Legend has it that soon after the Civil War ended, John E. Fitzgerald established a distillery on the banks of the Kentucky River. As the trains and steamships came through town, Fitzgerald started producing bourbon and selling it to the passengers. Julian P. “Pappy” Van Winkle purchased Fitzgerald’s “Old Fitzgerald Bourbon” brand shortly after, for $10,000—a modest fortune at the time. Old Fitz, one of the most well-known bourbons in the world, was produced at Pappy’s distillery.

The tale of John E. Fitzgerald and Old Fitz Bourbon, however, is a little more intricate and unquestionably more fascinating, according to Sally Van Winkle, Papa’s granddaughter. Van Winkle disclosed in 1999 that Fitzgerald was actually a bonded treasury agent and not the man or distiller he had pretended to be. Since the Treasury Department was responsible for collecting spirits taxes at the time, only bonded Treasury agents were permitted to possess the keys to barrel storage warehouses.

Fitzgerald did have a taste for good whiskey, and he would steal the best barrels of whiskey as they matured using his warehouse keys. Pappy Van Winkle called Old Fitzgerald bourbon after the Treasury agent and added a “Whisper of Wheat” to his bourbon formula, immortalizing the barrels, which came to be known as “Fitzgerald barrels,” and the brand. Compared to other bourbons at the time, Pappy gave Old Fitz a softer, rounder flavor profile by using wheat as the secondary grain in the mashbill instead of rye.

Old Fitzgerald Bourbon is a 120-year-old brand that is well-known for its award-winning whiskey and extra-aging customs. The brand is currently managed by Master Distillers Parker and Craig Beam, who have contributed seven generations of Bourbon distilling skill while maintaining the award-winning, traditional methods.

This distinctive bottle pays homage to the original Old Fitzgerald dazzling diamond decanter from the 1950s. Its vintage-inspired label displays the iconic key, which has been the brand’s tagline since the 1940s: “Your key to hospitality.” A noticeable trademark banner and the state seal of Kentucky mimic a label from before Prohibition.

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old fitzgerald whiskey​ Notes on Tasting

Nuttiness, brown sugar, cinnamon, and wood notes are followed by spicy scents. Light vanilla and a hint of caramel greet the palate first, then oaky tannins, raisins, honeyed aromas, and a hint of toffee. With a hint of oak, cocoa, and baking spices, the finish is brief, sweet, and direct.