The R.S. Lipman Company out of Nashville honors our seventh President, Andrew Jackson, with a pair of whiskies named after one of his nicknames – Old Hickory.  One is a straight bourbon ($39.99), while the other is a blended bourbon whiskey ($29.99).  Both are sourced from MGP in Indiana.  The company is very transparent, with loads of information available online.

The name “Old Hickory” has a long history dating back to pre-Prohibition.  R.S. Lipman  bought the trademark in 2013 and resurrected the label.  Even the Lipman family has a long history in the whiskey business, going back decades as merchants and distributors.

Let’s take a look at these releases.

Blended Bourbon Whiskey

Bottled at 80 proof, this release is a blend of 89% 4-year-old whiskey and 11% 2-year-old whiskey.  The nose itself is slightly light compared to the straight bourbon, with fresh corn dominating, followed by light brown sugar and a touch of oak.  Surprisingly, there’s a welcome spice on the entry.  It’s not much, but I’m glad it’s there.  Beyond that, there’s a light caramel and oak, but it seems a bit flat.  Some oak spice shows up for a medium finish. There’s nothing wrong with this whiskey, but nothing will jump out and grab your attention.  Between the two, stick with the straight bourbon.

6.5/10

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Straight Bourbon Whiskey

This release is bottled at a classic 86 proof.  There’s no age statement, but there’s whiskey here aged between 4 – 7 years.  The barrel influence hasn’t completely wiped away the spirit’s character.  This oak is a bigger player on the nose, compared to this whiskey’s sibling.  Sweet corn and creamy caramel show up to the party, along with a slight musty note.  The higher proof makes a huge difference.  This bourbon is richer and carries flavors more robustly.  Oak spice, sweet corn mash and cinnamon all interact against a rich caramel background and spiced dough.  An odd herbal note shows up briefly.  The medium finish  carries semi-sweet and spicy notes.  The bourbon is a much better buy than the blended whiskey.  Makes for a great mixer, but can handle itself as a sipper.