Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond 13 Year

Heaven Hill's most celebrated annual release. Spring 2019 edition — 13 years in the barrel, bottled in the iconic Bottled-in-Bond decanter series.

Old Fitzgerald has been one of Kentucky's most storied wheated bourbon labels since the 1800s. Heaven Hill revived it in 2018 as a premium Bottled-in-Bond decanter series — each release a specific distillation season, aged to a specific age, and bottled to the strict legal standards of the Bottled-in-Bond Act: 100 proof, minimum four years, single distillery, single distillation season.

The Spring 2019 edition was distilled in September 2005 and bottled in February 2019 — 13 years in Heaven Hill's rickhouses. As a wheated bourbon, it replaces the high-rye grain bill common in most Kentucky bourbons with wheat as the secondary grain, producing a softer, sweeter profile that showcases vanilla, caramel, and dried fruit without the assertive spice of a rye-forward mashbill. At 13 years and 100 proof, it's Old Fitzgerald at its most complete.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Deep amber with warm mahogany highlights.
• Aroma: Rich caramel, baked apple, vanilla custard, and dried apricot. Soft and inviting.
• Palate: Full-bodied and silky — toffee, dried fruit, baking spice, and a wheated grain sweetness that distinguishes it immediately from rye-forward bourbons.
• Finish: Long and warm — caramel and vanilla fading into a clean, dry oak close.

What Bottled-in-Bond Means

The Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 — championed by Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. — was America's first consumer protection law for spirits. Bottled-in-Bond bourbon must be: the product of one distillation season at one distillery, aged at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse, and bottled at exactly 100 proof. No additives, no blending across seasons or distilleries. It is the original American quality guarantee.

Specs

• Distillery: Heaven Hill, Bardstown, Kentucky
• Style: Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Bottled-in-Bond
• Distilled: September 2005
• Bottled: February 2019
• Age: 13 years
• Proof: 100 (50% ABV)
• Size: 750ml
• Presentation: Iconic decanter bottle

Explore all Old Fitzgerald expressions or browse the full bourbon selection at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is a wheated bourbon? Most bourbons use rye as the secondary grain in the mashbill, which contributes spice and sharpness. Wheated bourbons — like Old Fitzgerald, W.L. Weller, and Pappy Van Winkle — substitute wheat, producing a softer, sweeter, more approachable profile. The wheat character tends to become more pronounced with age.
• What makes Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond special compared to standard bourbon? Bottled-in-Bond is a legal designation requiring single-season, single-distillery production, four-plus years of bonded warehouse aging, and 100 proof bottling with no additives. It's the most regulated and transparent designation in American whiskey — every bottle tells you exactly what it is and where it came from.
• How does Old Fitzgerald compare to W.L. Weller or Pappy Van Winkle? All three are wheated bourbons from Kentucky. Weller is Buffalo Trace's wheated expression; Pappy is the Van Winkle family's allocated tier. Old Fitzgerald is Heaven Hill's wheated program — a different distillery, different grain sourcing, and a decanter presentation that makes it one of the most distinctive bottles in the wheated bourbon category.
• Is the Spring 2019 edition still available? Stock is limited. Old Fitzgerald BiB releases sell out quickly at retail and command significant premiums on the secondary market. If you're considering it, this is one of those bottles where waiting rarely works in your favor.