Old Grand Dad 16 Year Review
In-Depth Review
When Jim Beam announced a 16 year addition to the Old Grand Dad line, I knew it was going to be one of the most talked about whiskies of the year. “Finally! A 15+ year Jim Beam whiskey that would compete with the likes of Heaven Hill’s Heritage Collection or the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection”. Sure, you have some of the Booker’s releases that have come close, but they have never been as available as this promised to be. And a few months after its introduction, it certainly has garnered a lot of conversation – just not exactly for the reasons I expected.
First, people had concerns over its big price: $200 is a lot of money regardless of how good the bourbon is (whatever happened to Jim Beam being the bourbon brand of the people?). Second, its 100 proof seemed to immediately turn some enthusiasts off. How could Old Grand Dad 114 come in at significantly higher proof at only $30? And finally, it seems like a lot of folks simply don’t think what’s in the bottle is worth it. Sure, it’s good whiskey, but is it $200 good? Some have been very vocal about how it isn’t. And while I try to not read any reviews prior to pouring my first glass, it was hard to avoid the ruckus this whiskey caused in the bourbon world. So, while I did find mine for significantly less than MSRP, I am still hoping this lives up to the initial hype. Let’s dive in and find out!
Age: 16 Years
ABV: 50%
Cask: New American Oak
MSRP: $200
Distillery Name: James B. Beam (Jim Beam)
Review Date: 2/10/25
Color: Deep Russet Red
Nose: Wow. This heavy hitter starts off big – with rich, warm cinnamon pull apart bread, berry compote, roasted peanuts, toasted coconut macaroons, and cherry cordial. Sure, there’s plenty of oak as well, but there’s so much more to be found in the nose. Flaky pastry, charred oak, and the slightest hint of white ash round out a lovely nose that improves as sits in the glass.
Palate: The palate offers up lots of warm oak, cherries, hazelnut milk chocolate, and nutmeg. It’s a bit lighter than I expected - but then I remember this is only clocking in at 100 proof. Despite the proof, it comes off hot, with a mouthfeel that is on the thin side – clearly lacking the full punch I was hoping for. After a few sips, the wood begins to take over, providing a drier, more tannic character. As it moves to the finish, a faint minty note pops in but quickly disappears only to leave more oak in its place.
Finish: Medium length finish that makes a hard left towards cherry syrup and bitter cocoa. If you’ve ever taken a sip of cough medicine right before biting into a dark chocolate bar, this is exactly how I’d imagine that would taste. The oak is still present but remains more muted than on the palate, leaving the finish to fizzle out a bit quicker than expected.
Final Thoughts: As with many folks who took the plunge on Old Grand 16 year, I wanted to like it more than I did. On paper, this feels like a pure winner. But sadly, this wasn’t my favorite recent Jim Beam expression, and not even my favorite recent Old Grand Dad (that honor goes to their Old Grand Dad 10 Year Rye). And it can’t just be attributed to the proof. Heaven Hill routinely crafts excellent high age, Bottled-in-Bond expressions at 100 proof that easily justify their high prices. In the case of Old Grand Dad 16, it was something else. I can’t exactly pin my finger on it, but it may have been the overly oaked, and tannic palate, or the overwhelming cherry cough syrup finish that led me astray. If it weren’t for the nose, this would have been a mess. I wanted Jim Beam perfection, and instead got a whiskey that never even became above average.
