Old Grand-Dad 16 Year Bourbon
The Stats
- Distillery: Jim Beam
- Location: Clermont, KY
- Type: Straight Bourbon
- Age: 16 Years
- Proof: 100 (50% ALC/VOL)
- Mash Bill: 63% corn, 27% rye, and 10% malted barley
- Release: October 2024
- Price: $195
For decades, Old Grand-Dad has been the dependable workhorse of the bourbon shelf—high-rye, affordable, and full of punch. But every so often, the name steps out of its budget-friendly lane and swings for the fences. Enter Old Grand-Dad 16 Year: a rare, age-stated release that feels more like a love letter to bourbon history than a typical Beam Suntory product.
This is not the OGD you grew up with. This is a statement pour—mature, layered, and deeply satisfying.
A Legacy, Turned Up to Sixteen
Old Grand-Dad has long been associated with Basil Hayden’s mashbill: a spicy, high-rye recipe that keeps things lively even in its younger forms. Here, with 16 years in the barrel, that mashbill takes on a whole new personality. Time has dialed down the youthful sharpness, replacing it with rich oak depth, refined spice, and a velvety mouthfeel.
Jim Beam doesn’t throw age statements like this around lightly. Sixteen years in Kentucky’s climate isn’t just maturation—it’s survival. The fact that this bourbon emerged with this much balance and complexity speaks volumes about careful barrel selection.
Yes, it’s pricey—especially if your mental picture of OGD involves a bottom-shelf sticker. But one sip makes it clear: this bottle isn’t here to compete with the $25 version. It’s here to show what this mashbill can do when given the time and attention usually reserved for the big-name luxury pours.
Tasting Notes
Aroma:
A warm, welcoming nose layered with seasoned oak, caramelized brown sugar, and a wave of baking spice. Underneath, there’s dried cherry, toasted almond, and just a hint of cigar box. The high rye still peeks through with a whisper of mint and cracked black pepper.
Taste:
Rich and mouth-coating from the first sip. Toffee and dark caramel lead the way, followed by orange oil, cinnamon, and nutmeg. There’s an underlying earthiness—think walnut and leather—that gives it gravitas. The rye character adds brightness and lift without ever becoming sharp.
Finish:
Long and slow-building. The oak is prominent but elegant, carrying notes of dark chocolate, clove, and a touch of sweet tobacco. The final fade leaves you with lingering spice and a gentle, satisfying warmth.
Artfully Bourbon Rating
9.5 / 10 - EXCELLENT
Old Grand-Dad 16 Year isn’t just “good for an OGD.” It’s flat-out excellent bourbon, period. The nose draws you in with oak, caramel, and spice, and the palate delivers layer after layer of mature complexity. Where younger OGDs punch and jab, this one glides—rich, confident, and endlessly sippable.
Arthur: 10/10 – This is right in my wheelhouse—full of character, perfectly balanced oak and spice, and just an incredible sipping experience.
Scott: 9/10 – Love it. The extra age works beautifully with the high-rye profile, and while it’s not cheap, you taste where that money went.
We didn’t get this bottle in time for our Whiskey of the Year competition, but make no mistake—this would have been a serious contender. If you’re a fan of high-rye bourbon and have the budget, this is one of those pours that belongs on your whiskey bucket list.
