Old Fitzgerald Bottled-In-Bond 15 Year Old

15 years. 100 proof. Wheated bourbon in Heaven Hill’s iconic diamond decanter. The oldest expression in the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond series.

The Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond series is released twice a year — Spring and Fall — and each edition is a specific distillation season aged to a specific number of years, bottled to the strict legal standards of the Bottled-in-Bond Act: 100 proof, single distillery, single season, federally bonded warehouse. The 15 Year is the oldest expression in the series and the most sought-after of each release cycle.

As a wheated bourbon, Old Fitzgerald replaces the rye grain used in most Kentucky bourbons with wheat — producing a softer, more caramel-forward profile that becomes increasingly pronounced with age. At 15 years, the wheat character reaches a level of development that places it in the same conversation as W.L. Weller and the Van Winkle family — not surprising, given that Pappy Van Winkle himself worked at the original Old Fitzgerald distillery and called it the first great wheated bourbon.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Deep amber with golden hues from 15 years of barrel contact.
• Aroma: Rich caramel, baked apple, vanilla, dried apricot, and a gentle toasted oak note.
• Palate: Full and silky — toffee, dried fruit, warm baking spice, and a wheat grain sweetness that runs through the entire experience.
• Finish: Long and warming — caramel, vanilla, and gentle oak fading into a clean, dry close.

The Decanter

The Old Fitzgerald BiB decanter is inspired by the original diamond-shaped bottles used for Old Fitzgerald in the 1950s. It is one of the most visually distinctive presentations in the bourbon category — a bottle that signals its contents before it’s opened.

Specs

• Distillery: Heaven Hill Bernheim Distillery, Louisville, Kentucky
• Style: Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Bottled-in-Bond
• Age: 15 years
• Proof: 100 (50% ABV)
• Size: 750ml
• Presentation: Diamond-inspired decanter bottle

Explore all Old Fitzgerald expressions or browse the full bourbon selection at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How does the 15 Year differ from the 13 Year Old Fitzgerald BiB? The 13 Year is the previous top of the series — excellent, caramel-forward, and approachable. The 15 Year adds two additional years of wheated maturation, producing a noticeably richer dried fruit character, deeper caramel concentration, and a longer finish. It is the definitive Old Fitzgerald BiB expression.
• What is Bottled-in-Bond and why does it matter? The Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 requires single-season, single-distillery production, at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse, and bottling at exactly 100 proof with no additives. It is the most transparent designation in American whiskey — every bottle tells you precisely what it is.
• What is a wheated bourbon? Most bourbons use rye as the secondary grain, contributing spice. Wheated bourbons — like Old Fitzgerald, W.L. Weller, and Pappy Van Winkle — substitute wheat, producing a softer, sweeter profile. The connection is direct: Pappy Van Winkle worked at the original Old Fitzgerald distillery and Old Fitzgerald is widely considered the first great wheated bourbon.
• Is Old Fitzgerald BiB 15 Year hard to find? Yes. Each release is limited and sells out quickly. The 15 Year in particular — as the oldest expression in the series — has the most constrained supply and highest secondary market demand of any Old Fitzgerald BiB release.