Dusty Guide?

[Jono]

Does anyone have a listing of whiskeys to look for as "dusties" worth picking up? A list of true hard to find, good stuff, lucky if you can find them whiskeys?

[ggilbertva]

Does anyone have a listing of whiskeys to look for as "dusties" worth picking up? A list of true hard to find, good stuff, lucky if you can find them whiskeys?

Jono,

Unfortunately, your question is too broad. There were so many various offerings through the years that having a comprehensive list is almost impossible. If you understand distillery timelines, UPC, DSP and label history, those are the tools one would use to determine whether you find a "luck if you can find them whiskey". A couple of my favorite dusty bottles are:

Old Fitz BIB from SW

Old Taylor BIB (Castle Distillery)

Early BHC (Centennial, OCPR, VSOF, etc.)

A.H. Hirsch Blue Wax

Wild Turkey 12 year split label or (cheesy) gold foil

Eagle Rare 10/101

Just a short list, I have many other bottles that I would look for when dusty hunting. There are numerous postings in the Collectibles forum that details the dusty successes of members which includes vital statistics and pictures which I've found to be very helpful.

[mozilla]

There are a couple of issues with your question.

First, "worth" is subjective.

Second, in many parts of the country...dusties are scarce. So, to be able to find any dusty would make you very lucky.

Third, until you build up a bunker of dusties and start sampling...it is hard to say that you don't want to try something

Many of dusties I have sampled are not world beaters...but I am glad I tried them because it has helped to improve my tastes and pallet. So, I suggest that if you see a dusty...whether you have heard of it or not....buy it and try it. Make up your own mind. If you really like it...buy all you see. If you don't...keep what's left around for others to try and sample. I have yet to be dissapointed with any dusty...mainly becuase of the learning process you get to go through when tasting something from yesteryear.

[Jono]

Thanks, short lists like yours are what I am looking for...if people add to it with additional favorites eventually a handy little guide for the wallet / glove compartment can be made.

[mozilla]

Another issue is....after you have hunted for a while...the only dusties you really look for...are the ones you havn't found yet. So, really, you will eventually look for all of them. To exclude one early...means you will include it later.

[Jono]

Yes, such lists are subjective but I have not found the opinions on this board to be that questionnable....I have a fairly wide tolerance for whiskey...just looking for the ones that people have found to be nice pick ups..."true dusties" uncommon bottles vs just an unexceptional bottle that has sat at the back of the shelf but it still produced.

[mozilla]

Well, then...I would suggest you look for distilleries instead of labels, per sey. Most distilleries products back then were not that totally different.

First teir: SW, Glenmore/Yellowstone, National Distillers and Medley Owensboro.

Second teir: Old Bernheim, Wild Turkey, Barton and Old Forester.

If you can find anything from these plants...buy it.

Do remember...that the 86 proof versions are usually better than the 80. It might look like a small detail....but it's not. Look for 86, you won't be dissapointed.

[craigthom]

That's pretty much how I hunt, in addition to looking for RR101, BTAC, etc.

I haven't found a lot, but I have picked up some '80s S-W (1849, which is great, and Rebel Yell, which is not), and some OGD BIB from National.

[Buffalo Bill]

There are a couple of issues with your question.

First, "worth" is subjective.

Second, in many parts of the country...dusties are scarce. So, to be able to find any dusty would make you very lucky.

Third, until you build up a bunker of dusties and start sampling...it is hard to say that you don't want to try something

Many of dusties I have sampled are not world beaters...but I am glad I tried them because it has helped to improve my tastes and pallet. So, I suggest that if you see a dusty...whether you have heard of it or not....buy it and try it. Make up your own mind. If you really like it...buy all you see. If you don't...keep what's left around for others to try and sample. I have yet to be dissapointed with any dusty...mainly becuase of the learning process you get to go through when tasting something from yesteryear.

One excellent post - this is as accurate as accurate info gets. BB

[MissingKY]

I agree with what the other posters have said. I'd take Greg's point one step further and say that carrying or memorizing a list of DSP numbers (there's one floating around somewhere on the site) is a huge help when you're out dusty hunting. It's easier to figure out what the "good stuff" is after you've been out hunting for a while, but if you've got a list of DSP numbers, you can quickly figure out the origins of some of the more obscure BIB bottles you'll run into. Like Jeff said, it's great to find a bottle of Medley or Glenmore distillate, but it might not say "MEDLEY" in huge letters on the label...you might need to use the DSP numbers to crack the code.