First Impressions
Old Grand-Dad 114 — named after Basil Hayden Sr., an 18th-century Maryland Catholic distiller who migrated to Kentucky and pioneered a high-rye bourbon recipe. His grandson Colonel R.B. Hayden created the brand around 1840 in tribute. Now produced by Beam Suntory at the Jim Beam distillery in Clermont.
The Basil Hayden Connection
Same high-rye mashbill as Basil Hayden's — 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley — but bottled at 114 proof (57% ABV) instead of 80 proof, for roughly half the price. The insider's secret: same recipe, more intensity, less marketing, better value.
Tasting
Toasted caramel and cinnamon nose with the high rye announcing itself. Seasoned oak and brown sugar palate with burnt orange peel and baking spices. The finish is long and hot with cinnamon spice and barrel char. The 27% rye gives it a spice kick that most bourbons can't touch.
The Verdict
Old Grand-Dad 114 earns a 7.5 — fantastic value for barrel-proof bourbon. Some find the cinnamon spice one-dimensional, but at this price and proof, there's nothing else like it. The high-rye heritage from Basil Hayden Sr. creates a bourbon that punches far above its weight. The bourbon geek's secret.
