Photo libraries, in ascending order by bottling year

Old Taylor Bonded, 750ml, 1971-1980

 

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Old Taylor Bonded, 750ml, 1972-1980

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I.W. Harper 80pf 4yo 200ml, 1980-81

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Old Taylor 101 Proof, 750ml, 1980 ?

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Wild Turkey 8yr, liter, 1980s

Wild Turkey 8 year, 101 proof was the staple of the line for decades. Unlike many brands, Wild Turkey kept the age statement and higher proof for a long time, which led to its perception of high quality. The ages started to drop in the 1990s, and the proofs have only recently started to go down.

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Great Grand Dad 114pf, 750ml, ~1980

This bottle was most certainly the predecessor to the Old Grand Dad 114, though I had never seen it before. Although the bottle is stamped 77, I suspect this was from about 1980 due to the lack of UPC and both metric and ounces present.

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Eagle Rare 10/101, Lawrenceburg, 750ml, 1980

Photos courtesy of Kurt Suda

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Sazerac Bottled Cocktail, 70pf, 1980

Photos courtesy of Jake Johnson

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Medley Haller’s County Fair Bonded, 1980

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Very Very Old Fitzgerald 12yr, 750ml, 1981

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Old Grand Dad 114, Lot 5, 750ml, 1981

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Very Old Fitzgerald 8yr, 750ml ~1981

Photos courtesy of Alexander Chiu

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Old Fitzgerald Bonded, 1981 – 200ml

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Berghoff 14yr Bourbon, 90pf, 750ml ~1981

One of several special bottlings done for the Berghoff restraurant in Chicago. Some were bottled by Stitzel Weller, others by Van Winkle.

Posted in Miscellaneous, Old Rip Van Winkle
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Old Weller Original 7yr, 107pf, 750ml ~1981

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Eagle Rare 10/101, Lawrenceburg, 750ml, 1981

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Old Grand Dad 114, Lot 1, 200ml, 1981

Photos courtesy of Michael Wagner

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Cabin Still 86pf, 750ml, 1982

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J.W. Dant Bonded, 1977-1982

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Ancient Age 86pf Liter, ~1982

Photos courtesy of Chris Dion.

Posted in Ancient Age - Buffalo Trace
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Old Weller Original 7yr, 107pf, 750ml, ~1982

Photos courtesy of Carol Buckley

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Eagle Rare 10/101, Lawrenceburg, 200ml Sample Bottle ~1982

Note the verbiage on the box indicating this was a “sampler,” and the unique numbering style on the tax strip.
Photos courtesy of Eric Washington

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Old Taylor 6yr 86pf, 500ml, 1982

Photos courtesy of Chris Dion

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Benchmark 86pf, 750ml, 1982

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Benchmark 86pf Louisville, 200ml, 1982

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Very Very Old Fitzgerald 12yr, ~1982

This bottle shows the plastic box that the Very Old Fitzgeralds were sold in starting in the 1970s.
Photos courtesy of Steve Pendergast.

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Old Grand Dad 114pf, Lot 8, 750ml, 1982

Photos courtesy of Colby Phillips.

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Old Grand Dad 114, Lot 9, 750ml, 1982

Photos courtesy of Kurt Suda

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Wild Turkey 12yr “Beyond Duplication” 750ml, 1982

The 12 year is many people’s favorite in the Wild Turkey lineup. It started with the “Beyond Duplication” bottles in the early 1980s, which was replaced by the “cheesy gold foil” label bottle in the mid-80s, then the split-label in the mid-90s. The export market got the Beyond Duplication and gold foil labels longer than the US market. Finally, the export-only version persisted in a few markets. All are top quality pours.

The original US-version Beyond Duplication bottles had a tax strip like on this bottle. The later versions with a gold capsule top are exports, generally to Japan.

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Old Fitzgerald Bonded, 750ml, ~1982

Photos courtesy of Ted Doggett.

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Wild Turkey 86.8pf, 1.75L, 1983

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Old Rip Van Winkle 10yr 107pf Lawrenceburg, ~1983+

Although the bottle date says 1980, Van Winkle was bottled at Stitzel Weller in Louisville until 1983 when Julian bought the old Hoffman distillery and started bottling in Lawrenceburg.

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Rebel Yell 86.8pf, 750ml, 1983

Rebel Yell was a Stitzel Weller brand that was marketed to the South. It was generally one of the lower-shelf brands offered, but can still be a very good find.

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Maker’s Mark 90pf, 500ml, 1983

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Wild Turkey 86.8pf, 750ml, 1983

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Old Fitzgerald Prime 86pf, liter, 1983

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Old Rip Van Winkle 10yr 90pf, ~1983

This was a Japanese export bottle; the wooden box was made and added by the importer.
Photos courtesy of ‘The Old Barrelhouse’ Australia

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Old Crow 80pf Export, 750ml – 1983

Photos courtesy of MaltMartin.

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Old Taylor 6yr 86pf, 750ml ~1983

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Michter’s PA Whiskey, 86pf, 1983

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Michter’s PA Whiskey, 101pf, 1983

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Wild Turkey Commodore’s Chest 8yr 101 Decanter, 1983

Photos courtesy of Chris Dion.

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Old Fitzgerald 80pf Bonded Export, 750ml, Early 1980s

Photos courtesy of mimmotron.

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Maker’s Mark Limited Edition Gold Wax 101pf, ~1984

This bottle differs from the “gold label” version in that the label is the standard paper and it doesn’t have the plastic “S IV” mark, although it is still a limited edition 101 proof version. It’s possible the back label has fallen off, as there’s no bar code, or perhaps it was sold without one at the gift shop.

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Van Winkle Family Reserve 16yr, 90.4pf, 1984

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Wild Turkey Flask Bottle, 86.8pf, 200ml, ~1983-85

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Van Winkle Family Reserve 14yr, 90.4pf, 1984

Distilled 1970, bottled at Lawrenceburg in 1984.  Two different batches are shown here.

Posted in Old Rip Van Winkle
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Berghoff 14yr Bourbon, 90pf, 750ml ~1984

One of several special bottlings done for the Berghoff restraurant in Chicago. Some were bottled by Stitzel Weller, others by Van Winkle.

Posted in Miscellaneous, Old Rip Van Winkle
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Old Rip Van Winkle 10yr 107pf Lawrenceburg, 1985

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Maker’s Mark VIP Bottle, 90pf, 750ml ~1985

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Wild Turkey 8yr 101pf, 200ml, 1985

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Rebel Yell 10yr, 101pf Decanter ~1985

This same bottle design (and same whiskey inside) seems to have been re-badged for virtually all of Stitzel-Weller’s brands in the late 1970s through the mid-1980s, including Old Fitzgerald, Weller, and Rebel Yell. Decorative decanters were generally marketed around the holidays to be purchased as gifts.

Photos courtesy of Terry Traw

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Wild Turkey 86.8pf, liter, mid 1980s

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Weller 10yr 101pf Decanter, ~1985

This bottle appears to be the Weller-branded equivalent to this Old Fitzgerald decanter from a similar era.

Photos courtesy of Dirk Roberts.

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Old Rip Van Winkle Very Special Stock, 12yr 90.4pf, 1985

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Original Barrel Brand, 5yr, 107pf, 750ml – 1985

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Old Fitzgerald 10yr 101pf Decanter, 750ml ~1985

Photos courtesy of Ted Doggett.

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Wild Turkey Green Label Rye, 101 proof, 1986


Note this version just says “101 Proof” across the bottom, unlike later versions that also listed 50.5%

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Old Grand Dad 86pf, 750ml, 1986

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Eagle Rare 10yr 90pf Lawrenceburg Export, 750ml, 1986

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Old Fitzgerald Prime 80pf, 200ml, 1986

Old Fitzgerald Prime 80 proof 200 ml, circa 1986.  What appears to be an ’86’ embossed on the bottom of the glass dates the bottle to 1986 or shortly thereafter.  This bottle is sealed by what appears to be a numbered red tax strip, which is curious given that the red stamp requirement on all non-bonded liquor was repealed by the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984.  ‘Faux’ unnumbered tax strip paper was used to tamper-seal some bottles into the 1990’s – in the case of Old Fitzgerald, at least until 1993.
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Henry McKenna 80pf, Lawrenceburg, 750ml, 1986

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Wild Turkey 8yr 101pf, 750ml, 1986

Photos courtesy of Chris Dion.

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Old Taylor 6yr 86pf, 375ml, 1986

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Weller Special Reserve 90pf NAS, Liter, ~1986

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Old Joe Boone Bonded, 750ml, 1986

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Old Fitzgerald 1849, 90pf, 1987

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Van Winkle Special Reserve Corti Brothers NAS, 90.4pf – 1987

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Benchmark 86pf Louisville, 750ml, 1987

 

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Marshall Fields Bourbon, 750ml, 1987

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Old Grand Dad 80pf Export, 750ml – 1987

Photos courtesy of MaltMartin.

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Old Fitzgerald Prime 86pf, 200ml, 1987

Old Fitzgerald Prime 86 proof 200 ml, circa 1987.  Note the prominence of the proof identification in large red numerals to the bottom right of the front label.  Prime was released in many different expressions of varying proofs and occasional age statements, which at times was featured in this area of the label, which otherwise would depict the image of a still.  This bottle is tamper-sealed by a faux, un-numbered red tax strip.  An ’87’ embossed on the bottom the glass date the bottle to 1987 or shortly thereafter.

Posted in Old Fitzgerald

 


Booker’s Bourbon, lot C-B-16-79, 120.9pf, 750ml, ~1987

A very early example of Booker’s, distilled in 1979 and released in 1987-1988. The very first edition was reportedly 120.9 proof, hand-signed and numbered by Booker, with a commemorative seal and no bottle number; the second version (pictured here) was still 120.9 proof, still hand-signed and numbered by Booker, without the commemorative seal and numbered. The third edition was 121.4 proof and machine-signed and numbered.

Posted in Jim Beam
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Wild Turkey 12yr Beyond Duplication – Export, 750ml, 1988

The 12 year is many people’s favorite in the Wild Turkey lineup. It started with the “Beyond Duplication” bottles in the early 1980s, which was replaced by the “cheesy gold foil” label bottle in the mid-80s, then the split-label in the mid-90s. The export market got the Beyond Duplication and gold foil labels longer than the US market. Finally, the export-only version persisted in a few markets. All are top quality pours.

Besides the Japanese character sticker on back, you can also tell it’s the export version because it has the capsule top rather than the tax strip style on the earlier US bottles.

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Bourbon Royal 12yr, 101pf, 750ml, 1988

Bourbon Royal was a Heaven Hill product exported to Japan.

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Weller 7yr, 90pf Decanter, 750ml ~1988

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Wild Turkey 8yr 101pf, 750ml, 1988 – Japan Reimport

 

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Hoffman Rare Selection Bourbon, 750ml, 86pf ~1988

An export brand sold in Japan

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Old Fitzgerald Prime 80pf, 750ml, 1988

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Benchmark 80pf 1.75L, Louisville, ~1988

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Old Setter Bourbon, 80pf, 200ml, 1988

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Ancient Age Bourbon, 80pf, 750ml – Late 1980s

Photos courtesy of Colby Phillips

Posted in Ancient Age - Buffalo Trace
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Old Rip Van Winkle 4yr 86pf 750ml Lawrenceburg, ~1988

This export bottle is marked 88 on the glass, but could have been bottled a year or two later.

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Old Rip Van Winkle 10yr 107pf Lawrenceburg, ~1989

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Booker Noe’s C-C-16-82, 126pf ~1989

Photos courtesy of mimmotron

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Wild Turkey 8yr 101pf, 1.75L w/gift box, 1989

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Weller Special Reserve 7yr 90pf, 375ml – 1989

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J.W. Dant Bottled In Bond, liter, 1989

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Old Grand Dad 86pf, 375ml, 1989

Old Grand Dad 86 proof 375 ml, circa 1989.  Note the UPC code, government warning, alcohol by volume reference and dot matrix code which establishes the bottle to at least November 1989.  ‘F89′ text in the bottom left corner of the front label and a ’89’ embossed on the bottom of the glass likely dates the bottle to 1989 or shortly thereafter.  This coupled with the red shield and 86259 in the UPC indicate the bottle likely holds the coveted whiskey from National Distillers.

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Wild Turkey 8r, 86.8pf, 1989

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Van Winkle Family Reserve 12yr, 90.4pf, late 1980s – Red Foil

Bottled in the late 1980s for export, this bottle predates the “Lot A” and “Lot B” 12yr bottlings.
Two different versions have been spotted; this one with the red foil capsule, and one with black wax.

Posted in Old Rip Van Winkle
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Rebel Yell 80pf, 750ml ~1989

Photos courtesy of Kevin Flack

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Maker’s Mark VIP Bottle, 90pf, 750ml ~1989

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Hirsch Reserve 15yr 95.6pf, Block Letter Label

This was the original Hirsch 15 year offering. Photos courtesy of Brian Daigle.

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Van Winkle Family Reserve 12yr, 90.4pf, late 1980s – Black Wax

Bottled in the late 1980s for export, this bottle predates the “Lot A” and “Lot B” 12yr bottlings.
Two different versions have been spotted; one with the red foil capsule, and this one with black wax.

Posted in Old Rip Van Winkle
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Maker’s Mark Limited Edition Gold Wax 101pf, ~1989

Photos courtesy of Rudy Haak

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Van Winkle Family Reserve 16yr 101pf, Red Wax, 1990

The Van Winkle Family Reserve 16 & 17 year were reportedly bottled using whiskey from the Boone distillery, which was also used for the first bottles of Pappy 20.

First two photos courtesy of ‘The Old Barrelhouse’ Australia.

Posted in Old Rip Van Winkle
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Weller Centennial 10 yr BHC, 750ml, Louisville

The year on this is actually unknown. There’s no year on the bottle glass, and it has a government warning, so that would put it some time between 1989 and 1999 when the brand was sold to Buffalo Trace and the city was changed from Louisville to Frankfort on the label.

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Rebel Yell 80pf Export, 700ml, 1990

You’ll notice this bottle has a confederate flag, which was not allowed on US-sold bottles by regulation.

Posted in Rebel Yell

 


Colonel Randolph 16yr 116pf, 1990

Colonel Randolph was a bottling done for overseas markets by Julian Van Winkle III. Roughly 130 cases were bottled. It’s the highest proof bottling done with the famous PA-distilled batch of A.H. Hirsch bourbon.
Photos courtesy of Brian Daigle.

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