Old Fitzgerald 9 Year Bourbon 100 Proof 750ML

Old Fitzgerald 9 Year Bourbon 100 Proof 750ML is a bottled-in-bond wheated Kentucky bourbon aged nine years and bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV) in a 750ml decanter. Released as part of Heaven Hill's coveted bi-annual Decanter Series, this expression carries serious weight among bourbon collectors for its strict adherence to bottled-in-bond standards and a wheated mashbill that rewards extended aging with layered complexity.

Quick Facts: ABV: 50% (100 Proof)  |  Origin: Kentucky, USA  |  Age: 9 Years  |  Distillery: Heaven Hill  |  Style: Bottled-in-Bond Wheated Bourbon

Production & Heritage

Heaven Hill Distillery, founded in 1935 in Bardstown, Kentucky, is the largest family-owned and operated distillery in the United States. Old Fitzgerald traces its roots back even further — the brand was originally created by John E. Fitzgerald in the late 1800s, and the name has changed hands multiple times before landing with Heaven Hill. The 9 Year expression uses Heaven Hill's wheated mashbill of 75% corn, 20% wheat, and 5% malted barley, setting it apart from rye-forward bourbons with a softer, rounder grain profile. As a bottled-in-bond product, it was distilled during a single distilling season at a single distillery, aged at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse, and bottled at exactly 100 proof — a government-backed guarantee of authenticity and quality. The liquid is presented in an ornate glass decanter inspired by the iconic diamond-cut decanters that Old Fitzgerald originally released in the 1950s, making each bi-annual release (spring and fall) both a collectible and a drinking experience.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with ripe raspberry and peach before giving way to honey graham cracker and candy corn sweetness. Baking spices emerge gradually alongside hints of vanilla frosting and a faint bubblegum note that signals the wheated grain bill at work.

Taste: The entry is rich with honey-roasted mixed nuts and butterscotch, coating the palate with immediate warmth. At mid-palate, baked apple pie and caramel take over, supported by a backbone of vanilla and well-integrated oak. Cappuccino foam and graham cracker textures round out the mouthfeel, making the 100 proof feel surprisingly approachable for its strength.

Finish: The finish is long and gently drying, led by toasted oak, barrel char, and white pepper. Vanilla and cinnamon linger alongside a warm spice mix that slowly fades, leaving a pleasant memory of that wheated softness.

How to Drink Old Fitzgerald 9 Year

Neat or with a few drops of water is the best way to experience what nine years of aging have done to this wheated mashbill — the water opens up the peach and graham cracker notes significantly. At 100 proof, it also holds its own beautifully over a single large ice cube. For cocktails, the butterscotch and vanilla richness makes it an exceptional base for an Old Fashioned, where its sweetness balances bitters without being cloying. It brings warmth and depth to a Paper Plane, where the wheat-forward softness tempers the amaro. A Boulevardier also benefits from the honeyed oak character, which melds seamlessly with sweet vermouth and Campari.

Best For

• Gifting a serious bourbon collector who values limited bi-annual releases
• Side-by-side tastings comparing different Old Fitzgerald Decanter Series age statements
• Celebrating a milestone with a bottle that doubles as a display-worthy decanter
• Introducing an experienced whiskey drinker to the appeal of wheated bourbons at barrel proof-adjacent strength

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Old Fitzgerald 9 Year taste like? Old Fitzgerald 9 Year delivers a rich, dessert-like profile dominated by butterscotch, honey-roasted nuts, baked apple pie, and vanilla, with a long finish of toasted oak and warm baking spices. The wheated mashbill gives it a notably softer, rounder texture than rye-based bourbons at similar proof.

How does Old Fitzgerald 9 Year compare to Larceny Small Batch? Both are wheated bourbons produced by Heaven Hill using the same 75/20/5 mashbill, but Old Fitzgerald 9 Year is bottled-in-bond at 100 proof with a nine-year age statement, while Larceny Small Batch is bottled at 92 proof with no age statement and a blend of barrels ranging from roughly six to twelve years. The additional proof and single-season discipline give Old Fitzgerald more concentrated oak influence and a drier, more structured finish.

Is Old Fitzgerald 9 Year good for sipping neat? Absolutely — the nine years of aging and wheated mashbill produce a bourbon that is smooth and layered enough to reward slow, contemplative neat sipping, even at 100 proof. A few drops of water can further open up the fruit and pastry notes on the nose.

Where is Old Fitzgerald 9 Year made? Old Fitzgerald 9 Year is produced by Heaven Hill Distillery, which operates its primary distilling facility in Louisville, Kentucky, with its heritage and corporate headquarters rooted in Bardstown, Kentucky — the heart of bourbon country.

What foods pair well with Old Fitzgerald 9 Year? Pecan pie complements the honey-roasted nut and butterscotch notes in the bourbon. Dark chocolate truffles contrast the sweetness with bitterness that highlights the oak and spice. Aged Gouda mirrors the caramel character, while smoked pork belly plays off the barrel char on the finish. Apple tart or apple crumble echoes the baked apple pie note found at mid-palate.

What sizes does Old Fitzgerald 9 Year come in? Old Fitzgerald 9 Year Bottled-in-Bond is available in the standard 750ml decanter bottle, which is the format used across all releases in the Decanter Series.

Is Old Fitzgerald 9 Year worth the price? Old Fitzgerald 9 Year positions as a premium limited-release bourbon, and its value reflects the combination of a nine-year age statement, bottled-in-bond credentials, collectible decanter packaging, and the scarcity of bi-annual releases. For enthusiasts who appreciate wheated bourbon with meaningful age and proof, it represents strong quality within its price tier.

Why Old Fitzgerald 9 Year?

The Old Fitzgerald Decanter Series has become one of the most anticipated recurring releases in American whiskey, and the 9 Year expression demonstrates why. Nine years in new charred oak barrels push Heaven Hill's wheated mashbill into territory where the soft wheat sweetness and assertive oak tannins reach genuine equilibrium — old enough to develop complexity, young enough to retain vibrancy. The bottled-in-bond designation is not just a label; it guarantees single-season, single-distillery provenance and a full 100 proof with no shortcuts. For drinkers who have explored standard wheated bourbons and want to understand what age and discipline can do for the category, this is the bottle that makes the argument.