Former President Harry S. Truman drank his fair share of bourbon while in the White House. Truman’s biographer, David McCullough, wrote that the former president started his mornings with a 5 a.m. shot of Old Grand-Dad bourbon that — in Truman’s words — “got the engine running.” He accompanied his morning whiskey fix with toast, eggs, bacon, and milk. First produced in 1882, Old Grand-Dad was founded by Raymond B. Hayden, who named the brand after his grandfather, Basil Hayden Sr. A well-known distiller in his own right. Hayden Sr.’s name now adorns the label of another famous bourbon brand, but his portrait continues to look on from the label of OGD with a friendly smile. Old Grand-Dad is one of the oldest and most storied brands on store shelves, but despite this, the brand seems to receive little fanfare among bourbon enthusiasts and very little marketing effort from current owner Beam Suntory. The higher 114 proof version was even rumored to be discontinued in 2017, though it still exists today and pops up in discussions from time to time. Is your grandad quite the foodie? Does he clean his plate and go for seconds every time? If so, then you can’t beat foodie gift ideas for grandad. Think a giant Toblerone with his name on it, barbecue sauce selections or an espresso maker. Or if he fancies himself the next Gordon Ramsay, we have a selection of cooking gifts he’ll be sure to love. How about a maki master for a sushi chef, a MasterChef apron for when he’s cooking up a storm, or a pie maker if he loves a good pie? Drinking Gifts

Food critic Morgan Murphy said "The sweet corn of this whiskey is hot on the lips but has a mild finish of vanilla and baking spices." [4] References in media [ edit ] Old Grand-Dad 114 is the best bourbon in the Old Grand-Dad lineup. It tastes better than any of the others, it smells better than any of the others, it has a better finish than the others, has a higher proof than the rest so you can dialing it in to your liking and it’s 1/2 the cost of Basil Hayden’s. In fact, it’s everything that Basil Hayden’s should be but isn’t.In Robert P. Davis's 1976 novel The Pilot, Mike Hagen, the alcoholic airline pilot, keeps his (hidden) hip flask filled with Old Grand-Dad. Old Grand-Dad bourbons are made from a high rye mashbill containing 27% rye, which is likely the source of its heavy cinnamon spice flavor found throughout the 100 proof Bonded variant. It also falls in between the lower 80 proof and higher 114 proof versions, and to that end, balances flavor and drinkability the best of the three. The Old Grand-Dad brand was created by Raymond B. Hayden and named after his grandfather Meredith Basil Hayden, Sr. The bourbon has been in production since the 1800’s, including during Prohibition when it was produced by American Medicinal Spirits Co., a pharmaceutical company. The brand has changed ownership numerous times since it was originally created and is now owned by Beam Suntory and marketed as part of their “The Olds” Collection which also includes Old Overholt. Old Grand-Dad is currently released in three different bottling proofs: 80 (changed from 86 in 2013), 100, and 114. Of all “The Olds” Old Grand-Dad is my favorite and also happens to be one of the whiskeys I believe doesn’t get the respect that it deserves. Next time you’re hosting a blind bourbon tasting add this to your line up. You’ll be surprised how many of your fellow whiskey snobs will tell you they like it but might have turned their nose up if they had known what it was. Just goes to show that you can’t judge a whiskey by it’s bright orange label.

Old Grand-Dad was created by Raymond B. Hayden, a third-generation distiller, in 1882. He chose the name to honor his own grandfather — and the family’s first-generation distiller — Basil Hayden Sr. If the name sounds familiar, it may be because another bourbon label popularized it. Basil Hayden’s bourbon was crafted by master distiller Booker Noe in 1992. While he had no relation to the Haden family, he was inspired by Hayden Sr.’s expertise in the field and named the product after him. The nose is a bit un balanced, but the flavor and finish both have a nice symmetry to them. A full round body and a heavy warm mouthfeel compliment the rich character.Old Grand-Dad has a mash bill of 63 percent corn, 27 percent rye and 10 percent malted barley. Old Grand-Dad shares this grain bill with stablemate Basil Hayden. Bourbon lovers of all stripes — from the ultra-premium high-roller to the value-loving loyalist — have a great deal of respect for this old whiskey. It fits into any bourbon collection and doesn’t seem out of place with brands that sell for two or three times the price. Federal standards of identity require all bourbons to be made from a mash bill — or list of grain ingredients — containing at least 51 percent corn.