A Century of American Whiskey

Old Lewis Hunter 6 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon 1974

This is an old pre-prohibition brand of bourbon, here bottled in the 1970s by then-owners, Seagram, at their distillery in Louisville, Kentucky.

Imported to the Italian market.

Old Cooper 12 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon 2005

This 12 year old Kentucky straight bourbon was produced for the Japanese market by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers in 2005.

Kentucky Bourbon Distillers are the owners of the Willett distillery in Bardstown. Willett distillery was built in 1936, just a few years after the repeal of National Prohibition by Lambert Willett, a former distiller for Max Selliger & Co. The distillery was initially a success, principally through its Old Bardstown and Johnny Drum brands, however it was hit hard by the bourbon slump of the 1970s. The result was an ill-advised move into producing ethanol for the production of \"gasohol,\" spurred by the 1979 energy crises. When that market re-stabilised, Willett was left floundering and eventually closed in the early 1980s. Lambert's granddaughter, Martha Willett and her husband, Even Kulsveen, then purchased the distillery and established Kentucky Bourbon Distillers in 1984. They originally bottled the remaining barrels of 1970s-distilled stock, however as that gradually diminished, they began sourcing barrels from other producers in order to replenish it, becoming one of the most important independent bottlers in Kentucky. The majority of their barrels were believed to have come from neighbouring Heaven Hill, and with these casks they developed a wealth of important brands, including the Willett Family Estate, Noah's Mill and Rowan's Creek. In addition, they contract-bottled brands for other companies, such as the Very Olde St Nick and Black Maple Hill brands. Revered for the quality of their whiskey, their products have become some of the most collectible to come out of Kentucky. One January 21st, 2012, the company re-opened Willett distillery, and have been slowly replenishing its warehouses with its own whiskey ever since.

Old Fitzgerald 1962 Bottled in Bond 6 Year Old 100 Proof Miniature / Stitzel-Weller

Originally registered as \"Jno. E. Fitzgerald,\" the Old Fitzgerald brand was devised by S.C. Hebst in 1870. Hebst was a rectifier by trade (using grain neutral spirit with colouring and flavourings to make \"whiskey\"), but he also had a passion for sourcing high quality barrels of pot still bourbon and rye, which he bottled as Jno. E. Fitzgerald. When the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897 was passed, rectified whiskey fell out of favour and Hebst went into the distilling business, purchasing a distillery which he named Old Judge after his best-selling flagship brand. Old Judge did not survive Prohibition however, and Hebst sold the Old Fitzgerald brand for just $10,000 to a former customer, a certain Julian 'Pappy' Van Winkle, who was sourcing label for his new Stitzel-Weller venture. Van Winkle had a near-religious belief in the importance of quality above all else in the bourbon he produced and under his guidance, Old Fitzgerald became and remains to this day, one of the most sought-after and respected labels in American whiskey. Stitzel-Weller was eventually shut down by United Distillers, and as their successor, Diageo, sold the Old Fitzgerald brand was sold to current owners, Heaven Hill.

This is the 6 year old Old Fitzgerald, distilled at Stitzel-Weller in 1962 and bottled in 1968. These Van Winkle era bottlings from Stitzel-Weller are incredibly sought after.

The Stitzel-Weller company was officially established in 1933 at the repeal of National Prohibition in the US. It was the result of a merger between the A. Ph. Stitzel distillery and its biggest customer, W.L. Weller & Sons. The Stitzel-Weller distillery opened on Kentucky Derby day in 1935, and quickly developed a reputation for its high quality wheated bourbon, and its main brands were Old Weller, Old Fitzgerald and Cabin Still. The original ownership was shared between Alex T. Farnsley, Arthur Philip Stitzel and Julian Van Winkle. The former passed-away in 1941 and 1947, respectively, leaving the Van Winkle family as the sole heirs to the business. 'Pappy' died in 1965, having handed the reigns to his son, Julian II the year prior, who ran it until 1972 when the board of directors forced him to sell it to the Norton-Simon subsidiary, Somerset Imports. When they were bought over by the American arm of Scottish distillers, DCL, its subsequent iteration invested heavily in bourbon. So much so in fact, that their newly rebuilt Bernheim distillery had such capacity that Stitzel-Weller was rendered surplus to requirements. It was shut down in 1992. Still part of the Diageo portfolio, it has never re-opened and instead now houses the visitor experience for their Bulleit brand.

Guckenheimer Reserve Quart 1967

A blended American whiskey produced by the American Distilling Company at their distillery in Pekin, Illinois in the 1960s. 

The distillery still exists today, owned by MGP (more commonly known through their ownership of the old Seagram's distillery in in Indiana), however it now only produces industrial strength alcohol rather than whiskey.

Guckenheimer is a historic brand, surviving Prohibition as a medicinal product bottled by the Pennsylvania Distilling Co. Over time it changed hands from The American Distilling Co, to Schenley and Adolph Hirsch (of A.H. Hirsch fame), to Heaven Hill who still make it today.

Old Grand-Dad 114 Proof Bourbon 2017 / Lot No.1

The stories behind America's bourbon brands are some of the greatest in whisky history, and no other traces the narrative of Kentucky distilling as closely as Old Grand-dad. Bourbon historian Chuck Cowdery describes the brand's story as \"one of the richest in bourbon country,\" with distilling dynasties such as the Beam, Dant, Hayden, Taylor, Medley and Wathen families all having a hand in its production over the years.

The original old Grand-dad was Basil Hayden, who's second generation descendents named their primary brand in his honour (he still features on the label today). They built the original Old Grand-dad distillery at Hobbs Station, not far from where Jim Beam's Clermont distillery now sits today. They bought the Hobbs Station distillery its brands in 1899, and developed a successful business out of it. Even with the Prohibition Act looming on the horizon, the Wathen family were shrewd, and re-organised their company as the American Medicinal Spirits Co. This allowed them to exploit a loophole in the Prohibition laws, which had banned the production and sale of alcohol, but permitted the continued bottling of whiskey for medicinal purposes and as a weekly baker's ration. Otto Wathen consolidated much of Kentucky's distilling, filling his warehouses with bonded stock and acquiring brands such as Hill & Hill, Bourbon de Luxe and Old Crow.

The AMS Co were eventually bout over by National Distillers, who went on to become one of the biggest post-repeal distilling companies in the US. The original Old Grand-dad distillery at Hobbs Station never re-opened after Prohibition however, with National Distillers buying what is the more familiar Old Grand-dad distillery in Frankfort in 1933. It and National Distillers were acquired by Jim Beam in 1987, who produced this at Clermont, a return (almost) to its spiritual home. The National Distillers era Old  Grand-dad distillery is now a Beam bottling plant. 

Old Grand-Dad 114 Proof Bourbon 2017 / Lot No.1

The stories behind America's bourbon brands are some of the greatest in whisky history, and no other traces the narrative of Kentucky distilling as closely as Old Grand-dad. Bourbon historian Chuck Cowdery describes the brand's story as \"one of the richest in bourbon country,\" with distilling dynasties such as the Beam, Dant, Hayden, Taylor, Medley and Wathen families all having a hand in its production over the years.

The original old Grand-dad was Basil Hayden, who's second generation descendents named their primary brand in his honour (he still features on the label today). They built the original Old Grand-dad distillery at Hobbs Station, not far from where Jim Beam's Clermont distillery now sits today. They bought the Hobbs Station distillery its brands in 1899, and developed a successful business out of it. Even with the Prohibition Act looming on the horizon, the Wathen family were shrewd, and re-organised their company as the American Medicinal Spirits Co. This allowed them to exploit a loophole in the Prohibition laws, which had banned the production and sale of alcohol, but permitted the continued bottling of whiskey for medicinal purposes and as a weekly baker's ration. Otto Wathen consolidated much of Kentucky's distilling, filling his warehouses with bonded stock and acquiring brands such as Hill & Hill, Bourbon de Luxe and Old Crow.

The AMS Co were eventually bout over by National Distillers, who went on to become one of the biggest post-repeal distilling companies in the US. The original Old Grand-dad distillery at Hobbs Station never re-opened after Prohibition however, with National Distillers buying what is the more familiar Old Grand-dad distillery in Frankfort in 1933. It and National Distillers were acquired by Jim Beam in 1987, who produced this at Clermont, a return (almost) to its spiritual home. The National Distillers-era Old Grand-dad distillery is now a Beam bottling plant. 

Old Grand-Dad 1958 Bottled in Bond 75 Imperial Proof Miniature

The stories behind America's bourbon brands are some of the greatest in whisky history, and no other traces the narrative of Kentucky distilling as closely as Old Grand-dad. Bourbon historian Chuck Cowdery describes the brand's story as \"one of the richest in bourbon country,\" with distilling dynasties such as the Beam, Dant, Hayden, Taylor, Medley and Wathen families all having a hand in its production over the years.

The original old Grand-dad was Basil Hayden, who's second generation descendents named their primary brand in his honour (he still features on the label today). They built the original Old Grand-dad distillery at Hobbs Station, not far from where Jim Beam's Clermont distillery now sits today. They bought the Hobbs Station distillery its brands in 1899, and developed a successful business out of it. Even with the Prohibition Act looming on the horizon, the Wathen family were shrewd, and re-organised their company as the American Medicinal Spirits Co. This allowed them to exploit a loophole in the Prohibition laws, which had banned the production and sale of alcohol, but permitted the continued bottling of whiskey for medicinal purposes and as a weekly baker's ration. Otto Wathen consolidated much of Kentucky's distilling, filling his warehouses with bonded stock and acquiring brands such as Hill & Hill, Bourbon de Luxe and Old Crow.

The AMS Co were eventually bout over by National Distillers, who went on to become one of the biggest post-repeal distilling companies in the US. The original Old Grand-dad distillery at Hobbs Station never re-opened after Prohibition however, with National Distillers buying what is the more familiar Old Grand-dad distillery in Frankfort in 1933. It and National Distillers were acquired by Jim Beam in 1987, who produced this at Clermont, a return (almost) to its spiritual home. The National Distillers era Old  Grand-dad distillery is now a Beam bottling plant. 

This miniatures tax strip states that the whiskey was distilled in the Fall of 1958 and bottled in the Fall of 1963. It was bottled in bond for export at 75 British proof.

Old Ezra 7 Year Old 101 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon 2016

A barrel strength Bourbon produced at Heaven Hill on behalf of Luxco.

The brand takes its name from the Ezra Brooks label, historically produced by the Ripy brothers at Hoffman distillery before they sold it to Julian Van Winkle III.  The label is perhaps best known for having been taken to court of copycat accusations by Jack Daniel's in the 1960s, with similarities in everything from the bottle and label to the (square/ black and white) tot he advertising slogans (\"there isn't quite enough to go around\" vs. \"there just ain't enuf to go around\").

Luxco was established as the David Sherman Corporation in 1958 by David Sherman Sr. and Paul A. Lux. David Sherman was one of the many companies that profited from the initial United Distillers investment and subsequent Diageo divestment in bourbon, acquiring the Ezra Brooks brand from United Distillers in 1993 after they closed down the Medley distillery where it was made to focus on Bernheim and its brands. They then later added the struggling Rebel Yell and David Nicholson brands (both formerly produced at the legendary Stitzel-Weller) in 1999 and 2000, the result of Diageo selling Bernheim to Heaven Hill and looking to offload its other unwanted brands. The company was renamed Luxco in 2006 and has successfully rejuvenated both the images and reputations of the historic brands that it now markets. Initially without a distillery and contracting production to Heaven Hill, they opened the Lux Row distillery in Kentucky in 2018.

Old Ezra 7 Year Old Barrel Strength

Luxco was established as the David Sherman Corporation in 1958 by David Sherman Sr. and Paul A. Lux. David Sherman was one of the many companies that profited from the initial United Distillers investment and subsequent Diageo divestment in bourbon, acquiring the Ezra Brooks brand from United Distillers in 1993 after they closed down the Medley distillery where it was made to focus on Bernheim and its brands. They then later added the struggling Rebel Yell and David Nicholson brands (both formerly produced at the legendary Stitzel-Weller) in 1999 and 2000, the result of Diageo selling Bernheim to Heaven Hill and looking to offload its other unwanted brands. The company was renamed Luxco in 2006 and has successfully rejuvenated both the images and reputations of the historic brands that it now markets. Initially without a distillery and contracting production to Heaven Hill, they opened the Lux Row distillery in Kentucky in 2018. In early 2021 it was announced that Luxco would be acquired by MGP, who’s Indiana distillery will provide it with whiskey for its brands until the 1m litre capacity Lux Row has enough mature stock to be fully self-sustaining.

Launched in the autumn of 2018, this 7 year old was distilled at Heaven Hill and bottled at barrel proof.

Old Forester Kentucky Straight Bourbon Miniature 1970s

Introduced in 1870, Old Forester was the founding product of what is now Brown-Forman and is one of America's historic bourbon brands. It was one of the first to be sold only in sealed bottles, in order to ensure quality control to capitalise on the medicinal whiskey trade in the 19th century. It was even named after local Louisville physician, Dr. William Forrester (they dropped the second 'R' from the name when he retired). This early foresight paid dividends when National Prohibition was enacted in 1920, seeing Brown-Forman granted a license to continue making whiskey. It was one of just six, alongside Glenmore, Frankfort Distilleries, Schenley A. Ph. Stitzel and the American Medicinal Spirits Co. In the decades following repeal, Brown-Forman became one of the nation's leading drinks companies, and Old Forester remained its flagship Kentucky brand. Its distillery in Shively is one of the largest in the state, and in 2018 they opened a dedicated Old Forester distillery on Louisville's famous Whiskey Row, doubling their capacity to produce the brand.