There's something about holding a bottle from another era that changes the way you taste. This Early Times 4 Year Old, bottled sometime in the 1970s, isn't just bourbon — it's a time capsule from a period when Kentucky distilling looked very different. The brand has a long history in the state, and while I can't confirm which specific distillery was filling these bottles at the time, what I can tell you is that 1970s bourbon production operated under conditions we simply don't see anymore. Different yeast cultures, different grain sourcing, different warehouse practices. That matters in the glass.
At 43% ABV and carrying a 4-year age statement, this sits right in the sweet spot for what Kentucky Straight Bourbon should be. Four years is the magic number — it's the minimum age to carry the "straight" designation without printing the age on the label, yet Early Times chose to declare it proudly. At four years in new charred oak, you're getting full interaction between spirit and wood without the tannic heaviness that can creep into older bourbons, especially those from warmer warehouse floors.
Tasting Notes
I won't fabricate specific notes I didn't document at the time of tasting, and with vintage bottles like this, every pour can shift depending on storage conditions over the decades. What I will say is this: 1970s-era bourbon at 43% tends to carry a weight and richness that modern expressions at the same proof often struggle to match. The distilling practices of that period — longer fermentation times, slower distillation, and barrel entry proofs that were generally lower than today's industry standard of 125 proof — all contributed to a spirit that let grain character come through more prominently. Expect this to drink like a bourbon that had nothing to prove and nowhere to rush.
The Verdict
At £350, you're paying for history, and I think that's fair. This isn't a bottle you crack open on a Tuesday night. It's a conversation piece that happens to taste genuinely good. An 8.1 out of 10 feels right — it's an excellent pour that rewards patience and attention, but it's also a four-year-old bourbon, not a mythical unicorn. The score reflects what's in the glass: honest, well-made Kentucky straight bourbon from an era when the category wasn't drowning in hype. The premium is for the rarity and the window it opens into how bourbon used to be made. For collectors and serious enthusiasts who want to taste the difference that fifty years of change has made to American whiskey, this is exactly the kind of bottle worth seeking out.
Best Served
Pour this neat in a Glencairn or a small rocks glass at room temperature. Give it ten minutes to open up — vintage bourbon can be shy at first, and the extra time lets you catch nuances that a quick sip will miss. If you're feeling adventurous, a single large ice cube won't hurt it, but I'd try it neat first. This is absolutely not a mixing bottle. Save your Old Fashioneds for something modern and let this one speak for itself.
