Review #736 - Anderson Club 15 Year Bourbon (1996)
Anderson Club is a bourbon brand that dates back to the 1950s, though it was in discontinued in the early 2000s. This was Heaven Hill Kentucky bourbon with varying age statements, and it was primarily exported to the Japanese market; here we have a 15 year old version, one from a batch that was distilled in 1981 and bottled in 1996. This, then, is 'pre-fire' Heaven Hill, which is highly sought after as a dusty bottle in the current wave of bourbon popularity.
The bottling strength is a relatively low 43% ABV (86 proof), but due to the long aging period, we're hoping to still see some complexity and interesting flavors. This bourbon was also charcoal filtered, unlike more modern Heaven Hill bourbons, which could lead to some slight flavor differences.
Anderson Club 15 Year Bourbon (1996)
USA - Bourbon
Price: USD 375 (2025, based on recent auction results)
Age Statement: 15 Years
Strength: 43% ABV
Details: Distilled 1981, bottled 1996
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 4 months from a sample (thanks u/whiskytrails !). Tasted in a nosing glass each time, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: Soft old musty oak, a lighter complexion, some fermented tobacco leaf and a bit of juniper and licorice. There's a hint of vegetal grain in the background; brown sugar and cardamom add some sweetness, and we get more of an herbal side with time, especially a strong dill note. Accents include molasses, orange peel, and dusty furniture oak; it's a relatively delicate nose.
Palate: The mouthfeel is thin; soft tobacco, brown sugar, and a decent amount of oak start us off. Strong maple syrup and vanilla build, as there's just a hint of smoke to the oak... we also get some licorice. The herbal side gets much stronger with time in the glass, bringing dill and smoked rosemary.
Finish: Much like the palate - maple syrup, rosemary, tobacco, but it's soft overall. Vanilla and hay add a lighter side, and it grows more creamy over time; oak is softer now too, accented by brown sugar. This has a medium length finish.
Final Note: Giving this bourbon a lot of time rewards you with more flavors - it really starts to show that older age profile, though it's still quite delicate overall. Plenty of tobacco and grassy, herbal notes, especially dill; there's a nice sweetness from the baking notes like brown sugar and creamy vanilla. Good balance overall, but the flavors aren't too intense with that lower bottling strength. The flavor profile here is different compared to most modern bourbons, but we like it for that.
Value isn't great at this sort of price, but that isn't really the point of these dusty bottles - these are a little window into the history of bourbon, and this is one of the more fairly priced examples.
Our Rating: 7.2 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 4.16
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
Check out our other reviews of old/vintage whiskies:
Review #600 - 1943 Glenmore Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Review #593 - Maker's Mark Limited Edition (Gold Wax, Early 1990s)
Review #587 - Johnnie Walker Red Label (1970s Bottling)
Review #586 - Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch 11
Review #248 - Old Pulteney 12 Year (c. 2000 bottling)
