This week’s Bourbon Cheapskate isn’t your typical bargain brawl — it’s a full-blown Old Grand-Dad family reunion. Three orange-label heavy hitters took the table:
- Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond ($25)
- Old Grand-Dad 7-Year Bottled-in-Bond ($35–$40)
- Old Grand-Dad 114 ($32–$35)
To keep things honest, I graded them category by category — color, nose, palate, complexity, mouthfeel, and finish — letting the scoring system crown the winner.
Color
Glencairn A comes out swinging with the most attractive look — a rich copper glow that beats C’s light copper and B’s deeper amber.
1st – A | 2nd – C | 3rd – B
Nose
A is a touch proofy and dusty, but not unpleasant. B leans too ethanol-heavy. C, however, is warm caramel and soft fruit — easily the standout.
1st – C | 2nd – A | 3rd – B
Palate
Here’s where things get tricky. I thought I knew which glass was which… and then the flavors played games.
- A: spicy, slightly hot, caramel-forward, dusty peanuts
- C: warm, creamy, fruity up front, then caramel and vanilla
- B: sweet cinnamon and caramel but clearly third
1st – C | 2nd – A | 3rd – B
Complexity
A steps up here — more layers, more depth. C is delicious but more straightforward. B is simple yet enjoyable.
1st – A | 2nd – C | 3rd – B
Mouthfeel
A and C are essentially tied — both full and satisfying. B feels thinner in comparison.
1st – A & C (tie) | 3rd – B
Finish
Splitting hairs here, but C wins: that finish just keeps rolling. A hangs on with cinnamon and caramel. B exits quickly.
1st – C | 2nd – A | 3rd – B
Final Tally
(3 points for 1st, 2 for 2nd, 1 for 3rd)
- 1st – C: 16 points
- 2nd – A: 15 points
- 3rd – B: 6 points
The Reveal
- Glencairn A: Old Grand-Dad 114
- Glencairn B: Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond
- Glencairn C: Old Grand-Dad 7-Year Bottled-in-Bond
Final Thoughts
I’ve always treated OGD 114 as a dependable banger: high-proof, tons of flavor, and a great buy in the low-thirties.
The 7-Year Bonded, on past tastings, never wowed me. But blind? Whole different story. It edged out the 114 by a single point, taking the crown as the best sip of the lineup.
Here’s the Cheapskate breakdown:
- OGD Bottled-in-Bond ($25): The workhorse. Honest, simple, reliable — your everyday orange-label handshake.
- OGD 7-Year Bonded ($35–$40): The surprise star. Richer, creamier, more nuanced. If you see it at the right price, don’t hesitate.
- OGD 114 ($32–$35): Still the powerhouse of the family — more attitude, more heat, more fun. An incredible value if you like your bourbon with a punch.
Whichever direction you go, Old Grand-Dad proves once again that great bourbon doesn’t have to break the bank.
Copyright © 2025 by Doug DeBolt.
