The aroma is warm, with savory notes of saddle leather, oak, dark caramel, and brown butter. The palate shows a bit more sweetness than the nose, but things still skew more toward the wood and spice corners of the flavor wheel.
Upon arrival, the proofs of those 32 barrels were 125. Near that modest body of water and behind the rickhouse’s brick walls, they’ve steadily lost proof down to 108, which is pure magic in whiskey aging.
The fact that they’ve brought this to market at just under $70 should be a warning shot to others in the industry who have insisted that a quality sourced and blended product has to command a price point over $100.
A quick small of this whiskey, and there’s no question about how it was finished. The nose is stuffed full of juicy apples. The Calvados barrel influence is big and bold without overdoing things. The juicy apple is mixed with brown sugar, caramel, and oak, resulting in a well-based aroma…
This is an entertaining pour that punches, ducks and dodges around the mouth, delivering sharp blows of spice to keep you on your toes.
In this age of “high proof only,” it’s easy to overlook 90 proof whiskey and the sensibility of its virtues. It’s lush and delicate, fruity and appropriately woody for its age. It needs no ice or water or cocktail; just take it straight.
The price point is nearly disqualifying. And I thought about it for quite a while. But it is an enjoyable older bourbon, and if you can manage to score a half ounce at whatever bar these end up at, it’s worth a try, if only to see what Dickel thinks deserves this price tag.
Old Forester’s longstanding mashbill is 72% corn, 18% rye and 10% malted barley. But the mashbill chosen for 1924 is 79% corn, 11% rye and 10% malted barley. It also was fermented with a unique yeast strain.
Pour this one for those who care about their bourbon but not their budget. The nose, taste and finish are classic MGP, which longtime bourbon drinkers will enjoy immensely.
There’s nothing wrong with drinking low-proof bourbon. It’s just not my thing. But if I were to consume bourbon at the minimum bottle entry proof allowed, Brother’s Bond flavor profile would be more than acceptable– even if the price is not.
