Old Fitzgerald BIB

[cowdery]

Last night I was sipping some Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond neat and wondering how to describe it. Just now it struck me: "...and visions of sugarplums danced in my head," or rather, on my tongue. The most remarkable characteristic of this bourbon is its marvelous, almost liqueur-like sweetness. People often ask me what is my favorite bourbon. I usually aver, because I have many "favorites," but if given the desert island choice I would have to say Old Fitz BIB.

--Chuck Cowdery

[Guest **DONOTDELETE**]

Chuck,

If Old Fitzgerald BIB is a favorite of yours, order some David Nicholson from Randall's right away, while they still have some. It's really 7-year-old Old Fitzgerald 100 proof (even says so on the label) and it's wonderful stuff. It has the regular Old Fitz BIB flavor in spades. I asked Julian about it and he said that the bourbon was made at Stitzel-Weller and could easily be even older than the stated seven years. He also said, "...The label was owned by my family until last year when we sold it to David Shermann in St. Louis. It for years was THE premium Bourbon in St, Louis... It is sold only in Missouri and southern Illinois."

=John=

http://w3.one.net/~jeffelle/whiskey

[Guest **DONOTDELETE**]

Don't have anything to add here other than a big ditto. I've only had one bottle of this but can't think of any other whiskey I enjoyed more besides Wild Turkey Rye. I don't have access to it in Texas but I plan on buying in bulk when I go home to Illinois for the holidays...could it be that the best whiskey comes in a green bottle?

[Guest **DONOTDELETE**]

Chuck what is the difference between the Weller recipe and that of Old Fitz?

Linn Spencer

Have Shotglass. Will Travel.

[cowdery]

"what is the difference between the Weller recipe and that of Old Fitz?"

Not a thing. Same recipe.

--Chuck Cowdery

[cowdery]

Thanks for the tip, John.

--Chuck Cowdery

[jbutler]

John,

How does one go about contacting Randall's?

Regards,

Jim Butler

StraightBourbon.com

[tdelling]

>How does one go about contacting Randall's?

It would seem that they have re-named themselves!

I have two links that will get you there:

http://randalls.site.yahoo.net/randalls/spirits.html

and

http://www.internetwines.com/

Some of their prices are wonderfully low, while others are annoyingly high.

It pays to shop around!

We should probably put together a canonical listing of bourbon vending websites, although it would be a little work keeping it updated, but in my mind worth the trouble.

[Guest **DONOTDELETE**]

Jim,

In addition to Tim's URLs, there is also <u>http://www.spiritsofstlouis.com/spirits.html</u>, which I think is still the same place. At least they list "randall@apci.net" as their email address. It also maintains the same, shall we say, light-hearted approach to classifying American whiskies.

On Randall's, look for 1843 Bond under BONDED (their whiskey categories are BONDED, BOURBON, and SINGLE BARREL, with no particular distinction as to what might be found in any of them -- including blends, corn, and sometimes even wine). According to the current listings, the price is $13.46 for the 750ml bottle (plus shipping).

On Spirits of St. Louis, you will find the same bottle listed as David Nicholson 1843 Bourbon 7yr, also under BONDED, but this time it says it costs $16.37 and the stock number is different. So now I don't know if they're the same company or not. Whatever, they must at least share the same catalog organization staff. As an example of what I mean, note that the BONDED category is illustrated with a photo of the Old Fitz bottle... Real nice, except that Old Fitzgerald 100 proof BIB isn't listed under that category; instead, you'll find it with the "O"'s under "BOURBON: A-E" (???). Finding the whiskey you want is a fun challenge, sort of like reading the translated instructions on technical products made in a country that speaks a language different from your own.

=John=

http://w3.one.net/~jeffelle/whiskey

[bluesbassdad]

Chuck,

What is your opinion of todays Old Fitz BIB (#1 & #37)?

I blasted it in a post a few days ago, in the long-ago thread started by vasshopper, but that was only fair after what it did to me.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

Retiree, Musician, Dog-Lover, Whiskey-Drinker

[cowdery]

I haven't had a bad bottle yet, but don't think I've had any post-Stitzel bottlings. I'll let you know when I do.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://cowdery.home.netcom.com>--Chuck Cowdery</A>

[Barrel_Proof]

Bump. After reading more than a few postings describing Stagg, curiously, as "sweet," I cracked the seal on a new bottle of Old Fitz BIB. Holy smokes!! Open the windows!! Now THIS is what a sweet bourbon tastes like boys and girls. This bottle of OF BIB is pure CRACKER JACK: popcorn, caramel, and peanuts. Wow! This ain't like ANYTHING I've tasted in a dozen months of Sundays. I'm sure if I have another dram my cracker jack bourbon prize will appear!

Just to test myself, I dove deep into the bunker to find the David Nicholson 1843, 7yo BIB, which others have described as OF BIB, just older. Well, dang if these two don't taste a world apart, even if they started from the same mashbill: The DN 1843 is caramel, indeed, but it ain't got no peanuts. The OF BIB is caramel, yes, but it's got peanuts, too, and we're talkin' lotsa peanuts!!

You gotta check this out. Try a recent OF BIB and tell us if you don't taste CRACKER JACK before you set that glass down. I'm going further, though: This Cracker Jack of a bottle is heading to the gazebo in September. Whoa, Nellie!

[bobbyc]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />

I'm going further, though: This Cracker Jack of a bottle is heading to the gazebo in September. Whoa, Nellie

[Barrel_Proof]

Bobby, the OF BIB "cracker jack" I wrote about is from DSP-KY-1, while the tamer, though older, DN 1843 is from DSP-KY-16. What can you tell us about the differences?

[bobbyc]

Cliff does that OF BIB say DSP 1 only or does it say Distilled AT DSP1 and Bottled At DSP16?

DSP16 was Stitzel Weller at Shively. DSP 1 was at 17th and Breckinridge, AKA Bernhiem , United, And now is Heaven Hill. I also went to the Bunker and found a OFBIB that says Distilled at dsp16 bottled at dsp24 I guess at the end of the day DSP 16 is what we are looking for.

[Barrel_Proof]

You're a sharp one, there Bobby; a fine print kinda guy, I see!

Cracker Jack is a recently acquired bottle that reads: distilled by DSP-KY-1; bottled at DSP-KY-31.

What does this all mean, o' wise one?

[bobbyc]

All it means is the whiskey was produced by United and Bottled by Heaven Hill , We will see more of this as it goes along, Heaven Hill owns the Old Fitz Label, It would seem more like it is entrusted to their care and they no doubt, will leave it's intrigrity intact. There's something about the Stitzel Weller Distillery , a romance or nostalgia that evokes in some , a light in their eyes at the mention of it followed by a sigh or hanging of the head. It truly was once a great enterprise and got a short shift from Diageo.

[Barrel_Proof]

Tonight the StraightBourbon.com forum members discovered that there are more variants of OF BIB than any of them, individually, could ever have imagined. Fortunately, for this poster and his gazebo buddies, the Cracker Jack bottle is safely bunkered away. (I promise to leave at least half the peanuts in the bottle!)

[bluesbassdad]

B.P.,

The distillery codes on Cracker Jack match the codes on a bottle that I went eight rounds with a few months back. (I lost on a split decision.) Of course, my memory isn't good enough to recall such an obscure fact, but fortunately for me I recorded that info in a post.

Ever since then I've had it in the back of my mind that if Chuck likes it (and he does), then I need to give it another chance someday. The last time I tried to buy another bottle, my hand refused to follow orders, and I grabbed a bottle of OF 1849, instead. (I've found that I like it just fine, for the price -- the same as the BIB at Hi Time -- when they actually have it in stock.)

Your report has caused me to renew my intention to pick up another bottle of the BIB the next time I make a liquor run to Costa Mesa.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[boone]

DSP KY #31 is Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc....

DSP KY #1 is our (Heaven Hill) Bernheim facility...(Distillery)...

Heaven Hill bought the distillery from United Distiller's...we bought the label (Old Fitz.) at the same time...

This is Bond...federal law requires that the DSP# on the label and the product in the bottle is distilled by that DSP #...

The julian date on the---side--- of the bottle will tell the exact date it was bottled...Most of the time it's there...

Bettye Jo

[cowdery]

It bears repeating that good distillers will try to match a brands taste profile, even as ownership and even distilleries change. Overall, I think OF BIB has kept a very sweet taste profile, even if there are discernible differences between the DSP 16 and DSP 1 whiskeys.

[bobbyc]

I stopped at the liquor store which has the 1.75 of Old Fitz BIB and it is a DSP16 so it is an older bottle . It has been there for years and I will pick it up in a week or so if it doesn't get snapped up by then. He also has a number of the Ky Spirit with Pewter Stoppers, Damn I need to sell a guitar! But alas I only jest, I couldn't sell them or if I did I would be in such extremity that Bourbon wouldn't be in the mix. ( Read Food or Rent!)

[vasshopper]

Bobby grab that bottle if it says dsp-16 only on the bottle. it is the best!!!!! if it says 16 and 24 it won,t taste as good. the s/w bottlings bottled before approx. 1985 tastes the best. if you really want the best get the one made and bottled in the 70,s if you can find them. i know because i have about 25 gallons of the old stuff. pure ambrosia as Chuck Cowdery would say. It is the best bourbon i,ve ever tasted. try KUHLS liquor across from the explorer plant in louisville cause i was in a hurry and might have missed some. good luck and the older bottlings are the best if you know what to look for. life is good--den

[bobbyc]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />

i know because i have about 25 gallons of the old stuff.

[Paradox]

Haha, you're not kidding Bobby! My collection now somehow feels inferior...

I'm going to definately have to search some of this out, considering how someone finds it good enough to put away that much of it!

--> Mark