Old Dominick 8 Year Bourbon 750ML

Old Dominick 8 Year Bourbon 750ML is a 100-proof (50% ABV) age-stated straight bourbon whiskey distilled and aged in Memphis, Tennessee. As Old Dominick Distillery's oldest in-house distilled release to date, the 8 Year Reserve represents a milestone — drawn from barrels filled when the distillery first opened in 2017. Breaking Bourbon called it "in a league of its own" among the distillery's lineup and strongly recommended seeking it out.

Quick Facts: ABV: 50% (100 Proof)  |  Origin: Memphis, Tennessee, USA  |  Age: 8 Years  |  Distillery: Old Dominick Distillery

Production & Heritage

Old Dominick Distillery traces its roots to Domenico Canale, an Italian immigrant who began selling whiskey in Memphis in the 1860s. The modern distillery opened in 2017, and the 8 Year Reserve draws from those inaugural barrels — a minimum of six 53-gallon, new, #4-charred West Tennessee white oak casks selected for this limited release. The mashbill runs 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley, and the distillate undergoes a brief maple charcoal filtration step before barrel entry — the same process used for the distillery's Tennessee Whiskey. Despite qualifying under Tennessee Whiskey regulations, Old Dominick intentionally labeled this expression as straight bourbon to better represent its flavor profile. It is bottled at 100 proof without chill filtration, preserving the full barrel-driven character developed over eight years of aging.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with inviting cream soda and fresh peach, followed by raisin and a suggestive hint of dessert icing. There is a warmth underneath that signals the 100-proof backbone without overwhelming the sweeter top notes.

Taste: Entry is rich and full — seasoned oak, black cherry, and vanilla custard arrive immediately, with caramel and cinnamon weaving through the mid-palate. As the whiskey opens up, dark chocolate, honey, and graham cracker emerge alongside baking spices, allspice, and a trailing caramel sweetness. The mouthfeel is dense and coating, delivering intensity without heaviness.

Finish: Long and layered, with baking spices, caramel, and crème brûlée anchoring the close. Milk chocolate and rye spice carry the tail end into a satisfying sweet-spicy resolution that lingers well beyond the final sip.

How to Drink Old Dominick 8 Year

At 100 proof and non-chill filtered, this bourbon reveals its full depth neat or with a few drops of water to open the pastry and fruit notes. The proof also holds up beautifully over a single large ice cube. For cocktails, consider an Old Fashioned, where the vanilla custard and dark cherry notes align naturally with bitters and a sugar cube; a Boulevardier, where the bourbon's baking spice and chocolate intensity stands up to Campari and sweet vermouth; or a Gold Rush, where the honey-forward character amplifies the cocktail's lemon-honey balance.

Best For

• Gifting a bourbon enthusiast who values age-stated, barrel-proof-adjacent releases
• Marking a milestone occasion with a distillery's own milestone whiskey
• After-dinner sipping alongside dessert courses
• Adding a distinguished Tennessee-made bourbon to a curated home collection

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Old Dominick 8 Year taste like? Old Dominick 8 Year Reserve delivers a dessert-forward profile built on vanilla custard, black cherry, dark chocolate, and caramel, balanced by baking spices and a crème brûlée finish. It is rich and sweet without becoming syrupy, with eight years of oak aging providing mature structure.

How does Old Dominick 8 Year compare to Elijah Craig Small Batch? Both are corn-forward bourbons bottled at or near 100 proof with prominent vanilla and caramel notes, but Old Dominick 8 Year carries an explicit eight-year age statement and undergoes a brief maple charcoal filtration step that Elijah Craig does not. The Old Dominick also uses locally sourced West Tennessee white oak for its barrels, contributing a distinct regional barrel character.

Is Old Dominick 8 Year good for sipping neat? Yes — at 100 proof without chill filtration, it retains considerable barrel complexity and mouthfeel that reward slow, attentive neat pours. A few drops of water can further open the peach and cream soda aromatics.

Where is Old Dominick 8 Year made? Old Dominick 8 Year Reserve Bourbon is distilled, aged, and bottled at Old Dominick Distillery in Memphis, Tennessee. The distillery uses locally sourced West Tennessee white oak for its cooperage.

What foods pair well with Old Dominick 8 Year? Pecan pie mirrors the bourbon's caramel and baking spice notes. Dark chocolate truffles complement the cocoa and vanilla custard character. Smoked pork belly aligns with the oak and char influence. Aged cheddar provides a savory contrast to the whiskey's sweetness. Bread pudding with bourbon sauce echoes the graham cracker and crème brûlée finish.

What sizes does Old Dominick 8 Year come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle. No other size variants have been confirmed for this limited edition expression.

Is Old Dominick 8 Year worth the price? Old Dominick 8 Year Reserve positions as a premium, limited-release bourbon within a competitive age-stated category. Its eight years of aging, non-chill-filtered bottling at 100 proof, and status as the distillery's oldest in-house expression provide strong value markers for collectors and serious bourbon drinkers.

Why Old Dominick 8 Year?

This is Old Dominick Distillery's most significant whiskey release since reopening — the oldest spirit distilled entirely on-site in Memphis, drawn from carefully selected barrels that have been aging since 2017. The combination of a classic corn-heavy mashbill, #4-charred West Tennessee white oak barrels, brief maple charcoal filtration, and a full eight years of maturation produces a bourbon with uncommon depth for a young distillery's portfolio. Breaking Bourbon singled it out as standing apart from everything else in Old Dominick's lineup. For drinkers seeking an age-stated, non-chill-filtered, 100-proof bourbon with genuine regional character, the 8 Year Reserve delivers a confident statement of what Memphis whiskey-making can achieve.