AH Hirsch 16 Humidor Set

[cowdery]

the original thread about this, from 2013, is closed but I have some interesting news.

The humidor set was the last release of A. H. Hirsch Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey. In 2009, Preiss Imports decanted the remaining stock of 16-year-old gold capsule and rebottled it in crystal bottles, which they packed in a humidor case, with a suggested retail price of $1,499. The sets were individually numbered and there were exactly 1,000 of them.

Back in April, 2013, in the thread above, it was established that Anchor still had 800 of the humidor sets in inventory, still at the original price. My puzzlement at the time was why they didn't lower the price and blow them out, as that represented some expensive inventory that didn't seem to be moving. There were also reports of a few more in distributor and retailer inventories, but no more than a handful.

In 2011, Henry Preiss sold his company and his interest in A. H. Hirsch to Anchor.

Not quite two years ago, Anchor had 800 sets. Now they have none. The last three, numbered 998, 999 and 1,000, are now owned by a small restaurant chain called White Chocolate Grill. They tried to buy more and were told that was it, the cupboard is now bare. Bottle number 997, by the way, was accidentally broken at Anchor. A moment of silence, please.

They paid $925 a bottle for them. I'm not sure which restaurant will have it, but it's probably the one in Scottsdale, AZ. They plan to charge $89 for a 1.5 oz. pour.

This just means the producer, Anchor, has exhausted its inventory. It's possible there are still a handful out there in distributor or retailer inventories.

There is a secondary market in A. H. Hirsch and it has also shown up in some auctions. The market seems to value the humidor and crystal bottle at $0. The value is in the whiskey, which Bourbon Blue Book shows at $883, regardless of the packaging.

Edited January 17, 2015 by cowdery

[RWBadley]

Very interesting, Thanks Mr. Cowdery for this update on a very interesting and sought after bourbon. The story behind the juice is one you could just not make up...

When the Hirsch 16 and 20 were first released they were my introduction to extra aged bourbon. I was lucky to acquire a fair amount of it to enjoy over the years.

While it was indeed a very good whiskey, we have so much choice of good bourbon these days I am struck the current price seems fairly ridiculous.

I know of one available nearby. Should I be tempted to pick up the item as it is the last of the breed? Maybe... but I am not that interested in it personally and these days not as much of a speculator as I once might have been. I know where some Barterhouse is still for sale at 75$. It reminds me quite heavily of the Hirsch as I recall, and I would be more tempted by a few more of those in my bunker.

Cheers,

RW

[Kyjd75]

I received one of these as a Christmas present from my dear wife. Surprised, to say the least, because I knew how expensive it was (although I certainly appreciated her valuing me that highly!;-)!

Nonetheless, I do know of one that is still available at retail if anyone is interested. My bottle was 732/1000. Not opened yet but it will for the right reason (i.e. Kentucky winning its 9th NCAA championship).

[wadewood]

I've heard that a wholesaler in Louisiana has a large stock of the Hirsch 20 year old red wax. The back story was confusing and second hand so who knows if true. I do know a few stores in Louisiana that have bottles of this for sale, but it's also priced at or above secondary market.

[wadewood]

If my wife bought me this at that price, I'd divorce her. I bought a 6 pack of these from Binny's for a sale price of $39.99. At that price, it was an OK bourbon.

[Quantum]

How would she even manage to find one of these for sale between the kitchen and laundry room?

[RWBadley]

If my wife bought me this at that price, I'd divorce her. I bought a 6 pack of these from Binny's for a sale price of $39.99. At that price, it was an OK bourbon.

Different stuff I think. There was a Hirsch 20yo from several years ago that was- as I recall- made in Indiana. I do have a bottle of it floating around. It's not the better juice the old Michter's plant Hirsch was.

[wadewood]

Different stuff I think. There was a Hirsch 20yo from several years ago that was- as I recall- made in Indiana. I do have a bottle of it floating around. It's not the better juice the old Michter's plant Hirsch was.

Nope, I bought AH Hirsch 16 year old Gold Foil from binny's for $39.99/bottle around 2005.

[RWBadley]

Nope, I bought AH Hirsch 16 year old Gold Foil from binny's for $39.99/bottle around 2005.

Quite a score!!!!!

[DEelfinn]

...Binny's for a sale price of $39.99. At that price, it was an OK bourbon.

[cowdery]

Since Indiana was mentioned, this might be a good place to remind everyone that not all 'Hirsch' is the A. H. Hirsch Reserve from Pennsylvania. Anything with the initials 'A. H.' is that whiskey, but there have been quite a few other products bearing the 'Hirsch' brand (without the 'A. H.'), none from Pennsylvania and at least one from Indiana, I believe.

[P&MLiquorsEric]

A new small batch Hirsch just landed in KY. No age statement but it is a KY bourbon.

[nd2005]

Seems like the market for these last humidor bottles opened up once bars realized how much they could charge for it

[ThirstyinOhio]

I had a buddy picked up a humidor set today from Party Source. I've never had the chance to try it and figured that it wasn't going to be any cheaper in the future so what the hell. I'm going to have to go on a hiatus from buying whiskey for the next few months to keep the wife happy.

[jvd99]

I saw one of these humidor sets in the last few months at a small liquor store in Lake Forest, IL for the going rate of @ $1200. I rarely ever go in there, but checked it out recently and it's gone. Quite a difference from the 2005 prices mentioned above and probably quite a difference in customers willing shell out that kind of dough

[nd2005]

I saw one of these humidor sets in the last few months at a small liquor store in Lake Forest, IL for the going rate of @ $1200. I rarely ever go in there, but checked it out recently and it's gone. Quite a difference from the 2005 prices mentioned above and probably quite a difference in customers willing shell out that kind of dough

It looks like the last of these are getting snatched up. The market has finally caught up with that once seemingly ridiculous $1200 price tag.

There were about a half dozen reliable stores like the wine and cheese place that had this in their inventory online...they're all gone now.

[johnnybogey]

A few places by me have have it for 1300. Again, saw it online so not sure if they actually updated their website with current inventory.

[Tony Santana]

I know where I can get one, at least as of a week ago. $1300+ I've been half tempted to get it - okay maybe a quarter tempted. As a collectible and a conversation piece it has some value. But ultimately I buy bourbon to drink it. And I'd be too tempted to drink it, just to see what all the fuss is about (never had it before). And since I can't imagine any bourbon being worth that kind of money, I assume I would ultimately be disappointed.

[tanstaafl2]

I know where I can get one, at least as of a week ago. $1300+ I've been half tempted to get it - okay maybe a quarter tempted. As a collectible and a conversation piece it has some value. But ultimately I buy bourbon to drink it. And I'd be too tempted to drink it, just to see what all the fuss is about (never had it before). And since I can't imagine any bourbon being worth that kind of money, I assume I would ultimately be disappointed.

Having had a chance to try it I don't think I would spend $130, much less $1300, on this one. $75 or so and we can talk!

If I were going to blow that much money on a bottle I would probably buy the 1951 Knappogue Castle Irish Whiskey aged 36 years in sherry for a grand or so. But admittedly Irish Whiskey was my original preferred whiskey.

But then I would have a hard time opening it so probably just as well that I don't buy it!

[TunnelTiger]

So is that Irish still sitting on the shelf?

[BigBoldBully]

comment deleted by BigBoldBully

[garbanzobean]

So is that Irish still sitting on the shelf?

There's one at a store near me, I believe. Pretty sure the price is comparable. It's sitting in the same case as some bottles of Bowmore White, Black, Gold. And some other shit that costs as much as a car.

Feel free to PM me if interested in location.

[tanstaafl2]

So is that Irish still sitting on the shelf?

Don't know. I saw it in another state. There aren't any near me that I know of which, as I noted, is probably just as well!

Now if someone feels like getting me a birthday present and, as is the case with most of my friends, don't know what bottle to get me because I seem to already have everything well then the problem is now solved!

:cool:

[tanstaafl2]

Don't know. I saw it in another state. There aren't any near me that I know of which, as I noted, is probably just as well!

Now if someone feels like getting me a birthday present and, as is the case with most of my friends, don't know what bottle to get me because I seem to already have everything well then the problem is now solved!

:cool:

Come to think of it, I really need two! One to drink (and share) and one to admire sitting on my shelf...