Old Swagger Bottled-in-Bond 12 y.o. Bourbon Review

Released in June 2025, Old Swagger 12 Year Bottled‑in‑Bond was the inaugural Bottled‑in‑Bond expression from Rising Tide Spirits. Sitting at the more traditional end of the Rising Tide Spirits portfolio, Old Swagger 12 Year Bottled‑in‑Bond offers drinkers a deliberate contrast to the intensity and single‑barrel focus of the Old Stubborn releases. Bottled in accordance with the Bottled‑in‑Bond Act, this bourbon is distilled at a single distillery, aged for a minimum of twelve years, and bottled at 100 proof, placing it firmly within one of the most historically regulated and clearly defined styles in American whiskey. The aim here is not to showcase raw barrel individuality, but rather balance, structure, and cohesion drawn from mature stocks selected to work together as a complete whole.
Rising Tide Spirits was founded in 2018 by Ed Bley, a name well known among bourbon enthusiasts for his years as one of the most respected barrel selectors in the U.S. whiskey scene. Before launching his own label, Bley built a devoted following through his private selections and collaborations, developing a reputation for an unusually sharp palate and an ability to identify barrels that consistently punched above their weight. Rising Tide allowed him to apply that same selection discipline on a broader canvas, giving him full control over sourcing, further ageing, blending decisions, and release timing.
Within that framework, Old Swagger represents Bley’s more classic, restraint‑driven expression of bourbon. Where Old Stubborn leans into power, viscosity, and the sometimes unruly character of single barrels, Old Swagger is designed to embody polish and composure, leaning on maturity and careful blending rather than proof or extraction alone. The 12 Year Bottled‑in‑Bond release also arrives in Rising Tide’s now‑signature hand‑blown bottle, reinforcing the brand’s belief that presentation should reflect the same care and intention as the whiskey inside. Let’s jump in!

Vital Stats:

Name: Old Swagger 12 Year Bottled‑in‑Bond
Age: 12 years old
Proof: 100 proof (50% ABV)
Type: Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Bottled‑in‑Bond)
Mashbill: Not disclosed (sourced bourbon, widely understood to be MGP‑distilled)
Producer: Rising Tide Spirits
Website: https://www.risingtidespirits.com/
Glassware: Glencairn

Review

Nose: Opens with a complex mix of sweet, woody baking spices and dried red and black fruits. Dark caramel sits at the core, followed by cracked black pepper, a touch of vanilla,  and an increasingly herbaceous note that leans into dark‑chocolate‑charred oak as it develops.

Palate: Viscous and well layered with dark caramel, dried fruits, supported by an underlying herbaceous depth and a steady pulse of black pepper. There’s a gentle warmth around the edges rather than heat, and as the spice softens, charred oak tannins settle in, adding structure and further complexity without drying the palate.

Finish: Lingering herbaceous warmth carries black pepper, dark chocolate, faint dried fruits, ginger, and orange peel oils into a layered and long aftertaste.

Overall 

Old Swagger 12 Year Bottled‑in‑Bond is a confident, robust bourbon that prioritises maturity and flavour balance ahead of brute force. From the first pour, it’s clear this is a bourbon built around cohesion. Dark fruits, baking spice, oak, and herbaceous notes are all present, but none are allowed to dominate. Instead, everything feels aligned, with no single flavour or element pushing ahead of the others, creating a drinking experience that rewards you for taking your time, sitting back, and enjoying each sip as the profile develops.

What impressed me most is how complete the whiskey feels, with tightly integrated flavours, no sharp edges or obvious gaps, and a structure that holds together nicely from nose to finish. Being bottled at 100 proof also helps to create a bourbon that never feels thin or restrained, with the viscosity, mouthfeel, and flavour density consistently reminding you that this is a well‑matured bourbon drawn from carefully selected stock, not something relying on high proof or aggressive extraction to make its point. This is particularly impressive given the constraints of Bottled‑in‑Bond, where the blender has far less flexibility and blending decisions have to be precise.

The Bottled‑in‑Bond designation deserves a larger discussion and is a big part of what makes this release work so well for me. The legal requirements of this category (i.e., coming from a single distillery, a single distillation season, meeting a four‑year minimum age, and being bottled at a fixed proof) leave very little room to hide flaws or imperfections. Knowing the whiskey comes from mature MGP stocks only adds to the sense of achievement in how carefully this whiskey has been handled. Mature MGP bourbon can be unforgiving if handled incorrectly, but here it’s clear that there was a strong understanding of what the whiskey needed, and just as importantly, when to step back and let it speak for itself.

As the whiskey opens up in the glass, the herbaceous character becomes more pronounced, building on the palate with each sip and providing a depth of flavour that keeps it engaging over time. There’s a subtle, almost aromatic quality to this development that adds complexity without tipping into astringency, and while the oak influence is clearly present, as you’d expect from a 12‑year‑old bourbon, it’s well managed, contributing flavour, structure, and warmth rather than dryness or bitterness.

This release also highlights the strength of Ed Bley’s approach when working within traditional frameworks. Where Old Stubborn showcases the power and individuality of single barrels, Old Swagger demonstrates what happens when mature components are selected and assembled with restraint and purpose. From a blending perspective, this release reinforces Ed’s reputation as a highly skilled blender. It’s easy to talk about great barrel selection, but this whiskey highlights his ability to assemble individual components into something that feels intentional and complete, especially within the tight framework of Bottled‑in‑Bond. The confidence here comes not from pushing limits, but from knowing exactly what the whiskey needs, and just as importantly, what it does not.

Taken on its own terms, Old Swagger 12 Year Bottled‑in‑Bond is a whiskey I found genuinely rewarding to spend time with. It’s confident without being showy, structured without being rigid, and clearly shaped by a steady hand rather than a desire to impress through excess. This feels like a bourbon made by someone who trusts the whiskey, trusts the process, and is comfortable letting maturity and balance do the talking. It’s a release that reflects a steady and confident hand throughout, resulting in a bourbon that feels coherent, deliberate, and deeply satisfying to drink.

With subsequent batches of Old Swagger now released, and an even older age statement added to the lineup, it’s clear this 12‑year Bottled‑in‑Bond laid solid foundations for what followed. The strong reception those later releases received only reinforces how well judged this first step was. In that context, Old Swagger 12 reads less like a one‑off and more like a statement of intent, one that shows just how effective restraint, patience, and thoughtful blending can be when applied with confidence and care.

Try or Buy?

Old Swagger 12 Year Bottled‑in‑Bond is no longer readily available at retail, with bottles now mostly turning up through lingering shop stock, the secondary market, or auction sites. If you missed this release, it’s still well worth seeking out at sensible money, but for most readers the more realistic option is to look toward the newer Old Swagger releases, which build directly on the foundations laid here. Given how well this 12‑year Bottled‑in‑Bond drinks, the more recent batches make for a very credible and satisfying substitute if you’re keen to see where the line has gone next.

About Rising Tide Spirits

The brainchild of renowned bourbon barrel picker, blender, and whiskey personality Ed Bley, Rising Tide Spirits is the manifestation of his pursuit to become a world‑class non‑distilling producer. Established in 2018, the name “Rising Tide” comes from the adage that a rising tide lifts all boats, reflecting both Ed’s personal philosophy and his appreciation for the bourbon industry’s traditions of inclusivity, community, and collaboration.

Long before launching his own NDP, Ed developed a devoted following for his uncanny palate, blending talent, and ability to identify world‑class single barrels. His private selections became so sought‑after that his former retailer, Cork N’ Bottle, grew into a national destination for whiskey enthusiasts, with lines forming from across the United States and overseas. His picks often outsold major limited releases, and the success of early collaborative releases (most famously Old Baldy) cemented his reputation as one of the most influential pickers of barrels in modern American whiskey.

Since the release of Old Stubborn Batch 2, Rising Tide has continued to expand its vision. Batch 3 marked a significant evolution for the brand, introducing a twelve‑barrel single‑barrel showcase of pot‑still bourbon from West Virginia, aged 11 to 14 years and bottled at full proof. This series highlighted the individual barrels that had previously formed the backbone of Old Stubborn blends, giving drinkers a rare behind‑the‑curtain look at the component parts of earlier releases.

Most recently, the brand launched Old Stubborn Batch 4, featuring eight hand‑selected pot‑still wheated single barrels aged between 11 and 14 years, all bottled at barrel proof and non‑chill filtered. This release also debuted Old Stubborn Pot Still Rye for the first time, expanding the Old Stubborn family into new territory.

Alongside Old Stubborn, Rising Tide has also developed the Old Swagger line, which now includes a 13‑year Bottled‑in‑Bond bourbon as well as a cask‑strength Old Swagger Rye. These releases continue to sell out rapidly, reinforcing the brand’s growing momentum and the strong loyalty of its fanbase.

Another major development for Rising Tide is its now‑signature hand‑blown bottle design. Each bottle includes a three‑dimensional Rising Tide emblem embedded in the base and requires significant time and craftsmanship to produce. Ed has described the packaging as an extension of the whiskey itself, believing the vessel should reflect the same care and intention as the liquid inside.

Today, Rising Tide releases multiple product lines each year, sources barrels years in advance, and remains committed to releasing whiskey only when Ed believes it has reached the level of character and quality he demands. His focus on mouthfeel, viscosity, patient maturation, and memorable flavour continues to define the brand’s identity and set it apart within the landscape of American NDPs.