March 2019 Auction

Weller's Antique Reserve 10 Year Old Original Barrel Proof 1970s / Stitzel-Weller

A fantastic old bottling of Weller's Antique Reserve, aged 10 years and bottled at a barrel proof of 110.

Distilled and then bottled in the early 1970s at the legendary Stizel-Weller distillery, and given the age statement, likely from stock produced by Julian 'Pappy' Van Winkle I before his death in the mid-1960s. The distillery was then run by his son, Julian Van Winkle II until its sale in 1972. The leaflet in the box has a note signed off by Julian II as company president, meaning this bottle predates the sale.

Presented in an ornate felt lined box with two glasses.

Willett Family Estate 22 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon #C20D / Wheated

A wheated Willett, released on the 9th October 2015 at the Willet gift shop, this well-aged Bourbon was matured in barrel #C7D.

The Willett Family Reserve is bottled by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers using barrels sourced from other companies. They have stock from nearly every Kentucky distillery in their warehouses, with their wheated bourbon of this age most likely coming from Bernheim.

Bottle number 37 of 82 bottles.

Very Xtra Old Fitzgerald 1955 Bonded 10 Year Old 100 Proof / Stitzel-Weller

We don't see vintage Old Fitzgerald very often, so we are particularly excited about this bottle which was distilled in 1955 and bottled in 1965.

Distilled at Stitzel-Weller distillery when it was under the management of the legendary Julian 'Pappy' Van Winkle and bottled in the year of his death by his son, Julian II who had taken over the year prior.

These pure Van Winkle era Stitzel-Weller bottlings are rare gems and incredibly sought after.

Presented in a lockable fel-lined box with two glasses.

Van Winkle 1985 Family Reserve Rye / Un-Chillfiltered European Exclusive

Blink and you might miss it, but this is not the standard 13 year old Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye that at first glance it may appear. Labelled simply as the 1985 vintage, this was released in 2001 when the Family Reserve was actually 15 years old. Although it is commonly known as a 13 year old, the rye actually continued to age in cask until 2004 when it was eventually tanked at Buffalo Trace. 

The Family Reserve Rye is presumed to have been distilled at Medley in Owensboro, with Cream of Kentucky rye from Bernheim blended through it after it was tanked in 2004. More recent bottlings are also expected to contain whiskey distilled at Buffalo Trace. This however is the unblended Medley liquid.

Bottled by Julian Van Winkle III at Old Commonwealth distillery in Lawrenceburg, he has personally confirmed that this un-chillfiltered version was an experiment for the European market, at the request of a French customer. Un-chillfiltering is unheard of with bourbon in the US, but is the preference here. Van Winkle also noted that he believes this release does have some flavour lost in the regular chillfiltered product.

Bottled at the higher strength of 100 proof, this is a particularly rare gem.

Van Winkle 1985 Family Reserve Rye / Un-Chillfiltered European Exclusive

Blink and you might miss it, but this is not the standard 13 year old Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye that at first glance it may appear. Labelled simply as the 1985 vintage, this was released in 2001 when the Family Reserve was actually 15 years old. Although it is commonly known as a 13 year old, the rye actually continued to age in cask until 2004 when it was eventually tanked at Buffalo Trace. 

The Family Reserve Rye is presumed to have been distilled at Medley in Owensboro, with Cream of Kentucky rye from Bernheim blended through it after it was tanked in 2004. More recent bottlings are also expected to contain whiskey distilled at Buffalo Trace. This however is the unblended Medley liquid.

Bottled by Julian Van Winkle III at Old Commonwealth distillery in Lawrenceburg, he has personally confirmed that this un-chillfiltered version was an experiment for the European market, at the request of a French customer. Un-chillfiltering is unheard of with bourbon in the US, but is the preference here. Van Winkle also noted that he believes this release does have some flavour lost in the regular chillfiltered product.

Bottled at the higher strength of 100 proof, this is a particularly rare gem.

Bottle number A2580. 

Van Winkle 13 Year Old Family Reserve Rye / 1999 Release

As sought after as the other members of this 'family'.

This is bottle A1857, and was released in 1999 when the whiskey was actually now 14 years old, despite the label. The Van Winkle Family reserve rye actually continued to age in cask until 2004 when it was eventually vatted. They are all labelled as 13 years old regardless.

The Family Reserve Rye is presumed to have been distilled at Medley in Owensboro, with Cream of Kentucky rye from Bernheim blended through it after it was tanked in 2004. As of 2018, the rye batches have been distilled and bottled at Buffalo Trace.

Bottled at the Old Commonwealth distillery in Lawrenceburg by Julian Van Winkle III. 

Very Very Old Fitzgerald 1955 Bonded 12 Year Old 86 Proof / Stitzel-Weller

We don't see vintage Old Fitzgerald very often, so we are particularly excited about this bottle which was distilled in the Spring of 1955 and bottled in 1967.

Distilled at the Stitzel-Weller distillery while it was still being run by the legendary Julian 'Pappy' Van Winkle, and bottled at the distillery by his son, Julian II, who assumed control following his father's death in 1965.

This is an export Bottled in Bond bourbon, allowing it to be filled at a lower 86 US proof, rather than the domestic requirement of 100 proof set out by the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897.

Very Old Fitzgerald 1951 Bonded 8 Year Old / Stitzel-Weller

We don't see vintage Old Fitzgerald very often, so we are particularly excited about this bottle which was distilled in the Spring of 1951 and bottled in 1959.

Distilled at the Stitzel-Weller distillery while it was still being run by the legendary Julian 'Pappy' Van Winkle, and bottled at the distillery by his son, Julian II, who assumed control following his father's death in 1965.

Bottled in bond.

Van Winkle 13 Year Old Family Reserve Rye / 2010 Release

As sought after as the other members of this 'family'.

This is bottle B544, and was released in 2010 when the whiskey was actually now 19 years old, despite the label. The Van Winkle Family Reserve rye actually continued to age in cask until 2004 when it was eventually tanked at Buffalo Trace. They are all labelled as 13 years old regardless.

The Family Reserve Rye is presumed to have been distilled at Medley in Owensboro, with Cream of Kentucky rye from Bernheim blended through it after it was tanked in 2004. The rye was the last of the remaining reserves that Julian Van Winkle III warehoused at Buffalo Trace by the time it finally ran out in 2016. A new batch, distilled at Buffalo Trace was first bottled in 2018.

Serial number is M2731018:42

Vintage Rye 23 Year Old

Vintage Rye is a boutique brand owned by Allied Lomar in California, who's other products include Rare Perfection, Wattie Boone and Very Olde St Nick. They have been sourcing whiskey and bottling it for several decades, and they are instantly recognisable from their uniform use of the same cursive script-style typeface. Allied Lomar president, Marci Palatella, was Julian Van Winkle III's agent in the Japanese market for many years, and their early bottlings were contracted to him at his Old Commonwealth distillery.

The Van Winkle partnership with the Sazerac company in the early 2000's ended this agreement however, with the production of bottles such as this moved to Willett distillery, where they were bottled by its owners, Evan Kulsveen's Kentucky Bourbon Distillers. The stills at Willett were silent at this point and most of the well-aged rye in the KBD warehouses was the unused Cream of Kentucky distilled by Schenley at Bernheim. This is the same rye that is a constituent in some of the Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve and was bottled as early versions of the Sazerac 18 year old at Buffalo Trace.

Allied Lomar opened their own Preservation distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky in 2018.

Vintage Rye 21 Year Old

Vintage Rye is a boutique brand owned by Allied Lomar in California, who's other products include Rare Perfection, Wattie Boone and Very Olde St Nick. They have been sourcing whiskey and bottling it for several decades, and they are instantly recognisable from their uniform use of the same cursive script-style typeface. Allied Lomar president, Marci Palatella, was Julian Van Winkle III's agent in the Japanese market for many years, and their early bottlings were contracted to him at his Old Commonwealth distillery.

The Van Winkle partnership with the Sazerac company in the early 2000's ended this agreement however, with the production of bottles such as this moved to Willett distillery, where they were bottled by its owners, Evan Kulsveen's Kentucky Bourbon Distillers. The stills at Willett were silent at this point and most of the well-aged rye in the KBD warehouses was the unused Cream of Kentucky distilled by Schenley at Bernheim. This is the same rye that is a constituent in some of the Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve and was bottled as early versions of the Sazerac 18 year old at Buffalo Trace.

Allied Lomar opened their own Preservation distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky in 2018.

Very Very Old Fitzgerald 1957 Bonded 12 Year Old 86 Proof / Stitzel-Weller

We don't see vintage Old Fitzgerald very often, so we are particularly excited about this bottle which was distilled in 1957.

Distilled at the Stitzel-Weller distillery while it was still being run by the legendary Julian 'Pappy' Van Winkle, and bottled at the distillery by his son, Julian II in 1970, two years before he was forced to sell to Somerset Imports, with his family departing the business.

These pure Van Winkle era Stitzel-Weller bottlings are rare gems and incredibly sought after, with the \"A Collector's Item\" shoulder label continuing to prove a remarkable piece of foresight.

This is an export Bottled in Bond bourbon, allowing it to be filled at a lower 86 US proof, rather than the domestic requirement of 100 proof set out by the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897.

Very Very Old Fitzgerald 12 Year Old Bonded 100 Proof 1980s / Stitzel-Weller

An old bottling of the 12 year old Very Very Old Fitzgerald for the Italian market.

Bottled around 1987 at the legendary Stitzel-Weller distillery, at this point operated by United Distillers (now Diageo) and still trading under the name Old Fitzgerald distillery, which the previous owners, Somerset Imports, had changed it to.

The distillery was closed down five years later, making the \"A Collector's Item\" shoulder label, that was formerly present here, a particularly astute proclamation.

Bottled in bond at the requisite 100 US proof.

Very Xtra Old Fitzgerald 1958 Bonded 10 Year Old 90 Proof / Stitzel-Weller

We don't see vintage Old Fitzgerald very often, so we are particularly excited about this bottle which was distilled in 1958 and bottled in 1969 at 10 years old.

Distilled at the Stitzel-Weller distillery while it was still being run by the legendary Julian 'Pappy' Van Winkle, and bottled at the distillery a few years after his death by his son, Julian II.

This is an export Bottled in Bond bourbon, allowing it to be filled at a lower 90 US proof, rather than the domestic requirement of 100 proof set out by the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897.

D&C import for the Italian market.

William Larue Weller 2009 Release

Released within the famous and eagerly awaited Buffalo Trace Antique Selection. 

William Larue Weller was a 19th century whiskey rectifier and distiller, who's W.L. Weller and Sons company was run by the legendary Julian 'Pappy' Van Winkle. The Weller and Van Winkle brands are both produced at Buffalo Trace distillery nowadays, distilled to very similar old Stitzel-Weller recipes, and are among the most sought after bourbons on the market.

The 2009 release is 11 years old and bottled at 67.4%, this bottle received a 97 point score from Buffalo Trace enthusiast Jim Murray. 

W.G. O'Doherty Matured Old Irish Whiskey circa 1880s

An incredible old bottle of Irish whiskey bottled by W.G. O'Doherty Ltd. Tea, Wine and Spirit Merchant of Bishop Street, Londonderry which was established in 1871 as a grocery and public house. It's thought that this bottle would have been produced when bottling took place below the shop between 1873 and 1883. More information can be found out about the company by clicking the following links:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-21951320

https://www.nmni.com/our-museums/ulster-american-folk-park/Things-to-see/WG-O-Doherty-Licensed-Grocer.aspx

No measurements present but the bottle is full sized. Please note this very old bottle is particularly fragile, Whisky Auctioneer Ltd cannot be held liable for any leakage/damage caused whilst the bottle is in transit.

Wild Turkey 17 Year Old 101 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon / Japanese Exclusive

The Wild Turkey distillery, then known as Boulevard, was built in 1869 in Tyrone, Kentucky. The name Wild Turkey was not used until 1941 when some, shared on a hunting trip, was referred to as \"some of that wild turkey whiskey\". 

This is a beautiful presented 17 year old limited edition marked as bottle number J769.

Produced exclusively for Japan, a market that historically had a taste for older aged bourbon than in the US.

Willett Family Estate 13 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon #1418

A single barrel bourbon, bottled by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers at Willett distillery. Drawn from Barrel #8215. KBD's warehouses contain bourbon from the majority of the Kentucky distilleries, but most of it is sourced from neighbouring Heaven Hill.

This was a 2017 release, exclusively available at the Willett gift shop.

Bottle 132 of 132.

William Larue Weller 2018 Release

Released within the famous and eagerly awaited Buffalo Trace Antique Collection which celebrates historic bourbon brands and figures.

William Larue Weller was a 19th century whiskey rectifier and distiller, who's W.L. Weller and Sons company was run by the legendary Julian 'Pappy' Van Winkle. The Weller and Van Winkle brands are both produced at Buffalo Trace distillery nowadays, distilled to very similar old Stitzel-Weller recipes, and are among the most sought after bourbons on the market.

One of approximately 17,179 bottles from 149 handpicked barrels.

The 2018 release of the William Larue Weller is aged 12 years and was named World Whisky of the Year 2019 by Jim Murray in his Whisky Bible.

Wild Turkey 12 Year Old 101 Proof Limited Edition 1990s

A limited edition bottling of Wild Turkey 12 year old, bottled at the expected 101 US Proof / 50.5%. 

This product was first introduced in the mid-1980s, a period known as the \"Glut Era\" when a downturn in bourbon sales caused many distillers to end up overstocked with well-aged bourbon that was not generally to the tastes of the market at the time (although it was in Japan). The gold labelling was an attempt to premium-ise these older whiskies, and today they are generally regarded as fantastic releases.

The Wild Turkey distillery, originally known as Boulevard, was built in 1869 in Tyrone, Kentucky. The name Wild Turkey was not used until 1941 when some, shared on a hunting trip was referred to as, \"some of that wild turkey whiskey\". 

William Larue Weller 2015 Release

The 2015 release within the famous and eagerly awaited Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, which celebrates historic bourbon brands and figures. Buffalo Trace's parent company, Sazerac, purchased the Weller brand from United Distillers in 1999, 7 years after they had shut down the distilling operation at the legendary Stitzel-Weller.

William Larue Weller was a 19th century whiskey rectifier and distiller, who's W.L. Weller and Sons company was run by the legendary Julian 'Pappy' Van Winkle. The Weller and Van Winkle brands are both produced at Buffalo Trace distillery nowadays, distilled to very similar old Stitzel-Weller recipes, and are among the most sought after bourbons on the market.

The 2015 release is aged 12 years.

William Larue Weller 2018 Release

Released within the famous and eagerly awaited Buffalo Trace Antique Collection which celebrates historic bourbon brands and figures.

William Larue Weller was a 19th century whiskey rectifier and distiller, who's W.L. Weller and Sons company was run by the legendary Julian 'Pappy' Van Winkle. The Weller and Van Winkle brands are both produced at Buffalo Trace distillery nowadays, distilled to very similar old Stitzel-Weller recipes, and are among the most sought after bourbons on the market.

One of approximately 17,179 bottles from 149 handpicked barrels.

The 2018 release of the William Larue Weller is aged 12 years and was named World Whisky of the Year 2019 by Jim Murray in his Whisky Bible.

William Larue Weller 2018 Release

Released within the famous and eagerly awaited Buffalo Trace Antique Collection which celebrates historic bourbon brands and figures.

William Larue Weller was a 19th century whiskey rectifier and distiller, who's W.L. Weller and Sons company was run by the legendary Julian 'Pappy' Van Winkle. The Weller and Van Winkle brands are both produced at Buffalo Trace distillery nowadays, distilled to very similar old Stitzel-Weller recipes, and are among the most sought after bourbons on the market.

One of approximately 17,179 bottles from 149 handpicked barrels.

The 2018 release of the William Larue Weller is aged 12 years and was named World Whisky of the Year 2019 by Jim Murray in his Whisky Bible.

William Larue Weller 2016 Release

The 2016 release within the famous and eagerly awaited Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, which celebrates historic bourbon brands and figures. Buffalo Trace's parent company, Sazerac, purchased the Weller brand from United Distillers in 1999, 7 years after they had shut down the distilling operation at the legendary Stitzel-Weller.

William Larue Weller was a 19th century whiskey rectifier and distiller, who's W.L. Weller and Sons company was run by the legendary Julian 'Pappy' Van Winkle. The Weller and Van Winkle brands are both produced at Buffalo Trace distillery nowadays, distilled to very similar old Stitzel-Weller recipes, and are among the most sought after bourbons on the market.

The 2016 bottling features 145 barrels which were filled in the winter of 2003 at 114 Proof (57%), with the whiskey drawn in autumn 2016 after 12 years and 7 months of aging at 135.4 Proof (67.7%) and bottled unfiltered.  The malt bill features Grade #1 and #2 Kentucky corn, North Dakota wheat and North Dakota malted barley.

William Larue Weller 2018 Release

Released within the famous and eagerly awaited Buffalo Trace Antique Collection which celebrates historic bourbon brands and figures.

William Larue Weller was a 19th century whiskey rectifier and distiller, who's W.L. Weller and Sons company was run by the legendary Julian 'Pappy' Van Winkle. The Weller and Van Winkle brands are both produced at Buffalo Trace distillery nowadays, distilled to very similar old Stitzel-Weller recipes, and are among the most sought after bourbons on the market.

One of approximately 17,179 bottles from 149 handpicked barrels.

The 2018 release of the William Larue Weller is aged 12 years and was named World Whisky of the Year 2019 by Jim Murray in his Whisky Bible.

William Larue Weller 2017 Release

Released within the famous and eagerly awaited Buffalo Trace Antique Collection which celebrates historic bourbon brands and figures.

William Larue Weller was a 19th century whiskey rectifier and distiller, who's W.L. Weller and Sons company was run by the legendary Julian 'Pappy' Van Winkle. The Weller and Van Winkle brands are both produced at Buffalo Trace distillery nowadays, distilled to very similar old Stitzel-Weller recipes, and are among the most sought after bourbons on the market.

One of approximately 19,000 bottles from 155 handpicked barrels.

The 2017 release of the William Larue Weller is aged 12 years and was bottled from a batch of 155 barrels.

William Larue Weller 2017 Release

Released within the famous and eagerly awaited Buffalo Trace Antique Collection which celebrates historic bourbon brands and figures.

William Larue Weller was a 19th century whiskey rectifier and distiller, who's W.L. Weller and Sons company was run by the legendary Julian 'Pappy' Van Winkle. The Weller and Van Winkle brands are both produced at Buffalo Trace distillery nowadays, distilled to very similar old Stitzel-Weller recipes, and are among the most sought after bourbons on the market.

One of approximately 19,000 bottles from 155 handpicked barrels.

The 2017 release of the William Larue Weller is aged 12 years and was bottled from a batch of 155 barrels.

Very Old Fitzgerald 1962 Bonded 8 Year Old 90 Proof / Stitzel-Weller

We don't see vintage Old Fitzgerald very often, so we are particularly excited about this bottle which was distilled in 1962 and bottled in 1970.

Distilled at the legendary Stitzel-Weller distillery while it was under the management of Julian 'Pappy' Van Winkle, and bottled a few years after his death by his son, Julian II.

Stitzel-Weller was eventually sold in 1972, with the Van Winkle family departing the business in the process. These bottles from their time at the helm have become increasingly sought after.

This is an export Bottled in Bond bourbon, allowing it to be filled at a lower 90 US proof, rather than the domestic requirement of 100 proof set out by the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897.

D&C import for the Italian market.

William Larue Weller 2015 Release

The 2015 release within the famous and eagerly awaited Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, which celebrates historic bourbon brands and figures. Buffalo Trace's parent company, Sazerac, purchased the Weller brand from United Distillers in 1999, 7 years after distilling operations at the legendary Stitzel-Weller had been shut down.

William Larue Weller was a 19th century whiskey rectifier and distiller, who's W.L. Weller and Sons company was run by the legendary Julian 'Pappy' Van Winkle. The Weller and Van Winkle brands are both produced at Buffalo Trace distillery nowadays, distilled to very similar old Stitzel-Weller recipes, and are among the most sought after bourbons on the market.

The 2015 release is aged 12 years.

William Larue Weller 2016 Release

The 2016 release within the famous and eagerly awaited Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, which celebrates historic bourbon brands and figures. Buffalo Trace's parent company, Sazerac, purchased the Weller brand from United Distillers in 1999, 7 years after distilling operations at the legendary Stitzel-Weller had been shut down.

William Larue Weller was a 19th century whiskey rectifier and distiller, who's W.L. Weller and Sons company was run by the legendary Julian 'Pappy' Van Winkle. The Weller and Van Winkle brands are both produced at Buffalo Trace distillery nowadays, distilled to very similar old Stitzel-Weller recipes, and are among the most sought after bourbons on the market.

The 2016 bottling features 145 barrels which were filled in the winter of 2003 at 114 Proof (57%), with the whiskey drawn in autumn 2016 after 12 years and 7 months of aging at 135.4 Proof (67.7%) and bottled unfiltered.  The malt bill features Grade #1 and #2 Kentucky corn, North Dakota wheat and North Dakota malted barley.

Wild Turkey 12 Year Old 101 Proof Limited Edition 1990s

A limited edition bottling of Wild Turkey 12 year old, bottled at the expected 101 US Proof / 50.5%. 

This product was first introduced in the mid-1980s, a period known as the \"Glut Era\" when a downturn in bourbon sales caused many distillers to end up overstocked with well-aged bourbon that was not generally to the tastes of the market at the time (although it was in Japan). The gold labelling was an attempt to premium-ise these older whiskies, and today they are generally regarded as fantastic releases.

The Wild Turkey distillery, originally known as Boulevard, was built in 1869 in Tyrone, Kentucky. The name Wild Turkey was not used until 1941 when some, shared on a hunting trip was referred to as, \"some of that wild turkey whiskey\". 

Wild Turkey 12 Year Old 101 Proof Limited Edition 1990s

A limited edition bottling of Wild Turkey 12 year old, bottled at the expected 101 US Proof / 50.5%. This was bottled in 1990.

This product was first introduced in the mid-1980s, a period known as the \"Glut Era\" when a downturn in bourbon sales caused many distillers to end up overstocked with well-aged bourbon that was not generally to the tastes of the market at the time (although it was in Japan). The gold labelling was an attempt to premium-ise these older whiskies, and today they are generally regarded as fantastic releases.

The Wild Turkey distillery, originally known as Boulevard, was built in 1869 in Tyrone, Kentucky. The name Wild Turkey was not used until 1941 when some, shared on a hunting trip was referred to as, \"some of that wild turkey whiskey\".