Bidding advice
You can place bids either under the lot image on the main auction page or on the right side of the individual lot page.
Placing a Maximum Bid
Use the "Set your bid limit" button on the left side of the bidding panel to enter the highest amount you're willing to bid on a lot. Our system will then automatically raise your bid in set increments if you’re outbid, up to your maximum. If someone bids above your set limit, we’ll notify you by email so you can choose whether to increase your bid.
Placing a Single Bid
Alternatively, place a single bid by selecting the button on the right side of the bidding panel. The button displays the amount needed for the next increment. For example, if the current highest bid is £50.00, the button will show "+ £55.00" (reflecting a £5.00 increment).
Incremental Bidding Explained
Our system increases bids based on preset increments, as shown in the table below, whether you set a maximum bid or make a single bid.
Bottle Details
Responsibility for the early bottling of A.H. Hirsch Reserve was entrusted to Julian Van Winkle III at his Old Commonwealth site in Lawrenceburg. However, his partnership with the Sazerac Company to secure supply for the Pappy Van Winkle brand in 2002 also saw bottling of the A.H Hirsch Reserve moved briefly to Buffalo Trace. This is one of the Buffalo Trace bottles, filled in 2003 for the new owners of the whiskey, Preiss Imports, who purchased it from Gordon Hue that year.
A.H. Hirsch Reserve 1974 16 Year Old Bourbon / 2003 Release
A legendary bottle of bourbon that has had a whole book written about itself: The Best Bourbon You'll Never Taste by Charles K Cowdery.
Distilled in Spring 1974, this bourbon is bottled from a single 400 barrel batch commissioned by Adolph H. Hirsch and distilled under contract at Michter's distillery (then known as Pennco), just outside Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania. Hirsch was a former Schenley executive who had dealings with Michter's during his time there, and it is believed he commissioned the whiskey as financial favour to the distillery, and actually had little plans for its use. So, it lay ageing in the warehouses for much longer than generally expected for a bourbon at the time.
When Michter’s distillery finally closed in 1989, Hirsch was well into his nineties, and rather than engage in exigency of rehoming what no longer served its purpose to him, he instead sought to find a buyer for it. Fearing the arduous task of finding a buyer for what was considered an “over-aged” batch of whiskey, Hirsch was fortunate in that one of his old Schenley contacts called Bob Gottesman knew a man in Kentucky who was looking for exactly that, Gordon Hue.
Responsibility for the early bottling was entrusted to Julian Van Winkle III at his Old Commonwealth site in Lawrenceburg. However, his partnership with the Sazerac Company and creation of the Pappy Van Winkle brand in 2002, also saw bottling of the Hirsch Reserve moved briefly to Buffalo Trace. This is one of the Buffalo Trace bottles, filled in 2003 for the new owners of the Hirsch Reserve, Preiss Imports, who purchased it from Gordon Hue that year.
Preiss Imports moved the subsequent and final bottling (technically re-bottling) to Kentucky Bourbon Distillers' Willett facility.
In his book Cowdery refers to the bourbon as one of the \"best whiskeys I've ever tasted.\"
Mash bill contains 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley.
Michter's (PA)
A historic bourbon distillery that has been defunct since 1989. Also known as Bomberger, the distillery has developed a cult status in American whiskey history as the source of the legendary A.H. Hirsch Reserve and its name lives on through the popular Michter's brand.
Sazerac Company
A historic American spirits company established in 1869 by Tomas H. Handy. It is headquartered in New Orelans, Louisiana and has distilleries in the US states of Kentucky, Virginia, Maine and Tennessee, as well as in Canada and Ireland.
Auction results
To view previous auction results of your favourite bottles, please log in or register.
Frequently asked questions
You will always be shown as an anonymous bidder when using Whisky Auctioneer.
When browsing the bidding history on a specific lot, the list of recent bidders is shown as 'anonymised bidders' with the exception of any bids placed through your account - which would appear as your username.
When logged into your account your bids are shown with your username, however, other users are not able to see this and you will appear as an 'anonymised bidder'.
User information/identity will never be revealed in the bidding process. We take user data and information protection very seriously at Whisky Auctioneer.
