Credit: Lost Cargo
Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond is a wheated bourbon produced by Heaven Hill Distillery. It is typically released on an allocated basis twice a year, in the spring and fall. Occasionally, a distillery-only release is also made available.
Old Fitzgerald is a historic bourbon brand with roots dating back to the 1800s. It was originally produced by the Stitzel-Weller Distillery and has since become a part of the Heaven Hill portfolio after its acquisition.
Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond is a wheated bourbon, meaning it uses a higher proportion of wheat in its mash bill alongside corn and malted barley. The use of wheat instead of rye contributes to a softer, smoother, and sometimes sweeter flavor profile. It shares its mashbill with Heaven Hill’s Larceny brands.
Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond adheres to the regulations set forth in the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. This act establishes specific requirements for labeling and production, including being aged for at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse, being distilled during a single distillation season by one distiller at one distillery, and being bottled at 100 proof (50% alcohol by volume).
The decanter design is inspired by 1950s-era Old Fitzgerald bottles.
Batches
All spring releases wear a green label, fall releases are labeled with a black label, and distillery-exclusive VVS (Very Very Special) bottlings have a red label. Prior to 2023, Heaven Hill’s MSRP pricing generally reflected a cost of $10 per year aged, so a 9-year release was $90 and a 17-year old release would be $170.
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-BondVVS 2024
This is a distillery-only expression that commemorates “25 years of distilling Old Fitzgerald.” Heaven Hill purchased the Bernheim Distillery in 1999. The label received TTB approval on November 17, 2023.1TTB Approval
In 1996, a catastrophic fire destroyed the Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery in Bardstown, KY. To continue its distilling heritage, Heaven Hill purchased the Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, KY in 1999, which included the Old Fitzgerald brand. Distilled in 1999, this special release celebrates the 25th anniversary of Heaven Hill continuing the legacy of the Old Fitzgerald brand today.
– Back label copy
