Dustie Experts! Need your help...

[PetePap]

Last week i stumbled upon a couple of dusties that I need help in identifying distillery, rarity, etc. 2 Bottles of Old Fitz Prime, 1997, and One Eagle Rare "Single Barrel", with the paper label, from 1994. I checked Whiskey ID to no avail, and am looking for a Dustie Expert to help me out. Thanks for you help.

[PaulO]

I think Old Fitz Prime from 1997 was made by Heaven Hill. It's the same as what we can get now, not too interesting. If the Eagle Rare is old enough to be 101 proof, then that is very desirable.

[luther.r]

Old Fitzgerald wasn't sold to HH until 1999, so a '97 was probably still a UD product, which would have most likely been distilled at Bernheim.

[PetePap]

I think Old Fitz Prime from 1997 was made by Heaven Hill. It's the same as what we can get now, not too interesting. If the Eagle Rare is old enough to be 101 proof, then that is very desirable.

Thanks Paul. Unfortunately the Eagle Rare is not the 101 proof. Thanks for your reply.

[PetePap]

Old Fitzgerald wasn't sold to HH until 1999, so a '97 was probably still a UD product, which would have most likely been distilled at Bernheim.

Thanks for the reply Luther. Appreciate the insight. I just read on Whiskey ID that up to around 1997 that Old Fitz could potentially still be S-W liquid. Assuming that Bernheim would have started distilling Old Fitz right away in '92 when they purchased the brand, technically it would be ready for bottling by 96/97. So, what do you think--way too close to tell if it's S-W or not?

[drunkenjayhawk]

I would get them both to drink. Especially since you cannot 100 percent pindown SW or not. Bernheim made and makes good stuff then and now. So it would not be a true loss to me. And besides it wouldn't be bad in an OldFashioned. Same with the Eagle Rare. If money is an issue buy the one that more suits your tastes. One is more rye and the other wheat.

[luther.r]

Thanks for the reply Luther. Appreciate the insight. I just read on Whiskey ID that up to around 1997 that Old Fitz could potentially still be S-W liquid. Assuming that Bernheim would have started distilling Old Fitz right away in '92 when they purchased the brand, technically it would be ready for bottling by 96/97. So, what do you think--way too close to tell if it's S-W or not?

[jsrudd]

Assuming that Bernheim would have started distilling Old Fitz right away in '92 when they purchased the brand, technically it would be ready for bottling by 96/97. So, what do you think--way too close to tell if it's S-W or not?

If you've based the '97 date on the number stamped on the bottom of the bottle, you also have to remember that the number on the bottom of the bottle is only an indication of when the bottle was made. Because of this, the bourbon inside the bottle may be from '97, but it just as well could have been from later.

There is a thread in the collectibles subforum dedicated to dusty hunting where people often post pictures of what they've found if you're interested in making a contribution.