Old Fitgerald Stizler Weller pre 1964

[dSculptor]

Hey guys - I have been a bourbon man for most of my life, and have quite a few under my belt , I am always looking for the One. Every Friday a couple of us get together for some searching of new ,and some past bourbons. A few weeks back we were contemplating the universe with some good pours, and it hit me.. I have this collection of old mini's and said hey I wonder what these would taste like? So I decided to pop one, my first choice .. old fitz bib from the SW distillery '69 '70 ish. Upon the pour and our first nose of it we both looked at each other and said Wow ,after holding back for a few minutes to let it breath after it's long hibernation we took a sip, and again we both were blown away.. I had found the ONE. We cherished that stuff for the rest of the evening. So that changed my course and am now on the hunt for the old stuff or dusty's. My next score was ET Kentucky straight bourbon 1969 ish 6 quart bottles all nice and full .. great stuff! 1 of which is almost gone already. Which brings me to my latest find,although not in my hands as of yet.. a quart of old fitz again but this is the sour mash version by SW pre 1964! It has some evap loss, and it wasn't cheap ($50). But I'm going for it anyway, if it is anything like the previous one I had, I hit the jackpot.Just wondering if anyone out there has had the opportunity to sample these 2 versions from that same era,and how they compare to each other.

Edited January 10, 2014 by dSculptor

[HighInTheMtns]

STITZEL-Weller bottles from that era are pretty beloved. What are the details on the bottle you found?

[dSculptor]

here's a pic of it - the evap loss has me a bit concerned but even if it is not good -I like the bottle itself.

[MyOldKyDram]

Even if its not good?

[AaronWF]

$50 is actually incredibly cheap for that bottle, assuming it's the real deal.

[black mamba]

I'd make darn sure the seal on the cap doesn't just slide right off-- looks like someone might have already had a taste!

[squire]

Cheap in our current collector driven skewered market. I would pass on it for drinking though, this is one of the lower proof, lesser age versions of the Stitzel-Weller brands and I would be concerned about that fill level.

[dSculptor]

First I have to get it in my hands, then decide about cracking it -although I pretty much already know that answer! It's 92 proof not that low... I do like mine around 100.

[dSculptor]

Well guys - this was a mute thread, never count your chickens before they hatch! My old fitz bottle has fell thru - apparently the wife does not want to part with it at this time for "sentimental reasons" Oh well keep searching...

[squire]

I believe the 5 year olds were sold at 90 proof but that bottle may have been a disappointment anyway, low fill levels are not to be trusted.

[dSculptor]

Here's a pic of the back of the bottle just for nostalgic reasons -- What's the worse with low fill levels -just taste bad? The bottle itself empty is still pretty cool to have.

[callmeox]

Over time, bottles exposed to air lose their pizzazz. The bourbon tastes flat or musty if the air exposure is too great. I've experienced that more in low fill duties than bottles with less evap loss but YMMV.

Its worth a chance to taste history and could be a big surprise (either way).

[squire]

My eyesight's a bit fuzzy this afternoon. Does the front label say 5 years old and the back label say 8 years old?

[dSculptor]

New here to all the abrv. lingo --YMMV ?

[callmeox]

Sorry...that's short for Your Mileage May Vary

[weller_tex]

My eyesight's a bit fuzzy this afternoon. Does the front label say 5 years old and the back label say 8 years old?

No it says 5 front and back as I stare longingly at the bottle..

[AaronWF]

What makes you say this is pre-1964?

[dSculptor]

Federal law prohibits re-use of this bottle embossed on back - I was under the impression this was only 1932-1964

[squire]

That dates the bottle but they are not automatically used as soon as made. I don't believe the change in law mandated all bottles with the federal warning cease being used, rather that they would no longer be required to carry the statement. The whisky could've been bottled a year or three after the bottle was manufactured.

[AaronWF]

That dates the bottle but they are not automatically used as soon as made. I don't believe the change in law mandated all bottles with the federal warning cease being used, rather that they would no longer be required to carry the statement. The whisky could've been bottled a year or three after the bottle was manufactured.

That's what I was thinking. I was under the impression that OF was not bottled at less than 100 proof until after Pappy retired, which was in 1964. At least for the domestic market.

[squire]

That's my impression as well, 86 proof Old Fitz is also post Pappy.

[dSculptor]

That's some good info! So I guess we can safely say the mid 60's.I miss it already.. and I never had it.. The thing about it is they contacted me, then decided against parting with it.. Either way what a waste to just sit in a brown paper bag in the closet,that's where they keep it.

[DrBob]

Make them a standing offer of say $60 and just wait

[squire]

Check Craig's list tonight and see if anything new pops up.