OldHickory

[mrmorency]

Hello! I was recently cleaning out my grandfathers garage when I can across a couple of beauties. First find was an unopened bottle of Old Hickory bourbon still in its box. The box has 1965 written on the back. The other was an unopened bottle of whiskey. I'll post pictures below. Does anyone know what these are worth or if they're safe to consume?

[Virus_Of_Life]

Does anyone know what these are worth or if they're safe to consume?

I do not recommend consuming the Old Hickory, I'll send you my address for my free disposal services. :grin:

In all seriousness they look well sealed and should be perfectly fine to consume. The Old Hickory is probably very good bourbon. The other is probably decent blended whiskey, but the Hickory is definitely a find. Enjoy it!

[mrmorency]

Please excuse my ignorance and this may not be the place to ask but...

What the difference between bourbon and whiskey? What makes whiskey "blended"? I personally have been drinking Jack Daniels for years, so I'm not into what makes a good liquor a GOOD LIQUOR, if you get what I'm saying.

[smokinjoe]

I agree with Christian. The Old Hickory that I have had was pretty good. You should enjoy drinking it. For some terrific additional info on the brand, and distillery that made it, check out the History section and Dave Ziegler's threads on Kinsey and Continental.

I don't know much about the Fleischmann's, however.

[Josh]

They are safe to drink. Whiskey doesn't spoil.

[mrmorency]

Is the Old Hickory something best drank by itself? I'm assuming it's more of a "on the rocks" drink.

[theDon]

Most Whiskey/Whisky/Bourbon purists like most of us prefer neat. If you like watered down whiskey like Jack Daniel's then you should probably use ice.

[Josh]

Drink it however you like. I would recommend that you drink it with friends.

[flintlock]

Enjoy your find!

And as an aside, that's got to be the worst, most tripped out, LSD flashback lookin' bourbon packaging I've ever seen. What were they thinking their target demographic was with that box?

[nblair]

What were they thinking their target demographic was with that box?

Maybe they were going after the church-goer/liquor drinking demographic with the stained glass looking bird...:skep:

[bourbonNOOG]

Enjoy your find!

And as an aside, that's got to be the worst, most tripped out, LSD flashback lookin' bourbon packaging I've ever seen. What were they thinking their target demographic was with that box?

I'm with you on this Ryan. You have to wonder what they were thinking. Being in Marketing/Design the only conclusion I can come to is they chose this look so they're product would stand out among the rest. I mean if I went to the liquor store and saw something like this today, I would probably pick it up and check it and even buy it, if it was reasonably priced, simply based on the fact that it stood out.

The bird has to have some sort of significant to the product line. But I can only assume the color choice was just "to be different" and make an impact. Hideous or not you wouldn't forget seeing it.

[pepcycle]

I'm not seeing the pics.

BTW: If you decide to share with friends, I have a recent opeing in my "friends' list" and would accept you as a friend based on possession of these products.

Signed,

Shallow and Unreformable

Ed

[ratcheer]

I'm with you on this Ryan. You have to wonder what they were thinking. Being in Marketing/Design the only conclusion I can come to is they chose this look so they're product would stand out among the rest. I mean if I went to the liquor store and saw something like this today, I would probably pick it up and check it and even buy it, if it was reasonably priced, simply based on the fact that it stood out.

The bird has to have some sort of significant to the product line. But I can only assume the color choice was just "to be different" and make an impact. Hideous or not you wouldn't forget seeing it.

It was the 60's. Design ideas and people's preferences were much different than now. My guess is that that packaging fit right in with many other things.

Tim

[cowdery]

Those are really pretty special. I enjoyed seeing them. For collectors with a historical bent, they would both be excellent additions.

As we always like to say when people ask about selling things, be aware that it is illegal to sell alcohol without a license.

Old Hickory is truly a 'lost' whiskey, a major brand made by Publicker, probably at its Philadelphia distillery. We have a resident Publicker expert here, Dave Ziegler. The photo will be a good argument-settler when people say bourbon can only be made in Kentucky.

Ten-year-old bourbon of any kind was rare in those days, and ten years was about as old as any bourbon got.

The box design, if 1965, is a bit early for the psychedelic look, which came a bit later. Boxes were usually done at Christmas time, so it probably was supposed to look festive without being too outwardly Christmas-ey. Definitely looks like mid-sixties design, though.

The Flieschmann's brand originated in the Cincinnati area, migrating later to the Owensboro area. Flieschmann's Preferred is still one of the top blended whiskeys. Back in those days, when there were "A" blends and "B" blends, and both contained more actual whiskey than blends do today, I suspect Flieschmann's was an "A" and probably not bad for a blend.

A blended whiskey has to be at least 20% whiskey, like bourbon or rye, and the rest is either green whiskey or neutral spirits. Back then most blends were better than any blends are now. Today most of them are 20% whiskey, 80% vodka.

As for drinking either of them, drink them as you would Jack Daniel's. Jack Daniel's is more analogous to the Old Hickory. Comparing it to Daniel's is fair. The Flieschmann's will taste similar but much milder.

[mrmorency]

Thank you guys so much for all the insight. I really appreciate it. I'm thinking the Old Hickory will remain a "special occasion" drink. I'm getting married in May this year so hopefully somewhere around this time next year I'll crack it open for the birth of our first child :grin: .

Once again, thank! I'll be sure to post again if I find anymore bottled gems around his house.

[squire]

That Old Hickory is quite a find, especially a 10 yr expression. I would save it for family occasions and drink the other with friends.