Old Crow Chessmen 1969 | Details |
---|---|
In the Bottle | 86 Proof |
ABV | 43% |
Mashbill | Unknown |
Distilled and Aged | Old Crow Distillery – Frankfort, KY |
Age | 10 Years |
Distillery | Old Crow Distillery 3200-4090 McCracken Pike Frankfort, KY 40601 |
Style | Sour Mash Bourbon |
The Set | 32 Chess Pieces 16 Bronze 16 Dark Green One Chess Board Mat |
Size | 750 mL |
Original Price | $22.95 |
Pros | My all time favorite bourbon. Who's got the funk? We got the funk. |
Cons | Rare and Expensive |
Availability | Nationwide |
Rating | Platinum 99 out of 100 Points |
Inventory | Drink Whenever You Have the Chance |
The Old Crow Chessmen Decanter from 1969 is the dusty lover’s unicorn. I’ve imagined walking into an estate sale and seeing a complete Old Crow Chessmen set sealed just sitting there waiting to be scooped up into my loving arms. Alas, I’ve heard the stories but have never had such luck. Thankfully, I’ve had multiple opportunities to taste this nectar of the gods, and it has never disappointed me.
The Old Crow Distillery is DSP-KY-25 — meaning it was one of the OGs of Kentucky bourbon. Sadly the brand has declined to a bottom shelf bourbon that’s almost forgotten. It deserves something along the lines of a BATC limited edition release in my humble opinion. Old Crow was named for its founder Scottish immigrant James C. Crow who migrated to Kentucky in 1820.
Related: Check out the Bourbon Guy’s photo tour of the former Old Crow Distillery.
He had a knack for creating quality whiskey and standardized the sour mash process. When he passed away in 1856, Oscar Pepper (yes that Pepper) name a bourbon after him. The brand was moved to Gaines, Berry & Co. in 1874 and the Old Crow Distillery was born in 1892, and so the legend was born. In 1934 after prohibition, National Distillers purchased the Old Crow Distillery, and the brand boomed becoming one of the most respected bourbon brands in America.
However, even the best bourbon brands didn’t go untouched when bourbon sales plummeted mid-century. What hurt Old Crow was, rumor has it, the yeast strain and Old Crow’s original recipe was changed (messing with the sour mash backset) which hurt the flavor.
Back to the ceramic decanters. What did distilleries do when sales declined mid-century? They sold commemorative decanters. Old Crow was no different. And if one decanter was good for business imagine 32 decanters with a playable chess mat. Not sure it moved the needle because the brand continued to decline all the way to the bottom shelf.
However, these decanters say around until bourbon lovers started buying and drinking them during this latest bourbon boom, and lo and behold they were beyond delicious. Fred Minnick famously said Old Crow Chessmen Whiskey is “by far the best bourbon I ever put upon my lips.” No small praise, but I agree.
Start shopping for bourbon clothing and accessories for your journey. The Bard’s Shop has custom tees and hoodies, books, barrels, and more.
Old Crow Chessmen Decanter 1969 Review
This bourbon is dark as a rusted out pickup truck. With a gentle swirl, thick ribbons start to cover my glass creating long, thick legs.
Nose – 99 out of 100 Points
Rich caramel. Musty leather-bound book. Just a hint of cherry and cinnamon. But it’s that leather note that does it for me. A lot of old bourbons have the dusty funk note but with a good Chessmen, it’s luxurious and complex. There’s also a charred oak undercurrent.
Taste – 99 out of 100 Points
Chessmen is crisp and creamy with leather, vanilla and caramel swirled pudding and cinnamon and oak at the back of the palate.
Finish – 98 out of 100 Points
The finish is medium with leather, oak, and baking spice. In my opinion, this finish shows how complex and intriguing a finish can be without being hot or overly long.
Verdict – Platinum 99 out of 100 Points
I’ve had three different Old Crow Limited Edition Chessmen Ceramics, and it’s the best bourbon I’ve had. It’s got the dusty funk I crave, plus complexity, balance, and full flavor. Check out another review from Dusty Dan below:
Have you tried Old Crow Whiskey bottle chess pieces? Leave your tasting notes in the comments.
The Story of the Old Crow Distillery and Dr. James Crow
Vintage Old Crow Chessmen Ad
If you see any Old Crow Chessmen unopened, don’t hesitate. Snatch it up. Start shopping for bourbon clothing and accessories for your journey. The Bard’s Shop has custom tees and hoodies, books, barrels, and more.
Written by Matty Sims
Buy Bourbon Clothing
Popular Posts
Bourbon Release Calendar [2021]
Our bourbon release calendar covers the annual cadence of major limited releases as well as new labels approved by the TTB — making bourbon hunting easy again. You may be asking, "What bourbon is releasing this week?" Well, new bourbon release dates are not an exact science. Not all bourbon...
The 24 Best Bourbons Under $100 Ranked [2021]
The over $50 and under $100 bourbon whiskey category is where it gets interesting. There are some all-time great options available in this corner and many can be easily found. Some of my top choices include Booker’s bourbon and Four Roses Single Barrel Barrel Proof (SBBP). Booker’s batches...
Every Smoke Wagon Bourbon Reviewed [2021]
Smoke Wagon Bourbon was founded by Aaron Chepenik and Jonathan Hensleigh in 2012 as part of Nevada H&C Distilling Co. They source their bourbon from Midwest Grain Products of Indiana (MGPI) using MGPI's 36% high rye bourbon mashbill. Chepenik was convinced you can develop a brand flavor...
Every Weller Bourbon Reviewed [2021]
You're here because you've been asking, "Which Weller bourbon is the best?" We've got you covered with reviews of every Weller plus a lot more. The first Weller who distilled whiskey was Daniel Weller, grandfather of William LaRue Weller. Daniel was a pioneer distillery in the 18th century in...
Booker’s Bourbon Batches | List of Booker’s Batches
Booker's bourbon batches are a barrel strength bourbon made by the Jim Beam distillery. It is uncut and unfiltered. It's generally aged 6 to 8 years with a proof upwards of 121. This is Booker Noe's bourbon, the famous master distiller of Jim Beam in the 80s. The brand was started by Booker Noe,...
0 Comments