According to Heaven Hill, “each spring and fall, a new edition to the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond series is released. Inspired by an original 1950's Old Fitzgerald diamond decanter, the packaging and series honor both the history of the Old Fitzgerald brand and the historic Bottled-in-Bond designation. The Old Fitzgerald line is well-known for its distilling pedigree, as the brand was first registered in 1884 and was eventually sold to ‘Pappy’ Van Winkle during Prohibition. In 1999, Heaven Hill bought the brand and began distilling it at Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, KY.” 

The Spring 2024 Edition brings with it a welcomed bump up in age to 10 years from the previous release’s 8 years. This makes for a surprising amount of oak throughout its sip, especially during the bourbon’s finish. On the flip side of this, is an extremely effective aroma with potent scents of butterscotch, apple, raspberry, sweet oak, and honey. The palate is equal parts traditional and unique, with brown sugar, caramel, and oak, before poignant notes of nutmeg and green tea, producing a great contrast. Besides the finish’s prominent oak note, it also brings with it ample amounts of white pepper, barrel char, warm spice, and a crescendo of vanilla at the tail end.

Once again, the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond series produces a solid edition and is an improvement over the previous release. It’s nicely balanced, but it's still not without its peaks and valleys, adding dimension to the sip. Though the chase for the bottle and its increasing price does temper its overall value, the bourbon is once again a gratifying pour.
 
Nose: Sweet cherry, vanilla, rich caramel, brown sugar, pears, oak and cedar; butterscotch; alcohol vapor is appropriate for the proof
Taste: Caramel, vanilla, brown sugar, light oak, subtle sweet cherries, mild tannins and mild black pepper
Finish: Black pepper increases, mild lingering sweetness; light dry oak; some tannins; mild char later on; fairly long with a pleasant warmth