George Dickel Bottled in Bond Aged 13 Years (distilled in Spring 2007)

George Dickel Bottled in Bond 13 Year Old Distilled in Spring 2007 Tennessee Whiskey

We are heading back to Tennessee for the next sip, a George Dickel Bottled In Bond distilled in the Spring of 2007 and aged for 13 years.  As the picture may indicate, I have had this bottle for a while and, in all honesty, I’m trying to clear up some space on my shelves so I figured I’d rip the band-aid off and finally do a review.  This particular bottle is the third release in Dickel’s Bottled in Bond series.  The first was a 13 year old distilled in the Fall of 2005, so the 2018 release.  The second was the first of this series that I ever tasted, an 11 year old distilled in the Fall of 2008, so the 2019 release.  I remember really liking that bottle and burning through it pretty quickly so when I saw this third release, the 2020 release, I snatched it up quickly.  

According to the internet, the mash bill for Dickel is 84% Corn, 8% Rye, 8% Malted Barley.

ABV: 50%

How it smells…honey and something like provolone cheese funk.

How it tastes…honey on the start with some thin oakiness in the middle ending with a slight menthol note.  The finish is sweet and short but overall I’m reminded of Dayquil Cold & Flu Honey Flavor, and not in a good way.

Price…$50

Rating...🥃🥃

Final thoughts….Overall very unsatisfying, particularly when compared with the memory of the 11 year old version I previously tasted. While I can’t confirm the mash bill, it makes sense given the overall flavor profile and mouthfeel.  Very thin and uneventful.  There’s a reason why Wheat and Rye are used as flavor grains and why Malted Barley should be used as more than just a catalyst for sugar conversion (in my opinion, at least).  

If this was a paint by number and I could just look at the age and price point and call it a day, then this would score well.  Unfortunately I have to make it oh-so-complicated by adding that pesky qualifying factor of “taste” into the evaluation and that’s where it all goes to shit for this bottle.  A 2x 🥃 is generous.  I certainly won’t be buying it again and will be wary of the Bottled in Bond series until I get confirmation from trusted sources that the release is good.  Beyond that initial 11 year old Bottled in Bond that I purchased, I haven’t loved a lot of what Dickel puts out there….and given my review of the Gentleman Jack, I may have an aversion to Tennessee whiskey in general….I’m not sure, but I’ll keep trying.