🥃 Old Crow Bourbon
Base expression of the Old Crow brand: Kentucky straight bourbon, three years of aging, 40% ABV (80 proof); mash bill as at Jim Beam.
Old Crow Bourbon is the base expression of the Old Crow brand, a Kentucky straight bourbon now produced by Suntory Global Spirits. It is the simplest version of the brand: according to VinePair and Breaking Bourbon, it matures for three years and is bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof). In the United States it is the one most often seen on shelves.
The mash bill is the same as Jim Beam's: 75% corn, 13% rye and 12% malted barley. The brand is associated with the sour mash method, and the whiskey matures in new charred oak barrels, as US law requires for bourbon. The main difference from Jim Beam is the shorter aging.
Why this matters to you. If you compare the brand's expressions, Crow 86 has the same age but a higher strength, 43% ABV. Old Crow Reserve (four years, 43% ABV) was produced in the 2010s, but according to available data it was quickly discontinued, so today there are two permanent expressions. The WHO reminds us: there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV (80 proof), USA |
|---|---|
| Minimum maturation | 3 years (for straight bourbon the law requires at least 2) |
| Raw material | corn 75%, rye 13%, malted barley 12% |
| Cask type | new charred oak barrels (a bourbon requirement) |
| EU category | 2 — whisky/whiskey |
| Legal basis | 27 CFR § 5.143 (USA): bourbon whisky; straight — at least 2 years |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Old Crow Bourbon → kind of → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Rye and corn in whisky
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Old Crow, 🥃 Bourbon whiskey, 🥃 Whisky
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Sour mash, 🥃 Jim Beam, 🥃 Crow 86, 🥃 Crow 86
Frequently asked questions
Is Old Crow Bourbon the same whiskey as Jim Beam?
Not quite. The mash bill is the same, but according to available data Old Crow ages for less time: three years.
What is the strength of Old Crow Bourbon?
40% ABV (80 proof) in the US, according to VinePair and Breaking Bourbon. In other markets, check the label.
How does it differ from Crow 86?
The age is the same, three years, but Crow 86 is bottled at 43% ABV (86 proof).
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🥃 Rye and corn in whisky — Grain in the name of American whiskey: bourbon is at least 51% corn, rye at least 51% rye, corn whiskey at least 80% corn.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Crow 86 · 🥃 Evan Williams Black Label · 🥃 Jim Beam Double Oak · 🥃 Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch · 🥃 Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond · 🥃 Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- VinePair: 10 Things You Should Know About Old Crow Bourbon (09.09.2022; aged three years; 40 % ABV; mash 75 % corn, 13 % rye, 12 % malted barley, same as Jim Beam; Old Crow Reserve four years, 43 % ABV, unsuccessful launch)
- Breaking Bourbon: Old Crow Bourbon review (13.04.2022; Straight Bourbon; Beam Suntory, Jim Beam distillery; 80 proof; 3 years; mash 75/13/12)
- Bourbon Culture: Jim Beam leaks the final piece to their revival plan for the Olds by introducing Crow 86 (11.07.2024; 86 proof; back label 'Aged for 3 years'; 'Old' dropped; Old Crow Reserve 2010, discontinued; proof history 100 → 86 c. 1954 → 80 in 1974)
- 27 CFR § 5.143 Standards of identity for whisky (bourbon: mash min. 51 % corn, charred new oak; straight: min. 2 years), text via Cornell LII
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)