Van Winkle Family Reserve Red Wax Export

[passthebourbon]

So, Mr. Van Winkle (if that's even your real name), which Japanese customer? Why so secretive on the name? Why not just be up front and tell us? And, about 1,500 cases????? Don't you know exactly how many cases it was? Why so coy? What are you trying to hide???? And, the bottling? When in December??? When in March???? Don't you have a calendar?? I know you couldn't have bottled in all of December, because you were closed on Christmas!!!!!! Hah!!!I demand to know!!!!!! I have a right to know!!!!! And, what's the real story behind losing the mustache??? And I don't want no cockamamy Thanksgiving story, Mr. marketinggenius. I want the TRUTH!!!!! And, why didn't Mr. Cowdery ask you about that?????? How much are you paying him for his silence????? Probably part of the BILLIONS you have made from your fancy bottles.

Read this earlier on the train and burst out laughing. Well written...

[Restaurant man]

So, Mr. Van Winkle (if that's even your real name), which Japanese customer? Why so secretive on the name? Why not just be up front and tell us? And, about 1,500 cases????? Don't you know exactly how many cases it was? Why so coy? What are you trying to hide???? And, the bottling? When in December??? When in March???? Don't you have a calendar?? I know you couldn't have bottled in all of December, because you wereclosed on Christmas!!!!!! Hah!!!I demand to know!!!!!! I have a right to know!!!!! And, what's the real story behind losing the mustache??? And I don't want no cockamamy Thanksgiving story, Mr. marketinggenius. I want the TRUTH!!!!! And, why didn't Mr. Cowdery ask you about that?????? How much are you paying him for his silence????? Probably part of the BILLIONS you have made from your fancy bottles.


It had to be said joe! Thank yu for your fearless reporting. Although this will be your last interview ever of a (living) bourbon icon. You will live out your days knowing that no one can call you a punk!

[jvanwinkle]

So I take the time to look up the info on that OLD bottling & this is what I get?
Why did I even bother trying?
Never again.

[mosugoji64]

So I take the time to look up the info on that OLD bottling & this is what I get?
Why did I even bother trying?
Never again.

That was pure sarcasm, Julian. Just a comment on some of the paranoia that has crept into postings lately, not a dig on you. Hope you'll continue to provide us with some valuable info.

[Restaurant man]

So I take the time to look up the info on that OLD bottling & this is what I get?
Why did I even bother trying?
Never again.

Im just hoping that jvanwinkle was trying to match sarcastic comments with smokinjoe. Otherwise I'll be forced to cut joe out of my bourbon Will

[callmeox]

OK, who is going to reach out to Julian to explain?

[smokinjoe]

Ouch...
Cancellations to GBS are running at 98%. BTW, thanks for hangin' in there with me O...
Wife has filed for divorce...
Dog bit me...
Demoted at work...
Chuck's GBS Project is now simply The Project...
My reservation at the General Nelson in September has mysteriously "disappeared"...wait....that happens all the time anyway...
Elmer T, and Jimmy Russell have called to tell me that they will kick my ass if I ever set foot in Kentucky again.
My nomination to become a Kentucky Colonel has been shredded, and returned to me...
I woke up in my hotel this morning with a horses head next to me...
One bright spot, though...apparently, I've been fast-tracked for membership into the Georgia Infused-Vodka Society...thanks Jimmy!!!

[doubleblank]

Sorry for being late to the discussion. As Julian already posted, it's from the Boone Distillery bottled for the Japanese market. I acquired my bottle from Julian's collection via the Getz Museum Charity Auction.

A more interesting note which begs for a side-by-side tasting........this is the same whiskey he put in his original Pappy 20yo, simply done a few years earlier. So if you have an original Pappy 20yo green glass bottle, open them up and do a comparison. It's what I intend to do when I open it.

Julian also did some red wax tendril bottlings in the early '80's. Probably before MM started protecting their trade dress.

Randy

[doubleblank]

That's interesting info on that red waxed bottle, Julian. I have a similar one, and I also have a different Van Winkle 17 year old, picture is attached. I've often wondered if there's any connection to the similarly labeled initial A. H. Hirsch 15 year olds. The two in this picture on the left bear similar labels, yet have different bottling dates, one being in September and the other February, both distilled in 1974. The Van Winkle 17 doesn't list dates, merely "Lot H." All have the same proof (95.6) and state Lawrenceburg, as you'll see on the labels.

Any info on any of these, the Van Winkle or the Hirsch's is appreciated!

Attachment 13722Attachment 13723

Those Hirsch bottlings are some of the many iterations Julian did while bottling the whiskey from the Michters Distillery. I have seen approximately 10 different labels Julian used to bottle the Michters ranging from 15 to 20 year old representations. The "blue wax" and "gold wax" versions of the Hirsch 16yo are probably the most common (relatively) AND highly collectible ones seen. The "gold foil" topped bottles are still available at retail, but not considered in the same league as earlier releases.

I don't recall what might be inside the Lot H 17yo bottle.

Randy

[B1bomber]

Thanks for chiming in, Randy. Appreciate you shedding some light on this. Here's a better family portrait. Would be great to know if they shared common juice, or just coincidental labels (and locations, proofs, etc). The conspiracy theorist in me has to wonder if "Lot H" doesn't refer to "Hirsch." Crazy notion, I'm sure.
As for Julian, I gotta say, I didn't immediately read that as sarcasm myself. I ultimately concluded it must be, and hope he does as well. Would be great to get his thoughts on these. Julian?

Thanks again, Randy.

photo2.jpg