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Photo libraries, in ascending order by bottling year
Wild Turkey 12yr Split Label, 750ml
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.
Weller Centennial Frankfort, BHC and gold cap
The Weller Centennial came out as a part of the Bourbon Heritage Collection, and originally had Louisville on the label. Later the label changed to Frankfort but kept the BHC logo on the cap, and the final version had Frankfort on the label and only a gold capsule.
Johnny Drum Private Stock 15yr, 101pf
This bottle has no date markings but is likely from the early 2000s.
Michter’s 10yr Single Barrel Bourbon, Lawrenceburg, 94.4pf, Barrel 3
This early bottle of Michter’s 10 year was bottled by Julian Van Winkle, likely in the early 2000s.
Eagle Rare 10/101 “New Orleans” 1.75L
This bottle is odd in that the glass shows 2002, but labels had switch to Frankfort around 1999. The explanation is probably that they were using up old label stock, a provision allowed by the TTB.
The Classic Cask Bourbon, Batch GL-107, 17yr, 90.8pf, 1985-2002
Photos courtesy of Michael Aronoff
Posted in Kentucky Bourbon Distillers
Tags: 2002, bourbon, classic cask, kbd, kentucky bourbon distiller
Tags: 2002, bourbon, classic cask, kbd, kentucky bourbon distiller
Old Rip Van Winkle Woodside 15yr, Batch B11, 92.4pf, 2003
Bottled by Julian Van Winkle for Woodside Pub in California, one of multiple barrels over several years.
Pappy Van Winkle 23yr, Frankfort No Letter, 2003
This was the second release of the Pappy 23. The first was from Lawrenceburg and had the green-tinted glass, also with no letter before the bottle number. The third release had gold wax and an A before the number.
Posted in Old Rip Van Winkle
Tags: 2003, bourbon, old rip van winkle, pappy van winkle, stitzel weller
Tags: 2003, bourbon, old rip van winkle, pappy van winkle, stitzel weller
Old Rip Van Winkle Blue Smoke 18yr, 92.6pf, ~2003
Blue Smoke was a special bottling done by Julian Van Winkle for the Blue Smoke restaurant in New york. Photos courtesy of Eric Rueli.
Van Winkle Special Reserve 18yr, Binny’s Single Barrel, 121.6pf – 2003
The only single barrel Van Winkle bottled for Binny’s, and one of very few barrel proof Van Winkles ever bottled.
Distilled June 10, 1985 and bottled December 2003.
Weller Centennial 10yr 100pf, Sam’s Single Barrel, 2004
Selected by Sam’s Wines & Spirits, a company which was later bought out by Binny’s.
Pappy Van Winkle 15yr Single Barrel, 2004
One of the relatively rare single barrel bottlings of Pappy 15, bottled for Civic Center Liquor in San Francisco in 2004.
Wild Turkey Tribute 15yr – US Version, 750ml, 2004
According to Jimmy Russell, the only difference between the US and Japanese versions other than packaging was the proof. The US version was 101 proof, and the Japanese 110. However, several people say they are still slightly different when brought to the same proof. The tribute is many people’s favorite Wild Turkey of all time.
Wild Turkey Tribute 15yr – Japanese edition, 750ml, 2004
According to Jimmy Russell, the only difference between the US and Japanese versions other than packaging was the proof. The US version was 101 proof, and the Japanese 110. However, several people say they are still slightly different when brought to the same proof. The tribute is many people’s favorite Wild Turkey of all time.
Wattie Boone & Sons 15yr Bourbon, 95pf
Bottled for the Japanese market presumably by KBD. Release year unknown.
Pure Antique Bourbon 25yr, 90.2pf
A Japanese export bottling likely done by KBD, though not much is known about this rare bird.
Old Advocate 15yr, 107pf
This private select Old Rip Van Winkle is a one time bottling. The story goes that a few law partners ran into Julian Van Winkle III in a liquor store and expressed an appreciation for his bourbon. Van Winkle is said to have asked them for a small deposit to guarantee their own single barrel of Old Rip Van Winkle with their own private label. It’s said that the law partners are the only ones to receive these bottles making this another very rare bottling of the Van Winkle legacy.
Photos and commentary courtesy of Bourbon Benevolence
Wild Turkey Russell’s Reserve 10/101, 750ml
Russell’s Reserve 10 year 101 proof was a much-loved product by Wild Turkey, It debuted in 2001, and by 2005 it had been reduced to the less-popular 90 proof version available today. Fans still love the 101 proof version.
George T. Stagg, 2005 Spring Lot A, KY only, 131.8pf
In 2005 there were three different Stagg releases:
-Spring Kentucky-only (Lot A)
-Spring nationwide (Lot B)
-Fall nationwide
The two spring releases are rumored to be the same batch but were released at slightly different proofs due to the proof changing between bottling. Fall was a different batch altogether. Spring Lot A is the hardest version to find.
William Larue Weller, 121.9pf – 2005
Posted in Buffalo Trace Antique Collection
Tags: 2005, bourbon, btac, buffalo trace, william larue weller
Tags: 2005, bourbon, btac, buffalo trace, william larue weller
George T. Stagg, 2005 Spring Lot B, 131.8pf
In 2005 there were three different Stagg releases:
-Spring Kentucky-only (Lot A)
-Spring nationwide (Lot B)
-Fall nationwide
The two spring releases are rumored to be the same batch but were released at slightly different proofs due to the proof changing between bottling. Fall was a different batch altogether. Spring Lot A is the hardest version to find.
George T. Stagg, 2005 Fall, 141.2pf
In 2005 there were three different Stagg releases:
-Spring Kentucky-only (Lot A)
-Spring nationwide (Lot B)
-Fall nationwide
The two spring releases are rumored to be the same batch but were released at slightly different proofs due to the proof changing between bottling. Fall was a different batch altogether. Spring Lot A is the hardest version to find.
William Larue Weller, 129.9pf – 2006
Posted in Buffalo Trace Antique Collection
Tags: 2006, bourbon, btac, buffalo trace, william larue weller
Tags: 2006, bourbon, btac, buffalo trace, william larue weller
Wild Turkey American Spirit 15yr, 750ml, 2007
American Spirit was a special edition 15-year bourbon sold in 2007. It’s generally considered to be excellent, but not as desirable as Tribute.
Parker’s Heritage Collection #1, Cask Strength – 2007
Posted in Parker's Heritage Collection
Tags: 2007, bourbon, heaven hill, parker's heritage collection
Tags: 2007, bourbon, heaven hill, parker's heritage collection
Willett 15yr Barrel 841, 129.4pf, Whiskey Keller ~2007
Distilled 4/16/92, selected by Heinz Taubenheim.
Willett 11yr Bourbon, Barrel 105, 108.8pf, Whiskey Keller ~2007
Selected by Heinz Taubenheim, Distilled 5/14/1996
Willett 25yr Bourbon, Barrel 8, 90.2pf, ~2007
This bottle was picked by BevMo in California, and nicknamed “Chocolate Monster” by enthusiasts.
Willett 16yr Bourbon, Barrel 3706, 124,3pf, ~2007
Selected by Ledroit Brands/Bourbon DC, “The Malt Bomb”
Pappy Van Winkle 23yr, SB.com Single Barrel #2, 2007
Posted in Old Rip Van Winkle
Tags: 2007, bourbon, old rip van winkle, pappy van winkle, stitzel weller
Tags: 2007, bourbon, old rip van winkle, pappy van winkle, stitzel weller
Pappy Van Winkle 23yr, KBS Single Barrel C, 2007
Posted in Old Rip Van Winkle
Tags: 2007, bourbon, old rip van winkle, pappy van winkle, stitzel weller
Tags: 2007, bourbon, old rip van winkle, pappy van winkle, stitzel weller
Speakeasy Select Bourbon, 2007
In 2007 the historic Seelbach hotel in downtown Louisville acquired a single barrel bourbon and rye for their hotel bar. A few bottles were sold through local stores too.
Willett 27yr, Barrel 473, 136.8pf, 2008
This barrel-proof Stitzel-Weller Willett bottled for Binny’s only produced 24 bottles!
Parker’s Heritage Collection #2, 27 yr – 2008
Posted in Parker's Heritage Collection
Tags: 2008, bourbon, heaven hill, parker's heritage collection
Tags: 2008, bourbon, heaven hill, parker's heritage collection
Pappy Van Winkle 15yr, Loch & Key Single Barrel, 2008
The Loch & Key single barrel was supposedly bottled using Ancient Age (aka Buffalo Trace) distillate.
A.H. Hirsch 16yr, 91pf, Humidor Bottle
In 2009 some of the remaining 16 year Hirsch bourbon was rebottled in hand blown glass bottles and packaged in a humidor case. This was the final bottling of the 16. Photos courtesy of Brian Daigle.
Parker’s Heritage Collection #3, Golden Anniversary – 2009
Posted in Parker's Heritage Collection
Tags: 2009, bourbon, heaven hill, parker's heritage collection
Tags: 2009, bourbon, heaven hill, parker's heritage collection
Four Roses Mariage 2009
The Mariage series, started in 2008, was the predecessor to the annual Small Batch Limted Edition. A small annual release, it’s a mingling of different recipes at barrel proof by master distiller Jim Rutledge.
Old Rip Van Winkle 23yr, 2009
In 2009 the Old Rip Van Winkle decanter set was released. It featured 23-year old whiskey that was specially selected and bottled at a higher proof than usual (114). 1200 decanter sets were released, but the family also bottled a very limited quantity in regular Pappy style cognac-style bottles for their own consumption. You’ll notice there’s no bar code for sale.
William Larue Weller, 134.8pf – 2009
Posted in Buffalo Trace Antique Collection
Tags: 2009, bourbon, btac, buffalo trace, william larue weller
Tags: 2009, bourbon, btac, buffalo trace, william larue weller
