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Old Grand-Dad Bonded vs Kentucky Owl Batch 12
Old Grand-Dad Bonded and Kentucky Owl Batch 12 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an undiluted barrel-strength pour.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Grand-Dad Bonded | Kentucky Owl Batch 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 4 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 115.8 proof (57.9% ABV) +16 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$24 – $30 ~$323 less | ~$300 – $400 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded and Kentucky Owl Batch 12 do not publish an official mash bill.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
Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Kentucky Owl Batch 12
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Grand-Dad Bonded Kentucky Owl Batch 12
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/8 oak: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 8 out of 10
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 3 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 6 out of 10
spice 8/7 spice: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 8 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 7 out of 10
heat 6/7 heat: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 6 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 7 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 4 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded: A bonded 100-proof high-rye bourbon for the price of a mixer, and one of the great bargains on the shelf. Cleaner and less overwhelming than the 114 while keeping the peppery rye backbone.
- Kentucky Owl Batch 12: A high-end blend of young and older sourced Kentucky bourbons. Leather, smoky oak and caramel, with a peppery, spice-forward palate.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Old Grand-Dad Bonded if you want a bonded, high-rye workhorse at mixer money without hunting for it.
- Go with Kentucky Owl Batch 12 if you want a spicy, leathery, high-end blended bourbon with more proof behind it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad Bonded); neat (Kentucky Owl Batch 12).