I’ve heard some great things about the George Dickel Bottled in Bond product. When my daughter called me from a small-town liquor store and said they had a bottle, I was all ears. Imagine my disappointment when she said it was $199. My interest quickly melted as I peered into my wallet. Imagine my elation, though, when a few short weeks later I spotted it behind the counter at a Midwest grocery store The tag on the row stated it was $79, but the clerk was quick to say, “Well that’s not right. $38”, she exclaimed. My wallet quickly opened and I felt I had received a much better deal.
Dickel Botted-in-Bond
We shared the story of the George Dickel brand earlier this year. This much-sought-after expression takes the traditional Dickel mash bill of 84% corn, 8% wheat, and 8% malted barley and ages it for 13 years.
In addition to being aged over a decade, the release is handled under the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 – one of the first consumer health safety acts that set standards for quality and authenticity. Spirits labeled as Bottled-in-Bond must be
a product of 1 distillation season, by a single distiller, at a single location
aged in a federally bonded warehouse under U.S. government supervision for at least 4 years
bottled at 100 proof
labeled to identify the distillery where it was distilled (Tullahoma, TN)
produced in the U.S.
Whiskey Advocate labeled this as their #1 whiskey of 2019. Master Distiller Nicole Austin cherry-picked warehouses for exceptional barrels and discovered long-aged spirits ready to dump and bottle. Tennessee whiskey utilizes charcoal-filtering before aging, which means it cannot be labeled as bourbon. However, this has resulted in a soft, yet intense finished product.
The Tasting
Released in 2019, this expression is 13-years old and bottled at 100-proof as prescribed by the bottled-in-bond statement.
Eye: Amber caramel
Nose: Brown sugar, caramel, and fried dough with fruit notes – like a warm caramel apple pie. There are notes of candied orange, marzipan, and hints of butterscotch.
Palate: Vanilla and oak burst initial burst on the scene. Oak and peppercorn spice are prominent.
Finish: Medium-long with a crackling sensation of toasted oak, vanilla and spice.
Overall: Found at or near MSRP, with a 13-year age statement, this is a true bargain. While it’s not a bourbon, but rather a Tennessee whiskey, this is a worthy addition to your lineup – especially as the days get shorter and cool winds begin to blow.
The nuttiness, oak and spice make this a great cool weather pour. It’s complex enough to satisfy any bourbon aficionado. With a similar corn-heavy mash bill as bourbon, an attractive price point, and lovely wood notes, add this one to your short-list.