The Old Grand-Dad brand was created by Raymond B. Hayden and named after his grandfather, Meredith Basil Hayden, Sr. The bourbon has been in production since 1882, including during Prohibition, when it was produced by American Medicinal Spirits Co., a pharmaceutical company. The brand has changed ownership numerous times since it was originally created and is now owned by Beam Suntory. It’s marketed as part of their “The Olds” Collection, which also includes Old Overholt, Old Tub, and Old Crow.

‍‍‍Old Grand-Dad has been released in three different ongoing bottling proofs: 80 (changed from 86 in 2013), 100, and 114. In 2024, the company released Old Grand-Dad 16 Year Bourbon, a limited edition release. Old Grand-Dad 7 Year Bottled in Bond Bourbon, limited ongoing release.

The sip opens with the unmistakable scent of peanut brittle, offering a nutty sweetness right from the start. Rustic orange peel adds a dry, citrusy edge, followed by rich, sweet brown sugar, providing contrast. A scent of saltwater taffy introduces a soft sweetness to the aroma, evoking a touch of nostalgia. Toasted oak is woven throughout, with a subtle nutty undertone that lingers, tying everything together. Although not overly strong or memorable, the aroma is crisp and clean, coming together well.

Sweet aged oak provides a base moving forward. Light cinnamon sugar appears but slowly turns more robust. A slight earthiness comes into focus thanks to light notes of barrel char smokiness. Saltwater taffy returns, adding vanilla, caramel, and a touch of chocolate to the mix. It remains light but effective, partly due to its slight creamy mouthfeel. Not a showstopper, but pleasant in its own way.

Dry oak is found throughout, anchored by a nutty baseline. Cinnamon fades gradually, giving way to a gentle rise of rye spice and warming heat. Baking spices join the mix, but don’t overwhelm. The finish strikes a balance between sweet and savory, delivering a simple yet effective ending to the sip. While well-constructed, it ultimately leans more towards straightforward than memorable.

The return of age statements is a welcome one, especially for those who survived the age statement exodus of the past decade. Old Grand-Dad used to carry an 8 year age statement, and the brand’s sip definitely took a hit when it was removed. Old Grand-Dad has always had a dedicated following, but beyond its 114 proof release, there wasn’t always much to get overly excited about. Beam has shown extra attention over the past few years to its oft-neglected brands, such as Old Grand-Dad and Old Overholt, through new brand extensions.

In Old Grand-Dad 7 Year Bottled in Bond Bourbon’s case, the new age statement is a welcome one, but one that is far from transformative. There is a noticeable heft in its sip compared to its non-age-stated Bottled in Bond release. A more robust oak note is discernible, accompanied by enhanced notes of vanilla, barrel char, smoke, and spice. These “enhancements” aren’t transformative, but do make for a more discernible and enjoyable sip. It’s incremental but effective and an improvement over the brand’s less expensive releases.

The Old Grand-Dad brand has always focused on being value-centric. Old Grand-Dad 80 Proof Bourbon has been a bottle shelf staple for generations, and as the bourbon boom took off, many budding bourbon lovers (rightfully) took to Old Grand-Dad 114’s ~$30 pricetag.

Old Grand-Dad 7 Year Bottled in Bond Bourbon marks a turning point for the brand. At $40, it’s a considerable price increase compared to what many would expect. It wasn’t all that long ago that Basil Hayden Bourbon was priced at $45, and that was seen by many as a premium pour.

However, times have changed, and while some major Kentucky distillery staples have remained at the same price point, brand extensions have served as a means for companies to raise their price baseline. Outside of Old Grand-Dad 16 Year, Old Grand-Dad 7 Year Bottled in Bond Bourbon marks the brand’s highest price ongoing product.

Heaven Hill has gone through a similar pricing hike with its product line, with the reintroduction of Heaven Hill 7 Year Bottled in Bond Bourbon at $40 in 2019. Just this year, they introduced Old Fitzgerald 7 Year Old Bottled in Bond Bourbon at $60. Notice a trend? You don’t have to be happy about the $40 price tag for Old Grand-Dad 7 Year Bottled in Bond Bourbon; it simply keeps up with the competition. If you’re looking for a better value, Old Grand-Dad 114 Bourbon is less expensive and is a higher proof, but lacks an age statement. But given that their price points are so close, pick what matters more to you: proof, age, or most importantly, taste.

It’s always nice to see a company show an oft-neglected brand some love with a new brand expression that features an age statement. It’s more than just a number on a bottle, as in the case of Old Grand-Dad 7 Year Bottled in Bond Bourbon, the age can be tasted throughout its sip. With enhanced aged oak, deeper flavors overall, and a touch of smokiness, Old Grand-Dad’s latest release is an improvement of its 80 proof and 100 proof sister releases. However, those improvements come at a higher price tag, one that is currently at market levels. The value-centric brand it once was takes a hit with this release, but not all is lost. It remains a Beam-made, high-rye bourbon that retains the heavy cinnamon and spice the brand has always been known for. Old Grand-Dad 7 Year Bottled in Bond Bourbon doesn’t do anything the brand hasn’t offered before. Still, given that the brand lacked an accessible age statement for its lower-tier releases, it remains a welcome addition to the lineup.