AH Hirsch 16yo question?

[nysquire]

I just recently got a bottle of AH Hirsch 16yo. Was this bottled at Buffalo Trcae? Same bottles as all of the Pappy's. The bottle says distilled in the spring of 1974. Is this for real?

Looking for any info that I can get....Also $74.99 for this, is that the going rate? Real nice bourbon...

Thanks JIM

[Virus_Of_Life]

Others on this board can offer much more specific info, but what I know if I can recall everything correctly is Yes it was distilled in '74 at now defunct Michters in Pa. which closed in the late '80s, IIRC, aged 16 years then dumped into stainless steel to stop the aging. At that point I believe it was bottled once (I do not know where) with the blue wax top. It apparently continued to sit in the stainless steel for a number of years and was bottled two more times gold wax then gold foil - this being the last of it.

There is varying opinions on whether or not all those years in SS affected the taste...

$75 seems to be about the going rate, I (before knowing any better) paid $87 for one a couple of years ago and enjoyed it quite immensely. I now have a blue wax that I paid a considerable amount less for that will remain unopened until I either find another one, or some very special occasion. All that said I believe last time I checked their site Binnys was selling it (gold foil of course) for $50, which is a very good price.

[Gillman]

You've got it all right. Some people think the relatively low price for the gold foil reflects its lower quality (as some perceive it) in relation to the gold wax and blue was bottlings. Anyway, since you have a blue wax, you have what many feel is the best one. The gold wax certainly was very good, and even the gold foil. This whiskey may be a true bourbon but Michter's specialised in a mash bill of 50% corn, 38% rye and the rest barley malt, being a proprietary form of straight whiskey. Some have wondered if what was bottled as Hirsch 16 is that whiskey (i.e., what was sold at 6 years old in decanters when Michters was still operating), and perhaps the 1% difference was not felt or is not legally material from the point of view of calling it bourbon. Or maybe this '74 distillate really was a bourbon since Michter's apparently made different kinds of whiskey at the time, for different markets (some bulk). Anyway, it's fine whiskey and good idea (whatever mash bill it is) of what Michter's was all about in its heyday albeit a more aged version. Just last night I vatted (Tim Sousley has done this too) some 70's Michters I got by trade from Randy with the gold wax 16, just in the glass. As Tim has noted earlier on the board, that was really good.

Gary

[Gillman]

You've got it all right. Some people think the relatively low price for the gold foil reflects its lower quality (as they perceive it) in relation to the gold wax and blue wax bottlings. Anyway, since you have a blue wax, you have what many feel is the best one. The gold wax certainly was very good, and even the gold foil is. Michter's specialised in a mash bill of 50% corn, 38% rye and the rest barley malt, being a proprietary form of straight whiskey. Some have wondered if what was bottled as Hirsch 16 is that whiskey (i.e., what was sold at 6 years old in decanters in the 70's when Michters was still operating), and perhaps the 1% difference was not felt or is not legally material from the point of view of calling it bourbon. Or maybe this '74 distillate really is a true bourbon since Michter's apparently made different kinds of whiskey for different markets (some bulk). Anyway, it's fine whiskey and a good idea (whatever mash bill it is) of what Michter's was all about albeit a more aged version. Just last night I vatted (Tim Sousley has done this too) some 70's Michters I got by trade from Randy with some gold wax 16, 50/50, in the glass. As Tim has noted earlier on the board, that is really good.

Gary

[OscarV]

I was just looking at SamsWines.com and I see the A H Hirsch 16 year old is now $99.99. It seems like I paid around $70.00 a year ago. Their price for Pappy 20 year old is "only" $91.99.

The word must be out that the well is about to run dry.

Has anyone heard when they think no more will be available?

A 20 yo Hirsch went for $520.00 plus $30.00 shipping on eBay a couple of weeks ago.

Will we see a $200.00 or more bottle of the 16yo in the future?

[cowdery]

The marketer is Preiss Imports. When I talked to them about two months ago, they had about 500 cases left and said they would periodically raise the price as that supply dwindled down to nothing. So, while it's possible retailers are raising it on their own, they may also be raising it as they buy more and have to spend more to do so.

[jburlowski]

It's been priced at $90-100 around Northern KY for some time.

[wskybnt]

Just bought a bottle today. It will be my first time to try it. I plan on opening it later.

By the way, I paid 89.99 plus tax........may or may not be worth it, but I have wanted to try it for some time...

[ThomasH]

I bought a bottle of Hirsch 16 in Feb. 05 from Binnys. It had originally been 49.99 but was on sale for 39.99. I drink this only occasionally as it is getting more expensive and rare all the time!

Thomas

[Vange]

I bought a case (12 bottles) about a year ago at the price of $49.99 a bottle, but the case discount brought it closer to $46 a bottle. It sits in my closet as one of my favorite bourbons.

On another note, I still see it on a lot of shelves.

[OscarV]

I just checked Binny's web site and the 16yo Hirsch is now $69.99.

Thats 30 bucks cheaper than Sam's, to bad Binny's doesn't ship to MI.

[bigtoys]

Ditto: Binny's in Skokie, IL tonight had 6 bottles of Hirsch for $70.

[Vange]

Seems the prices for hirsch 16 gold foil are all rising with the supplies diminishing. A year ago binnys was at 50, now 70. Thats a big increase!

[CrispyCritter]

The marketer is Preiss Imports. When I talked to them about two months ago, they had about 500 cases left and said they would periodically raise the price as that supply dwindled down to nothing.

Ah yes, the folks at PLOWED came up with a term for this phenomenon: "Preiss Gouging."

[Empty Glass]

I bought a bottle of AHH16 online from Ca. for $72.00 just before Christmas. I checked a week later and the price had jumped to $89.99 at the same store. I grabbed last 2 bottles off the shelf at a store in Ct. for $74.00 each. Not only have they not replaced them they removed the shelf sticker which most likely means that there supplier has a poor or non-existant source. The price is on the rise.

[Marina Blue]

A 20 yo Hirsch went for $520.00 plus $30.00 shipping on eBay a couple of weeks ago.

Will we see a $200.00 or more bottle of the 16yo in the future?

I thought alcoholic beverages can only be sold by a licensed establishment and question the legality of selling on eBay. If it is legal I am in an interesting position since I have 8 bottles of the 20 year old and 14 bottles of the blue-wax 16 year old A. H. Hirsch. Michters had always been my favorite whiskey, so when they went out of business I spent years yearning to taste it again. I had always thought that if I ever again had the chance I would buy a case or two. Finally I learned that it was being bottled again under the Hirsch label. Guess what I did. If anyone has a suggestion on how to legally sell some of my overstock let me know.

[jburlowski]

I thought alcoholic beverages can only be sold by a licensed establishment and question the legality of selling on eBay. If it is legal I am in an interesting position since I have 8 bottles of the 20 year old and 14 bottles of the blue-wax 16 year old A. H. Hirsch. Michters had always been my favorite whiskey, so when they went out of business I spent years yearning to taste it again. I had always thought that if I ever again had the chance I would buy a case or two. Finally I learned that it was being bottled again under the Hirsch label. Guess what I did. If anyone has a suggestion on how to legally sell some of my overstock let me know.

1) get a license from your local jurisdiction --- then you can sell it

2) drink it

3) drink it with / give it to friends

4) can I be your friend?

[Marina Blue]

Anyway, since you have a blue wax, you have what many feel is the best one. The gold wax certainly was very good, and even the gold foil is. Michter's specialised in a mash bill of 50% corn, 38% rye and the rest barley malt, being a proprietary form of straight whiskey. Some have wondered if what was bottled as Hirsch 16 is that whiskey (i.e., what was sold at 6 years old in decanters in the 70's when Michters was still operating), and perhaps the 1% difference was not felt or is not legally material from the point of view of calling it bourbon. Or maybe this '74 distillate really is a true bourbon since Michter's apparently made different kinds of whiskey for different markets (some bulk). Anyway, it's fine whiskey and a good idea (whatever mash bill it is) of what Michter's was all about albeit a more aged version. Just last night I vatted (Tim Sousley has done this too) some 70's Michters I got by trade from Randy with some gold wax 16, 50/50, in the glass. As Tim has noted earlier on the board, that is really good.

Gary

Michter's was always my favorite. I was at the distillery, more than once, when it was in operation and still have a bottle of the 101 proof to make a comparison to my Hirsch 16 & 20 year olds. The aroma of the Hirsch bottlings cannot be mistaken for anything other than Michter's original Bourbon mash bill. The taste is also unmistakeable even though the Hirsch is aged much longer. I would say it is the original formulation.

[jbutler]

I thought alcoholic beverages can only be sold by a licensed establishment and question the legality of selling on eBay. If it is legal I am in an interesting position since I have 8 bottles of the 20 year old and 14 bottles of the blue-wax 16 year old A. H. Hirsch. Michters had always been my favorite whiskey, so when they went out of business I spent years yearning to taste it again. I had always thought that if I ever again had the chance I would buy a case or two. Finally I learned that it was being bottled again under the Hirsch label. Guess what I did. If anyone has a suggestion on how to legally sell some of my overstock let me know.

It's not just the Federal Government. Take careful note that Straightbourbon.com will not tolerate the sale of liquor on this site; not in public or via the private messaging facility.

[Jazzhead]

I bought a bottle of Hirsch 16 about a year ago for $69 bucks, but haven't opened it yet. I have a couple of Michter's Hex decanters, a pour of which I'm enjoying as I type this. Good whiskey, but not great (the finish lets it down; there's a certain mustiness to it. I wonder if that could be due to the ceramic decanter, it's not a taste I've encountered in glass-bottled whiskey of the same vintage.)

[TNbourbon]

I bought a bottle of Hirsch 16 about a year ago for $69 bucks, but haven't opened it yet. I have a couple of Michter's Hex decanters, a pour of which I'm enjoying as I type this. Good whiskey, but not great (the finish lets it down; there's a certain mustiness to it. I wonder if that could be due to the ceramic decanter, it's not a taste I've encountered in glass-bottled whiskey of the same vintage.)

Vat that Michter's 1:1 with some Hirsch 16. Report back.

[boone]

I thought alcoholic beverages can only be sold by a licensed establishment and question the legality of selling on eBay. If it is legal I am in an interesting position since I have 8 bottles of the 20 year old and 14 bottles of the blue-wax 16 year old A. H. Hirsch. Michters had always been my favorite whiskey, so when they went out of business I spent years yearning to taste it again. I had always thought that if I ever again had the chance I would buy a case or two. Finally I learned that it was being bottled again under the Hirsch label. Guess what I did. If anyone has a suggestion on how to legally sell some of my overstock let me know.

Are you going to sell them to the member's on this forum?

[bobbyc]

Is there someone else who has been a member of StraightBourbon.com for longer than 1 day that knows you Marina Blue? I'm not the only one that this happens to but when someone shows up, doesn't post a proper introduction in an appropriate forum then goes right into maybe conducting business, a few red flags pop up.

[Marina Blue]

Is there someone else who has been a member of StraightBourbon.com for longer than 1 day that knows you Marina Blue? I'm not the only one that this happens to but when someone shows up, doesn't post a proper introduction in an appropriate forum then goes right into maybe conducting business, a few red flags pop up.

I just made a long reply that vanished when I hit the Submit Reply button. Statement then informed me I was no longer logged in. When i hit the back button all my infomation was lost. Is there a procedure I do not understand since I was initially logged in?

[cowdery]

First, go back and read Jim Butler's post again.

Second, you must have a retail liquor sales license to sell liquor. Period. This is both state and federal law.

Third, people are selling liquor on eBay. Is it legal? No! Are they being prosecuted? No! Could that change at any moment? Yes!

As Preiss Imports dribbles out the last of the Hirsch 16, they keep doing so at ever higher prices so as wholesalers and retailers restock, they are raising their prices to reflect their higher costs. Some are raising prices on stock they already have if they think they can get it. Some may not be rebuying because they judge the product to be too rich for them or their customers.

Rather than trying to get in on the back end of this phenomenon, get in on the next one by buying all of the Pappy Van Winkle (any expression) you can find. Yes, it's already high, but it's going to go higher.

Also potentially collectible is any bottle of Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage prior to the current, 1997 edition. Their rarity is because they were made at Heaven Hill's Bardstown distillery that was destroyed by fire in 1996. Yes, there are other Heaven Hill bottlings that still contain whiskey from that plant -- both of the Elijah Craig expressions, for example -- but the dating of EWSBV lets you be sure what you are getting. Plus, the EWSBV has been Heaven Hill's showcase for its best bourbon, so you're getting something that is not only potentially collectible but also good to drink.