Old Fitzgerald

Old Fitzgerald is one of the classic names of Kentucky bourbon. For much of the twentieth century it was made at the Stitzel-Weller distillery in Louisville, the distillery associated with the Van Winkle family, and it became one of the best-known wheated bourbons, using wheat rather than rye alongside corn and malted barley.

Heaven Hill bought the brand in 1999, and today Old Fitzgerald is distilled at Heaven Hill's Bernheim distillery in Louisville, still with a wheated mash bill. The wheat gives a softer, rounder bourbon than rye-heavy recipes.

The current range is a series of Bottled-in-Bond releases in decanter-style bottles, issued in Spring and Fall editions. Ages vary from release to release, from around 8 or 9 years up to 15 years and older, and each edition states its distillation year. Under the Bottled-in-Bond rules, each is the product of one distilling season at one distillery, aged at least four years and bottled at 100 proof.

Collectors also look for older bottles such as Very Old Fitzgerald, Very Xtra Old Fitzgerald and Old Fitzgerald's 1849, which date from the Stitzel-Weller years. These appear at auction and in specialist shops, and their prices reflect their rarity and history.