Category: 1986

This 1986 Old Taylor Bottled In Bond was bottled the year before National Distillers was sold to the James B. Beam Distilling Company (Jim Beam, 1987) for $545 million. How do I know this? Well, by using my dusty whiskey bottle dating guide I was able to get it down to 1986 and it being National Distillers was corroborated by the back label.

After Beam bought ND they didn’t change the label design, but they did have to change things like DSP numbers and the UPC once they started putting Beam whiskey in the bottles. The back of this bottle says it was distilled at DSP KY 19 (Old Taylor) and bottled at DSP KY 14 (Old Grand-Dad). It also sports a UPC starting with 86259 which in some non-bonded releases is the only way to know if it’s an ND or not.

If you already knew all this, awesome, if not, this was your whiskey history lesson for the day. Now, let’s shift this review to the whiskey in the bottle and get to drinkin’.

1986 Old Taylor Bottled In Bond – Details and Tasting Notes

Whiskey Details

Style: Bourbon
Region: Kentucky
Distiller: National Distillers

Mash Bill: At least 51% Corn + Rye + Malted Barley
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: 4+ Years
ABV: 50%

Price: NA – Auction, Specialty Store or Private Seller

Related Whiskeys

1997 Old Taylor 6 Years
Country Gentleman Medicinal Pint
EH Taylor Four Grain Bourbon
E.H. Taylor Cured Oak
Colonel EH Taylor Jr Barrel Proof

1986 Old Taylor Bottled In Bond Tasting Notes

EYE
Copperish amber

NOSE
Musty, dusty OBE hangs heavy with pronounced notes of caramel, vanilla, orange peel, strawberry taffy and light notes of nuts and baking spice.

No real oak notes to speak of, though it might be because the OBE is hanging so heavy even after 3+ months of being open.

PALATE
OBE! Caramel, oak, vanilla, cinnamon, dried dark fruit and some biscuity/cornbread notes with a touch of spice and cocoa.

Palate is more defined and bold despite the OBE sitting like a lead weight.

FINISH
Med-long -> Oak, cinnamon and caramel fade to more OBE.

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Decent balance considering the OBE, medium-full body and a warm velvety feel.

1986 Old Taylor Bottled In Bond – Overall Thoughts and Score

Hmm… this is decent. The olde bottle effect hangs heavy on this one, but it doesn’t obliterate the great notes lying underneath. The available notes are a fun glimpse into the past to see what people were drinking when I was 5. Which is really the point of trying dusty old whiskey: a glimpse to the past to help understand, and set the perspective, of the current and future. At least it is for me anyway.

I found this on a dusty hunt years ago, and it’s fun to taste, and even more fun to share, but it’s not something I’d ever go out of my way for. Not something I’d spend big or go through great lengths for to try again. That said, if you can get a taste easily, and the price is in your means, get it. The 1986 Old Taylor Bottled In Bond is fun.

SCORE: 3/5 (above average, worth checking out ~ B- | 80-82)

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