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 is currently released in three different ongoing bottling proofs: 80 (changed from 86 in 2013), 100, and 114.

A rich cherry-filled sweet oak scent starts the aroma in a likable place. The cherry scent turns dark, transiting to black cherry before you know it, deepening the aroma’s baseline. Plum enters along with a contrasting brightness of apricot, which forms a pleasant effect. Aged oak can be noticed throughout, but it is near the tail-end of the aroma that it is most impactful. Overall, a very well-developed nose with lasting impact.

A layering of mixed berry jam creates a complex start to the sip. From there, toasted sugar adds sweetness but also a light nutty note is present that is common in Beam’s bourbons. It’s quite tempered and quickly gives way to light green apple and vanilla cream. Aged oak, which was only slightly noticeable up to this point, starts to intervene, giving the palate a grounded and distinguished taste. A slight but noticeable creamy mouthfeel caps off a palate that comes together with a high degree of competence.

The creamy mouthfeel lingers as the sip concludes, coating your tongue with flavors of dry musty oak against sweet cherry cola. It’s a combination that works exceedingly well and produces a sip that features a good deal of maturity, though it has ample playfulness. Light notes of mixed nuts and leather can also be tasted, adding some complexity. The sip concludes with a good deal of rye spice, which contrasts the cherry cola notes nicely.

Much like how Old Overholt was once Beam's most neglected brand, Old Grand-Dad is one brand Jim Beam hasn’t directed much love to over the years. Old Grand-Dad 114 Bourbon has remained unchanged for a decade, though they’ve lowered the proof of the standard bottle and given Old Grand-Dad Bonded a label makeover in mid 2010s, no new additions or changes have graced the lineup since then.

That finally changed in 2024 with the release of Old Grand-Dad 16 Year Bourbon, yet it wasn’t exactly what bourbon drinkers expected it would be. Though it features a high rye mashbill, which is a hallmark of the brand, it is not the same mashbill as the brand's other current releases. It also features a lower proof point than many expect out of a limited edition release from the company. But the main reason to be excited about this release is its age statement.

Beam isn’t devoid of high aged bourbon in their bourbon portfolio, as they released an 18 year old Knob Creek in 2024, and multiple 18 year old Hardin’s Creek releases in 2023. Though 16 years old is younger compared to those releases, it is still an impressive age statement nevertheless, and is hard to dismiss, as it is coming from a known source. This becomes even more of a main point of focus, considering that the source is a major Kentucky distillery.

Tastewise, it has a bit of the old musty funk that is common in old bourbon. This is a trait that is often in older aged Beam products, especially Knob Creek 18 Year. It sports a nice fruit-filled aroma, a palate that is layered with sweet flavors, and a finish that isn’t overpowered by oak. It’s similar to how releases of Elijah Craig 18 Year can taste, though Old Grand-Dad 16 Year Bourbon tastes more interesting by comparison. It is far from over-oaked or tannic, and it's surprisingly fruity despite its high rye mashbill, almost choking out its spiciness to a notable degree. Though this runs counter to what the Old Grand-Dad brand is known for, this variation does it well.

One of the other major sticking points of Old Grand-Dad 16 Year is its proof and how that directly affects its value perception among bourbon drinkers. Many will flat-out reject this release given its proof point in relation to its cost. Given the choice, I’d bet even the fiercest defender of this bourbon would take it at a higher proof. But that doesn’t mean at its current proof and price Old Grand-Dad 16 Year represents a bad value for what you’re getting. Higher proof bourbons, especially limited editions, now come with a de facto proof point of around $200 that bourbon drinkers, especially enthusiasts, have come to expect. Oddly, you rarely hear that same level of complaint directed toward the 100 proof Knob Creek 18 Year.

Bourbon drinkers also largely sat out the Harden’s Creek 17 year old releases at a similar price and proof. High aged bourbons are far from a guarantee qualitywise, and deep down, many enthusiasts know that, and many are wary of taking a chance on a lackluster bottle at this price. Old Grand-Dad 16 Year carries its age well. Prices are continuing to rise: We now have 15 year old bourbons for $400 and 20 year olds for $900, though in those cases, they are barrel proof releases. Many balked at Barterhouse, a 20 year old, 90 proof bourbon for $75 in 2014, and many regret that sentiment now. Is Old Grand-Dad 16 Year at 100 proof for $200 in today's marketplace that much different?

Beam surprised many when word got out that Old Grand-Dad 16 Year was in the pipeline. A fan-favorite yet often neglected brand by Beam, it was great to see that Old Grand-Dad was finally getting a new release, but its accompanying 16 year age statement was the real showstopper. Sporting a new throwback label design and carrying over the brand’s trademark orange coloring, the stars were aligning. With a $195 pricepoint, which is the current baseline for Kentucky limited edition releases in 2024, its age helped justify it.

Given the bourbon’s price in relation to what some consider to be under-proofed, many will feel like Old Grand-Dad 16 Year Bourbon isn’t for them, though that isn’t probably the case at all. Given that barrel proof, ultra high aged bourbons are now trending, proofing this at 100 can feel like a slap in the face. Perhaps Beam wasn’t forward-thinking enough with this release, or they didn’t want direct comparisons being made to Old Grand-Dad 114 since they don’t share the same mashbill, or perhaps they were instead seeing the bigger picture. There is a large segment of bourbon drinkers who simply don’t like high proof whiskey, or are at the point that they are over it for a myriad of reasons.

In the end, Old Grand-Dad 16 Year isn’t a bourbon that delivers a sip that immediately wows you, but one with more nuance than your first impressions lead you to believe it has. It delivers a sip with ample complexity and a measured amount of aged oak, against contrasting sweetness and spice. Besides a higher proof that some may want, it offers decent intensity for its proof, and a solid value overall. In the end, its proof point is of little consequence as Old Grand-Dad 16 Year is one of the better bourbons that Beam released this year.