May 2018 Auction

Very Xtra Old Fitzgerald 1956 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 the Fall of 1956 and bottled in 1966.

Distilled by Julian Van Winkle I at the legendary Stitzel-Weller distillery, and bottled a year after his death by his son, Van Winkle II.

Presented in a felt lined, lock-and-key leather box with two 1 oz. glasses.

Very Very Old Fitzgerald 1966 Bonded 12 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 the Spring of 1966 and bottled in 1978.

Distilled by Julian Van Winkle II at the legendary Stitzel-Weller distillery.

Old Rip Van Winkle 12 Year Old Old Time Rye / Rinaldi Import

The old style Rip Van Winkle 12 Year Old which is extremely rare. This was bottled in 1997 using whisky from Medley distillery and bottled by Julien Van Winkle III in Lawrenceburg. The following year, the same reserves were bottled as the 13 year old Family Reserve Rye, which became an annual release with the same age statement, despite continuing to age in cask for a further five years before being tanked at 19 years old in 2004. Later releases of Van Winkle rye are blended with Bernheim's Cream of Kentucky, and Buffalo Trace distilled whiskey, making this original release incredibly sought after.

As popular and impressive as the older members of this legendary family of whiskies.

This 70cl was imported to the US market by Fratelli Rinaldi.

Old Vandegrift 1917 Pure Whisky 1 Pint / Pre-Prohibition​

This was distilled in the Spring of 1917 at Hammond Distillery in Indiana, and was presumably some of their last whiskey given they were forced to close down when Prohibition was enacted in April that year.

Hammond Distillery has an infamous subsequent history of association with illicit bootlegging and smuggling, attributed to none other than Al Capone.

The whiskey used for this was likely saved from the hands of prohibition gangland by the Pennsylvania Distillery Inc, who bonded it in New York and bottled it in 1934 under a special medicinal license, despite the fact prohibition had already been repealed a year earlier.

Old Heaven Hill 28 Year Old / Japanese Import

An old Japanese import of some impressively aged Kentucky bourbon.

Bottled in the very early 1990s at 28 years old, this is named Old Heaven Hill, and was distilled (although they could not have known at the time) what is now Old Heaven Hill distillery. The original Heaven Hill site would tragically burn down around 5 years after this was produced.

A new Heaven Hill distillery was then established through the purchase and renaming of Bernheim distillery from United Distillers.

Vintage Rye 23 Year Old

A well-aged Kentucky rye at 23 years old. This was produced at Willett by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers using very similar bottles and labels to that on the Very Olde St. Nick, and may have been similarly distilled at Heaven Hill.

Very Olde St. Nick 20 Year Old Barrel Proof

Very Olde St Nick was a bourbon brand designed for the Japanese export market.

The original bottlings of Very Olde St Nick were produced by Julien Van Winkle III in Lawrenceburg, using whiskey procured from Heaven Hill distillery. When his stock ran out, the brand was purchased by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers who began to bottle it at Willett distillery. Although the supply for for these newer releases has never been confirmed as continuing to be Heaven Hill stock, it is where most of KBD barrels were procured from, and Van Winkle himself has strongly hinted at the continued connection.

This Very, Very Rare, Ancient Reserve is 20 winters, or 240 moons old and was bottled at a barrel proof of 116.4.

Japanese Import

Very Olde St. Nick 17 Year Old Cask Strength

Very Olde St Nick was a bourbon brand designed for the Japanese export market.

The original bottlings of Very Olde St Nick were produced by Julien Van Winkle III in Lawrenceburg, using whiskey procured from Heaven Hill distillery. When his stock ran out, the brand was purchased by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers who began to bottle it at Willett distillery. Although the supply for for these newer releases has never been confirmed as continuing to be Heaven Hill stock, it is where most of KBD barrels were procured from, and Van Winkle himself has strongly hinted at the continued connection.

This Very Very Olde and Rare 17 year old was bottled at a cask strength of 116.2 US proof.

Japanese Import

Old Fitzgerald Bonded 6 Year Old Classic Decanter / Stitzel-Weller​

We don't see vintage Old Fitzgerald very often, so we are particularly excited about this bottle which was distilled and bottled at the original Stitzel-Weller Distillery, before it closed and production of 'Old Fitz' was moved to Heaven Hill. 

The distillation date on the tax seal is badly faded, however the bottling date appears to be 1972, making the distillation year roughly 1966, consistent with other examples of this bottle. If this is the date, the whiskey was likely barreled by Julien Van Winkle II, who took over as master distiller following the death of his father in 1965.

Imported to the Italian market by D&C, Bologna.

Very Olde St. Nick 1973 Ancient Estate Reserve 25 Year Old

Very Olde St Nick was a bourbon brand designed for the Japanese export market.

The original bottlings of Very Olde St Nick were produced by Julien Van Winkle III in Lawrenceburg, using whiskey procured from Heaven Hill distillery. When his stock ran out, the brand was purchased by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers who began to bottle it at Willett distillery. Although the supply for for these newer releases has never been confirmed as continuing to be Heaven Hill stock, it is where most of KBD barrels were procured from, and Van Winkle himself has strongly hinted at the continued connection.

This Ancient Estate Reserve was distilled on 19th December 1973 and bottled on the 29th of April 1999.

Bottle #494

Japanese Import

Oban 16 Year Old Manager's Dram Bicentenary 1994

The Manager’s Dram series of whiskies were bottled exclusively for employees of what is now known as Diageo.  These whiskies were selected by the respective distillery managers within Diageo malt distilling and bottled at natural cask strength.

Bottled to celebrate Oban’s 200th anniversary, 1794 – 1994  this 16 year old was released exclusively from sherry casks by distillery manager John William and his employees listed on the rear of the bottle.

Bottled July 1994.

Very Old Fitzgerald 1960 Bonded 8 Year Old Half Pint / Stitzel-Weller

We don't see vintage Old Fitzgerald very often, so we are particularly excited about this bottle which was distilled in the Fall of 1960 and bottled in 1968.

Distilled at the legendary Stitzel-Weller distillery by Julien Van Winkle I, and bottled a few years after his death by his son, Van Winkle II.

Old Weller Antique Original 107 Brand 7 Year Old 1980s

W L Weller is the original wheated bourbon, produced at the famous Stitzel-Weller distillery.

Imported for the Italian market.

Old Fitzgerald 7 Year Old Prime Bourbon Half Pint 1970s

A popular bourbon produced at Stitzel Weller distillery. This is an older bottling of the 7 year old product from the 1970's. At this time the distillery was still run by the Van Winkle family and this would have been barreled by Julien Van Winkle II.

The Old Fitzgerland brand is now owned and produced by Heaven Hill, with these older Stitzel-Weller productions becoming real collector's items.

Old Parr Elizabethan / includes The Golden Age Book

A very rare and stunning bottle of Old Parr Elizabethan, presented in a hand blown bottle, each side showing a different historical figure; Thomas Parr, James I, Elizabeth I and Henry VIII.

Bottled to commemorate the Elizabethan era of British history.

Only 252 bottles of this elegant decanter were produced.

Lot includes a hardbacked book called The Golden Age, with brief chapters on Elizabethan music, literature and sport, among others.

Vintage Bourbon 17 Year Old

A well-aged Kentucky bourbon at 17 years old. This was produced at Willett by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers using very similar bottles and labels to that on the Very Olde St. Nick, and may have been similarly distilled at Heaven Hill.

Old Fitzgerald 6 Year Old 1970s

A popular bourbon produced at Stitzel Weller distillery. This is an older bottling of the 6 year old product from the 1970s. At this time the distillery was still run by the Van Winkle family and this would have been barreled by Julien Van Winkle II.

86 Proof as 100 proof was not a requirement for bottles exported out of the United States.

Bottle in bond for export.

Orphan Barrel Old Blowhard 26 Year Old ​

Part of the Diageo's Orphan Barrel series which is produced from casks of Bourbon that have been forgotten about in the many Rickhouses and Distilleries that cover the United States.

This bottle consists of liquid rescued from the Stitzel-Weller warehouse but apparently distilled at Bernheim. 

Very Olde St. Nick 1974 Ancient Estate Reserve 23 Year Old

Very Olde St Nick was a bourbon brand designed for the Japanese export market.

The original bottlings of Very Olde St Nick were produced by Julien Van Winkle III in Lawrenceburg, using whiskey procured from Heaven Hill distillery. When his stock ran out, the brand was purchased by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers who began to bottle it at Willett distillery. Although the supply for for these newer releases has never been confirmed as continuing to be Heaven Hill stock, it is where most of KBD barrels were procured from, and Van Winkle himself has strongly hinted at the continued connection.

This Ancient Estate Reserve was distilled on 9th September 1974 and bottled on the 14th of October 1999, although is labelled at a 23 year old.

Bottle #19

Japanese Import

Very Olde St. Nick 1974 Ancient Estate Reserve 24 Year Old

Very Olde St Nick was a bourbon brand designed for the Japanese export market.

The original bottlings of Very Olde St Nick were produced by Julien Van Winkle III in Lawrenceburg, using whiskey procured from Heaven Hill distillery. When his stock ran out, the brand was purchased by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers who began to bottle it at Willett distillery. Although the supply for for these newer releases has never been confirmed as continuing to be Heaven Hill stock, it is where most of KBD barrels were procured from, and Van Winkle himself has strongly hinted at the continued connection.

This Ancient Estate Reserve was distilled on 9th September 1974 and bottled on the 14th of October 1998.

Bottle #259

Japanese Import

Old Fitzgerald 10 Year Old 1849 Bourbon 1970s

A premium bourbon currently distilled at Heaven Hill, and highly rated by Dave Broom in Whisky Mag. This 1970's bottling however would have been distilled and bottled at the old Stitzel-Weller distillery.

Imported for the Italian market.

Otard 1917 Vintage Cognac​

​A very old Cognac, distilled in 1917 and bottled at some point in the 1960's or 70's by Threlfalls Ltd of Liverpool.

Old Fitzgerald 1849

A premium bourbon distilled at Heaven Hill and highly rated by Dave Broom in Whisky Mag.

Japanese import.

Very Olde St. Nick 24 Year Old Ancient Estate Reserve​

Very Olde St Nick was a bourbon brand designed for the Japanese export market.

The original bottlings of Very Olde St Nick were produced by Julien Van Winkle III in Lawrenceburg, using whiskey procured from Heaven Hill distillery. When his stock ran out, the brand was purchased by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers who began to bottle it at Willett distillery. Although the supply for for these newer releases has never been confirmed as continuing to be Heaven Hill stock, it is where most of KBD barrels were procured from, and Van Winkle himself has strongly hinted at the continued connection.

Japanese Import

Old Fettercairn 1978 30 Year Old​

Part of a series of very well aged bottlings from this lesser known Highland distillery. 

Distilled on 25th October 1978 and bottled 30 years later. 

Very Olde St. Nick 17 Year Old Rare Bourbon

Very Olde St Nick was a bourbon brand designed for the Japanese export market.

The original bottlings of Very Olde St Nick were produced by Julien Van Winkle III in Lawrenceburg, using whiskey procured from Heaven Hill distillery. When his stock ran out, the brand was purchased by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers who began to bottle it at Willett distillery. Although the supply for for these newer releases has never been confirmed as continuing to be Heaven Hill stock, it is where most of KBD barrels were procured from, and Van Winkle himself has strongly hinted at the continued connection.

Japanese Import

Old Pulteney 1982 Sherry Wood Cask 15 Year Old #1525​

A single cask Old Pulteney, distilled in December 1982 and matured for 15 years in sherry cask #1525.

Specially selected by distillery manager, Don Raitt and bottled in March 2008.

Bottle number 521.

Overholt '1810' Straight Rye Whiskey 1970s / Giovinetti Import​

This brand of Rye whiskey is very old, established as the label suggests, over 150 years ago.

This was produced in Pennsylvania at the Old Overholt Distillery by National Distillers. The brand is now bottled by Fortune Brands (owners of Jim Beam) in Kentucky.

Imported to the Italian market by Gioventti, Milan.

Van Winkle 12 Year Old Special Reserve

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

Produced in very limited quantities by Buffalo Trace distillery.

Van Winkle 12 Year Old Special Reserve

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

Produced in very limited quantities by Buffalo Trace distillery.

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old

The 10 year old rom the Van Winkle range, this is the entry level edition. Absolutely stonking!

As popular and impressive as the older members of this legendary family of whiskies.

Van Winkle 12 Year Old Special Reserve

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

Produced in very limited quantities by Buffalo Trace distillery.