The Stats
- Distillery: Old Dominick Distillery
- Location: Memphis, Tennessee
- Type: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Proof: 100 (50% ALC/VOL)
- Age: 8 Years
- Mash Bill: 75% Corn / 13% Rye / 12% Malted Barley
- Process: Maple Charcoal Mellowed Before Barreling
- Release: Limited / Annual
- Price: $65
There is a point where a young craft distillery stops asking you to grade it on potential. Old Dominick might be getting there.
The Memphis distillery revived whiskey production in 2017, and its 8 Year Reserve Bourbon comes from some of those early barrels. Eight years of age, 100 proof, distilled in-house, and priced around $65 puts this in a very different conversation than much younger craft bourbon.
More importantly, it tastes like a whiskey that has had enough time to settle into itself.
The Whiskey Behind the Bottle
Old Dominick's story goes back well before 2017.
Domenico Canale established D. Canale & Co. in Memphis in 1866, selling a whiskey bearing the Old Dominick name. More than a century later, his descendants Chris and Alex Canale revived the brand after discovering an unopened bottle of Old Dominick Toddy from the late 1800s. The new downtown Memphis distillery produced its first batch of Tennessee whiskey in 2017, marking the first legal whiskey distilled in Memphis since Prohibition.
That makes the age statement here particularly interesting.
The 8 Year Reserve debuted in 2025 as Old Dominick's oldest in-house-distilled whiskey release. Returning for a second year in 2026, it shows just how far the distillery has come since restarting production in 2017.
There is another wrinkle. This whiskey goes through maple charcoal mellowing before entering new American oak, similar to Old Dominick's Tennessee Whiskey, but the distillery bottles this expression as straight bourbon.
None of that matters if the whiskey isn't good, of course. Fortunately, this one is.
Tasting Notes
Aroma
Oak hits immediately, but it doesn't dominate. Cinnamon, caramel, and black cherry add sweetness, balancing mature barrel character with darker fruit.
Taste
This is where the 8 Year Reserve really works. Dark chocolate and milk chocolate come through early, followed by baking spices, honey, fruit and another strong hit of black cherry.
The texture deserves some attention too. It has a heavy, rich mouthfeel that gives the whiskey more weight than you might expect at 100 proof.
Caramel and crème brûlée build underneath everything, while the spice keeps the sweetness from becoming too soft.
There’s a lot happening, but it stays cohesive. Chocolate, fruit, caramel, and spice all pull in the same direction.
Finish
The finish turns sweeter and spicier. Rye spice lingers alongside caramel, extending the sip without adding bitterness or drying oak.
It is a satisfying finish and a good ending to what is ultimately a rich, dessert-leaning bourbon.
Artfully Bourbon Rating
7.5 / 10 - Very Good
Old Dominick 8 Year Reserve feels like an important whiskey for the distillery.
Not because an eight-year age statement automatically makes something better, but because the additional maturity shows up in the drinking experience. It's rich, balanced, and has enough character to hold your attention without relying on high proof to make an impression.
It doesn't quite reach exceptional territory for us, but there is very little to complain about. This is simply a very good bourbon.
Buy or Skip:
Buy
At roughly $65, eight years old and 100 proof, Old Dominick 8 Year Reserve makes a pretty convincing case for itself. More importantly, the drinking experience backs up those numbers.
If you enjoy bourbon with darker flavors, chocolate, caramel, mature oak, and a rich mouthfeel, it's worth picking up.
While we wouldn't put it among the very best bourbons we've reviewed this year, we'd happily recommend it.
For Old Dominick, that's a meaningful achievement. The distillery isn't just showing potential anymore. It's producing whiskey worth paying attention to.
Where Does It Rank?
Every whiskey we review is scored using the same 10-point scale, making it easy to compare bottles across styles, distilleries, and price points. Explore our complete whiskey rankings to see how every bottle stacks up.
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Product Features
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Care Instructions
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Machine wash cold (max 30C / 90F)
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Tumble dry low or hang dry
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Do not bleach
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Iron on low heat if needed
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Do not dry clean
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