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Booker’s vs Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond
Comparing Booker’s and Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond reveals a matchup between an uncut, spice-driven heavyweight and a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Booker’s | Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 7 years | 9 years +2 yr |
| Proof | 125 proof (62.5% ABV) +25 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$85 – $110 ~$48 less | ~$110 – $180 |
| Availability | Limited easier to find | Allocated |
- Booker’s does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Booker’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Booker’s Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 10/4 heat: Booker’s 10 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
spice 7/2 spice: Booker’s 7 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 2 out of 10
nuttiness 8/3 nuttiness: Booker’s 8 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Booker’s 4 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: Booker’s 7 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 8 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Booker’s 8 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- Booker’s: Uncut, unfiltered Beam at batch strength, and the most concentrated expression of the house peanut-and-oak character. Enormous and hot, with a finish that goes on well past where you expect it to stop.
- Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond: The decanter series, released twice a year at varying ages, and Heaven Hill's most serious wheated statement. Age shows as polished oak and stewed fruit rather than tannin, but you pay handsomely for the bottle.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Booker’s if you want the Beam house style at full power and you have water on the table at a significantly lower price point and with significantly more proof behind it.
- Go with Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond if you want an aged, bonded wheater in a presentation bottle and the price is not the obstacle.
Best enjoyed neat (Booker’s); neat (Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond).