Some things just can’t be rushed. Just like these 11+ year releases we have today, the journey behind it took time to unfold. I first met Ed Bley back in late 2017 at a tasting event in Northern Kentucky (photo below), where he poured me a glass of his “Old Baldy” bourbon. That release—just 300 bottles—was already stirring up quite a bit of excitement online. After tasting it, I named it one of my favorite bourbons of 2017 on the Bourbonr Blog.
That was eight years ago. And it’s been six years since Ed announced the launch of his own independent bottling venture, Rising Tide Spirits. While I tend to be more of a "ready, fire, aim" kind of person, I can appreciate when others have the patience to let something truly special come together. The name “Old Stubborn” is a nod to that persistence—and I’m thrilled to say, the wait was worth it.
For Old Stubborn's third release they chose to highlight the characteristics of the barrels that have made up the previously released batches—West Virginia pot still distillate, at cask strength. They selected their favorite 12 single barrels—some wheated bourbon, some rye bourbon, all unbelievable bourbon—to display these dynamics. Ranging from 11-14 years old and 117 to 142 proof, there's no telling which of these limited and unique barrels you'll be getting. As a bit of a preview, here are our notes for barrel SB06W, so one of their wheated bourbon single barrels.
The nose is vivid with white chocolate raspberry cake, orange soda, and a buttery, perfumed oak. It is constantly changing in the glass, as notes of dried cherry, granulated grape candy, and worn leather start to seep in as well as a mint kissed but warm, fresh honey.
The palate begins rich with that warm, fresh honey from the nose before continuing with orange and lemon zest, blackberries and blueberries, a slightly spiced Luxardo cherry syrup, all building to shortbread, toffee, cinnamon butter, and warming oak.
The finish is softly trailing, but long in its fade, continuing with toffee, orange cream, sweet leather and mature oak with a longer linger of cocoa powder and espresso.
It’s a long walk from the barrel to the bottle, a journey that takes insight and confidence to navigate. Along the way, there are many forks in the path that can greatly change the outcome of the final pour. Every decision in the process is a chance to demonstrate a command of control. When each step moves in rhythm, it’s no walk at all, it’s Swagger.
For this first release of Old Swagger, they chose the high standard of Bottled-in-Bond. This release is 12 barrels of 12-year-old MGP bourbon, Bottled-in-Bond for complete transparency to produce an elegant and deliberate pour. Experience beats luck every time. If you like older pours without the proof bite, this one is going to be right up your alley.
Just beautiful smelling whiskey. Antique oak, old leather, rich vanilla custard, white pepper, and layers of perfumed fruit - the nose on this one is fitting for the bottle design.
The palate is a continuation of everything from the nose - silky, candied, sweet and nuanced. There’s plenty of sugared grape and blueberry notes moving into raspberry. The spice is present but harmonious, while lemon-lime soda syrup, vanilla bean, and sweet aged oak continue on.
The finish is effervescent - tingling like pop rocks with plenty of leather, sweet oak, freshly brewed coffee, ground ginger, and flat cream soda.
