Old Medley is one of those names that quietly carries weight in bourbon circles. The Medley family's connection to Kentucky distilling stretches back generations, and while the exact distillery behind this particular bottling isn't confirmed, what matters is what's in the glass — and at 12 years old, this is a bourbon that's had serious time to develop character. That's notable because most bourbons on the market sit in the 4-to-8-year range. Twelve years in a charred oak barrel in Kentucky means this whiskey has been through a dozen brutal summers and freezing winters, each cycle pushing spirit deeper into the wood and pulling it back out loaded with flavour.
At 43.4% ABV, Old Medley 12 Year Old isn't trying to knock you sideways. This is bottled at a gentle, approachable proof — just above the legal minimum of 40% — which tells me this is designed for sipping and savouring rather than barrel-proof fireworks. That's a deliberate choice, and honestly, with a bourbon this aged, it makes sense. You don't need high proof to deliver complexity when the wood has had over a decade to do its work.
What to Expect
Here's what I find interesting about older bourbons like this: the mashbill matters less and the barrel matters more. After 12 years, so much of what you're tasting comes from that interaction between spirit and charred American white oak. You should expect deep, rich, oak-driven flavours — think caramel that's gone dark and slightly bitter, dried fruit, leather, maybe tobacco. The corn sweetness that defines bourbon will still be there, but it'll be layered underneath all that barrel influence rather than leading the charge. Kentucky's climate is unforgiving on long-aged whiskey, and the angel's share at 12 years is substantial, which concentrates what remains.
The lower proof means this should drink smooth and rounded, without much burn. It's the kind of bourbon where you notice new things on the second and third sip — layers that unfold rather than hit you all at once.
The Verdict
At £107, Old Medley 12 Year Old sits in a competitive space. You're paying a premium for age, and rightly so — finding well-aged bourbon at a reasonable price has become genuinely difficult as demand has outstripped supply across the category. For a 12-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon, this pricing is actually fair. Compare it to what you'd pay for similarly aged offerings from the bigger names and you'll see what I mean.
I'm giving this an 8.1 out of 10. It's a confident, mature bourbon that knows what it is. The extended ageing gives it a depth and sophistication that younger expressions simply can't replicate, and the approachable proof makes it dangerously easy to drink for something with this much going on. It's not trying to be trendy or loud — it's just good bourbon that's been given time to become great. That earns my respect.
Best Served
Pour this neat in a Glencairn or a rocks glass, let it sit for five minutes, and sip it slowly. If you want to open it up slightly, a single large ice cube works beautifully — the gentle dilution at this proof won't wash it out, it'll just soften the oak tannins and let the sweeter notes come forward. This is also a knockout in a Manhattan: mix two parts Old Medley with one part sweet vermouth and a couple dashes of Angostura bitters, stir it over ice, and strain into a coupe. That aged complexity plays brilliantly against the vermouth's herbal sweetness. Save the Old Fashioneds for younger, punchier bourbons — this one deserves to be tasted, not masked.
