Old Grand-Dad

Old Grand-Dad is a brand of bourbon whiskey distilled at the Jim Beam plant in Clermont, Kentucky. The brand was created by Raymond B. Hayden and named after his grandfather Basil Hayden, Sr., who was a well-known distiller during his lifetime. A high-rye bourbon, Old Grand-Dad is known for its spicy, robust flavor.

History

The Old Grand-Dad brand was established by Raymond B. Hayden in 1840, honoring his grandfather Basil Hayden, Sr. The elder Hayden was a pioneer distiller who made whiskey with a higher percentage of rye than was typical at the time, giving his product a distinctive taste. This high-rye style is carried on in the Old Grand-Dad brand.

In 1899, the Old Grand-Dad company was sold to the Wathen family, who were prominent distillers in Kentucky. The brand survived Prohibition by being sold as a medicinal product. After Prohibition, the brand was owned by National Distillers and later sold to Jim Beam in 1987.

Product Line

Old Grand-Dad comes in three different expressions: Old Grand-Dad Bourbon, Old Grand-Dad 114, and Old Grand-Dad Bonded. The number in the name refers to the proof of the bourbon.

• Old Grand-Dad Bourbon: This is the standard expression, bottled at 80 proof. It is a high-rye bourbon, meaning it contains a higher percentage of rye grain in the mash bill than most bourbons. This gives it a spicy, full-bodied flavor.

• Old Grand-Dad 114: This is a barrel-proof bourbon, meaning it is bottled directly from the barrel without any dilution. At 114 proof, it is a strong, intense bourbon with a high rye content.

• Old Grand-Dad Bonded: This is a bottled in bond bourbon, meaning it is the product of one distillation season, one distiller, and one distillery, and is aged in a federally bonded warehouse for at least four years. It is bottled at 100 proof.

In Popular Culture

Old Grand-Dad is often referenced in popular culture. It was the favorite bourbon of the famous American writer Hunter S. Thompson, and it is mentioned in the Ian Fleming James Bond novel Live and Let Die.

See Also

• Bourbon whiskey
• Jim Beam
• Basil Hayden's
• Bottled in bond

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