thank you all.

[Josh]

Hello All:

I just found some current Old Fitz BIB 100pf (no faux tax stamp). I was wondering if you all can help me in deciding whether to buy it or not since this whiskey is not the old SW version.

1) How does it taste compared to the old SW?

2) Is it worth buying for $17 for a 750ml?

3) Is the current stuff being discontinued?

Thank you all.

1) Dunno, haven't had the old version, but based on other S-Ws I've had, the current one is probably not as good.

2) Yes.

3) Don't think so.

I think it's the only member of the current Old Fitz lineup that is worth springing for. It's a good, solid wheater. Not spectactular, but drinkable and affordable, with nice sweetness and burn. Good for cooking too.

[IronHead]

Have you had SW Old Fitz BiB? If so don't bother buying the new version. It will be a let down. The first Old Fitz BiB I tasted was SW whiskey. That pretty much set the benchmark for that label for me. One day I was in a store and decided I would buy a bottle of the current Old Fitz BiB. I had one pour from the bottle. Now, that doesn't mean that the juice inside is horrible. It's just that I associate the label with the SW taste profile so I had no desire to revisit. That being said, if I hadn't dumped the bottle to make room for stuff I actually liked I would send you a sample.

Everyone's taste is different so maybe it would be worth it to pick up a 375 ml to give it a try.

[unclebunk]

That being said, if I hadn't dumped the bottle to make room for stuff I actually liked I would send you a sample. Everyone's taste is different so maybe it would be worth it to pick up a 375 ml to give it a try.

Whew! Dumped it, eh? :bigeyes: I've only had one bottle of whiskey out of hundreds that sucked so bad that I dumped it (Old Bardstown), so it's got to be pretty shitty for me to even consider it. I wouldn't go so far as to say that I love Old Fitz BIB, but I can't remember a time when there wasn't some in my house. And when I finish off a bottle, it's replaced immediately. I think OF BIB is a very respectable pour and a fine example of a solid, old fashioned bourbon like my old man used to drink. But that's just me and we've all got different tastes, as you said. So my advice, from Uncle Bunk to BunkerBooze, is to buy a bottle and check it out for yourself.

[ILLfarmboy]

I've never had the SW Old Fitzgerald so I can't comment on it, but it does seem to be highly thought of.

I drank several bottles of the current BIB earlier this fall/winter. I got tired of it and after buying some EW SB, which I hadn't had since the '93 vintage, I didn't want the Old Fitz much. If I had a hankering for HH juice, I turned to the EW SB.

If it was me I'd put the $17 toward something else, OGD BIB or OWA. But that's just me. Old Fitz BIB is something I can easily tire of.

[BunkerBooze]

thanks guys for your reply and advice. greatly appreciated!!!

[fishnbowljoe]

I'd go ahead and get a bottle if I were you. It doesn't compare to the SW OF BIB, but it's still a decent bourbon, at a decent price. Just my opinion. Joe

[tommyboy38]

I enjoy both the old and new bottlings of Old Fitz BIB.

[T Comp]

I enjoy both the old and new bottlings of Old Fitz BIB.

Must be a Chicago thang as I do too. I recently did a blind side by side with an 08 bottling and was pleasantly surprised, even though different, I liked them both as much. One of the professional critics, can't remember/verify who right now, recently had good things to say about the current bottling also. On the flip side, a current Old Fitz 86 proof Prime was just nasty stuff. After handing it off to my wife for cooking she even pitched it down the drain.

[ggilbertva]

As much as I purchased over the years, all of them were SW with the exception of two that were Bernheim (which is really delicious). I just recently picked up a HH release but have yet to open it. The color is significantly lighter than any other Fitz BIB I have.

[ggilbertva]

I've never had the SW Old Fitzgerald so I can't comment on it, but it does seem to be highly thought of.

Brad - have you tried any SW bourbon?

[StraightBoston]

My only time trying the current version, I found it hot and thin -- disappointing. The current Weller family is still a yummy wheater to my tastes; Rebel Yell will get you the "thin" without the "hot".

[SMOWK]

I'm not a big fan of the current stuff. I pick up a bottle now and then to give it yet another try, if only because it's usually under $15/750ml. I always end up leaving it for the wolves around the poker table though.

I'm forgetful, I'm sure I'll do it again.

[Phantos]

The current old Fitz BiB is a great solid pour.

I actually love the stuff for the value.

[ILLfarmboy]

Brad - have you tried any SW bourbon?

Sad to say, no I don't recall ever having any. Not till I realy got into trying diferent bourbons did I drink anything but WT products and the ocational MM and EW Black back when it was an age stated 7 year. Sometime around '03.

[cowdery]

Bernheim-made Fitz BIB is a good, solid whiskey for the money, not perhaps as good as the SW editions, but still a good drink and a good value.

In some ways comparison to the SW product is unfair, because a lot of that in later years was from the glut period, when most bottlings were likely several years older than the 4 years you had a right to expect.

[ggilbertva]

Bernheim-made Fitz BIB is a good, solid whiskey for the money, not perhaps as good as the SW editions, but still a good drink and a good value.

In some ways comparison to the SW product is unfair, because a lot of that in later years was from the glut period, when most bottlings were likely several years older than the 4 years you had a right to expect.

I agree. I found two bottles of Fitz BIB from Bernheim. I opened one and actually liked it over the last run of Fitz BIB from SW. As you said, a good solid whiskey and one I wish I could find more of.

[TBoner]

Not much current and/or Bernheim Old Fitz BIB around here, unfortunately. Three years ago, I took a trip to Chicago and sampled some Old Fitz BIB from various bars and liquor stores (much easier to find there) and was impressed. It's different than the S-W stuff, but very good: rich, candied mouthfeel and a big caramel explosion. Not much cherry nor as much complexity as some well-aged S-W, but comparable cotton candy on the nose, as I recall. I brought home a couple of pints, but they've long since been consumed. Would love to find it easily here in Dallas (one chain has some on the shelves, but their stores keep shutting down...where does the inventory go?).

Regards,

Tim

[T Comp]

As much as I purchased over the years, all of them were SW with the exception of two that were Bernheim (which is really delicious). I just recently picked up a HH release but have yet to open it. The color is significantly lighter than any other Fitz BIB I have.

Greg, Isn't it all from Bernheim, up to today, once the SW/DSP 16 juice ran out? Just curious, if you had a time frame for your two that are "really delicious"? Or are you referring to Bernheim distilled/ DSP 1 juice, before Heaven Hill owned Bernheim. That would then be Old Fitz BIB put out by Diaego, labeled as DSP 1/ bottled at DSP 24, which I have never seen or knew existed.

I know that Heaven Hill bought Bernheim distillery and the Old Fitz brand in 1999, from Diageo, which coincides with when DSP 1/ bottled at DSP 31 labels start to appear on the BIB. Did Heaven Hill get any SW juice in the sale or was there even any left that would go into Old Fitz? I presume not, as I have never seen a DSP 16/ bottled at DSP 31 either.

[ggilbertva]

Greg, Isn't it all from Bernheim, up to today, once the SW/DSP 16 juice ran out? Just curious, if you had a time frame for your two that are "really delicious"? Or are you referring to Bernheim distilled/ DSP 1 juice, before Heaven Hill owned Bernheim. That would then be Old Fitz BIB put out by Diaego, labeled as DSP 1/ bottled at DSP 24, which I have never seen or knew existed.

I know that Heaven Hill bought Bernheim distillery and the Old Fitz brand in 1999, from Diageo, which coincides with when DSP 1/ bottled at DSP 31 labels start to appear on the BIB. Did Heaven Hill get any SW juice in the sale or was there even any left that would go into Old Fitz? I presume not, as I have never seen a DSP 16/ bottled at DSP 31 either.

Thad,

The juice in the bottle I had was Bernheim prior to the HH purchase. They bought that in 1999, and IIRC the bottling date on mine was 2001 which puts distillation somewhere around '96/'97. It was distilled DSP-1 but I'll have to look and see what the bottling DSP was (I'm at work right now). It could very well show bottling from DSP-31 but the juice in that bottle definitely got my attention ....very good stuff.

[cigarnv]

I find the current Fitz BIB a decent pour for the $$. Nothing that jumps out as WOW but at the same time nothing disagreeable.