According to Heaven Hill, John E. Fitzgerald’s original “private label” bourbon was introduced in 1870 and soon became the exclusive bourbon of railroad and steamship barons, and was deeply integrated in the culture of the Old South. Around 1900, "Old Fitz" was released to the American and European public. It was one of the few whiskeys distilled using the pot still method at the time. During Prohibition, Old Fitzgerald was distilled under government supervision for the national medicinal trade. Pappy Van Winkle soon bought the brand for $10,000 and introduced the “Whisper of Wheat” to the original recipe. Diageo eventually owned the brand and sold it to Heaven Hill in 1992, which continues to produce and market it.

‍‍Old Fitzgerald 7 Year Old Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon will be the brand’s “new signature expression,” according to Heaven Hill. It comes 155 years after the “trademark honoring John E. Fitzgerald, the namesake of Old Fitzgerald, was first introduced.” The release debuts the brand’s updated logo and the phrase "Your Key to Hospitality," featured on the label and embossed on the bottle—an iconic line from vintage ads that reflects the brand’s heritage dating back to the late 1800s. Old Fitzgerald 7 Year Old Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon is intended to be an ongoing and more readily available release for the brand, contrasting with the limited releases of the Spring and Fall Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond Bourbon, which vary in age for each release.

Notably, this bourbon’s aroma is quite striking and immediately engaging. At the forefront is a vibrant mix of fruit-forward and warmly spiced notes. Apricot, peach, and orange come first, offering summertime freshness. A deeper layer of cinnamon, toasted oak, and leather then balances these fruity tones. The result is an aroma that is layered with just enough interplay between its scents and comes with a decent amount of complexity.

A nicely layered and dessert-like flavor profile develops, opening with notes of honey graham crackers that provide a light, toasty, and sweet foundation. It’s quickly followed by the warm, spicy flavors of semi-sweet snickerdoodle cookies. This combination offers a comforting dynamic before transitioning to a delightful mix of cinnamon, vanilla, and dried fruit. The result is a fairly even delivery overall, which is both approachable and predictable.

Like the rest of the sip, the medium-length finish is well-integrated. Notes of raisin and cinnamon emerge first, offering a warm, gently spiced sweetness. These are joined by more grounded flavors of worn leather and toasted oak, adding depth and a touch of maturity that showcases the bourbon’s age. As the finish lingers, it leans slightly dry, with the oak becoming more prominent. Honey adds a final touch of sweetness and general smoothness. It’s a satisfying close that echoes what came before it.

One of bourbon’s best-kept secrets of 2025 is now a reality with the newly introduced release of Old Fitzgerald 7 Year Old Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon, which is a permanent ongoing line extension. This brand expression is intended to be a more obtainable Old Fitzgerald release, with the limited edition decanter releases seemingly becoming harder to obtain with each passing year. This release’s age and proof land near recent decanter releases, and may signal that future releases in that series will skew higher to differentiate them even more from this ongoing standard release. Old Fitzgerald 7 Year Old Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon shares a mashbill with the standard Larceny Bourbon, but is aged longer and proofed slightly higher. Additionally, it nicely complements Heaven Hill 7 Year Bottled in Bond Bourbon, which is the same age, proof, and price, but features rye as the secondary grain instead of Old Fitzgerald’s wheat component.

Beyond Old Fitzgerald 7 Year Old Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon’s premium packaging, which features a pseudo decanter-style bottle and some randomly come in a green felt bag, the bourbon’s taste is far from unique. Skewing heavily towards classic style bourbon, which is in its DNA, this bourbon isn’t trying to be anything it’s not. In a way, this move towards a no-nonsense tasting sip unexpectedly stands out precisely for that reason. With a never-ending run of finished bourbons and other (seemingly) gimmicky releases, Old Fitzgerald 7 Year Old Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon comes across refreshingly quaint.  

Given the bottle’s price point, along with the stylish bottle design and packaging, Old Fitzgerald 7 Year Old Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon has a premium feel that exceeds its asking price. But its sip, although enjoyable, doesn’t strive to be more than it is and has a price point to match.

Compared to Larceny, it’s more than double the price but comes with eight more proof points and a 7 year age statement. Larceny Barrel Proof Bourbon is often found in the 120 proof range, a blend of 6-8 year old bourbons, and is $5 more. Although not everyone is looking for a high proof bourbon, the Old Fitzgerald 7 Year Old Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon might be precisely what many bourbon drinkers are seeking, especially those who have yet to get their hands on a decanter release that retails for almost double the price. Being about $10 more than Heaven Hill 7 Year Bottled in Bond Bourbon, it offers a degree of price parity. If you can find Old Fitzgerald 7 Year at its MSRP, it is priced about right. However, for those encountering bottles priced north of $100 due to new release excitement and demand, along with the brand’s proximity to its limited decanter releases, be sure to keep expectations in check as this is likely a short-term premium.

Anyone who has tasted some of the lower-aged Old Fitzgerald’s decanter releases should have an idea of what to expect from Old Fitzgerald 7 Year Old Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon. However, the number of people in that group has never been high due to the limited release numbers and escalating price of the series. That is what likely led to the introduction of Old Fitzgerald 7 Year Old Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon, a more accessible and affordable release for the brand. With many of the decanter releases out of the reach of most bourbon drinkers, this may be, in fact, the first opportunity many will have to experience the Old Fitz brand.

Though it shares a mashbill with Larceny Bourbon, Heaven Hill typically strives for a more well-rounded and balanced pour for the Old Fitzgerald brand. This ends up holding true for Old Fitzgerald 7 Year Old Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon, almost to a fault, as it trades highs and lows that might make it more memorable for overall well-roundedness. But with that being said, a classic style, 7 year old bourbon is always welcome in today’s gimmick-filled marketplace. Although Old Fitzgerald 7 Year Old Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon isn’t overly impressive, it maintains a high enough quality and flavor accessibility that can be enjoyable by just about anyone. At MSRP, it’s a nice addition to anyone’s bourbon collection and perhaps a decent consolation prize if you can’t get your hands on a decanter release, as long as your expectations are kept in check.