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Old Grand-Dad Bonded vs Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B
Old Grand-Dad Bonded and Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, wheat-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Grand-Dad Bonded | Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 4 years | 12 years +8 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$24 – $30 ~$508 less | ~$170 – $900 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded and Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Grand-Dad Bonded Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/3 spice: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 8 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10
sweetness 5/8 sweetness: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 8 out of 10
heat 6/3 heat: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 6 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 6 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 4 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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.
- Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B: Twelve-year wheated bourbon from the Van Winkle line. Soft and balanced, with butterscotch, toffee and caramel and a gentle, spiced finish.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Old Grand-Dad Bonded if you want a bonded, high-rye workhorse at mixer money with slightly more proof behind it and without hunting for it.
- Go with Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B if you want a soft, balanced, 12-year wheater from the Van Winkle line with an older age statement.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad Bonded); neat (Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B).