Here we go, a dive into an old dusty ND – the 1941 Old Sunny Brook. The Sunny Brook brand has been around since the late 1800s and is one of those brands that’ss changed hands so many times that it gets a bit tough to keep it all straight. Though what I do know is that in 1933 it was sold to National Distillers under their American Medicinal Spirits and remained under ND until ND was bought by Beam.
What I can also tell you is that the distillery Sunny Brook was being made out of was closed in 1975 and it was moved to the Old Crow / Old Grand-Dad distillery. So pre-’75 is really the dusty stuff you want to look for if you’re looking for uniqueness. Though if you’re looking for taste I had a different opinion in the 1941 Old Sunny Brook review below.
1941 Old Sunny Brook Info
Region: Kentucky, USA
Distiller: National Distillers
Mashbill: Corn, Rye and Malted Barley
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: 4 Years
ABV: 47%
Price: NA – Auction, Specialty Store or Private Seller
1941 Old Sunny Brook Review
EYE
Caramel
NOSE
Oak, butterscotch, OBE, complex baking spice, a touch biscuity, herbal and candied citrus.
PALATE
OBE, herbal, roasted corn, oak, spice, candied citrus and a bit of butterscotch.
FINISH
Medium fade fo butterscotch, oak, spice and OBE.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Ok balance, medium body and a soft feel.
OVERALL
A good whiskey, a with a simple old style bourbon character and a slight pine-like herbal underpinning which is something I’ve found in old bottles of other ND products. Don’t know if it was there fresh or it’s a product of sitting glass for 76 years but it’s actually quite nice and it works well with the butterscotch notes. The whiskey is a bit boring, but at least it isn’t bad.
Drawing parallels to things from the same era I like ’49 Old Grand-Dad and ’43 Old Forester more – especially that Old Forester. Both of these whiskeys carry more of an oak influence and carry more of that elusive depth I’m alway seeking. Still, I’d never turn down a glass of 1941 Old Sunny Brook if offered, so there’s that.
SCORE: 83/100 (B)
