1978 Old Fitz question

[OscarV]

I have a 1978 bottled, of "Old Fitz 101"

The label says it was Distilled, aged and bottled by Old Fitzgerald Distillery Louisville, KY.

The bottle is square, wide and slim, decanter style with square glass handle cork/stopper.

10 years old, 101 proof.

My question is, was this made by Stitzel-Weller?

Thanks,

Oscar

[ratcheer]

Most likely.

Tim

[Sijan]

almost certainly, no?

[BourbonJoe]

It would certainly be Stitzel-Weller whiskey.

Joe :usflag:

[jsgorman]

Not only is that SW -- that's effectively a 1970s version of Extra Very Old Fitzgerald.

That's a great bottle you have. How's your fill level?

[Virus_Of_Life]

I am pretty sure that is the same bottle I saw 3 of in a liquor store in Santa Ana, that the owner wouldn't sell me. I've gone on in other threads enough about that, but yes that would be a fine bottle of bourbon indeed.

[OscarV]

Not only is that SW -- that's effectively a 1970s version of Extra Very Old Fitzgerald.

That's a great bottle you have. How's your fill level?

I assume you mean the bottle of Old Fitz?

It is filled up into the neck, a short neck at that.

Sealed really good, I am sure it is air tight.

Looks like I got lucky on one.

[gothbat]

Is this the bottle that you are talking about? It sounds like it but you seem certain yours is from 1978 (no date anywhere on my bottle or tag) and you call it "Old Fitz" (Just thinking that maybe it actually said that on the bottle since you put it in quotes like that.). Anyway, I was just curious as to how you know (or why you think) the bottle is from 1978; I've had this one for a little while and this is the first mention I've seen of it here or anywhere else.

[jsgorman]

I have the same bottle, 10 Year Old Old Fitzgerald from the SW facility.

[OscarV]

Yes, that is the bottle, but the neck label and the label hanging by the string is different.

They are gold with green lettering. The hanging label is printed like this,...

OLD

FITZ

101 Proof

It does state on the box that it is Louisville DSP KY 16.

And that it is a "750 ml (25.4 fl. oz)"

When did they start using metric bottles?

I got it, along with a 1970 or '72 bottle of Very Old Barton, 8yo, 86proof,

in a very nice glass decantner, that looks like it was sealed with white candle wax.

I bought it at an estate-sale, and the gentleman said that the VOB was '70 or '72 and the OF was bottled -OR- bought in 1978. I don't recall.

I got them around March 2006.

[cowdery]

The metric system for wine and spirits bottles was adopted in 1979.

One characteristic of the decanter era--the 70s and 80s--was that distilleries did a lot of them, but they would also do "new" ones based very closely on previous ones to keep using the same basic bottle shape, for example. I have several examples of the exact same bottle but with different imprints.

[wku88]

Whaddaya want for the VOB? I've been asking around this board for a long time for a bottle of the 8/86.....

[gothbat]

Yes, that is the bottle, but the neck label and the label hanging by the string is different.

They are gold with green lettering. The hanging label is printed like this,...

OLD

FITZ

101 Proof

It does state on the box that it is Louisville DSP KY 16.

And that it is a "750 ml (25.4 fl. oz)"

I'm glad I asked rather than assume it was the same one. Aside from the color and name difference mine doesn't say DSP-KY-16 anywhere on it either but I also bought it as just a bottle, no box. I don't know why I wonder about the details on bottles like these, knowing them just makes them harder for me to open. Thanks for the info!

[OscarV]

Whaddaya want for the VOB? I've been asking around this board for a long time for a bottle of the 8/86.....

I'm sorry, I don't want to part with it.

[TNbourbon]

...I don't know why I wonder about the details on bottles like these, knowing them just makes them harder for me to open...

I thought like that for a brief period when I started finding 'goodies'. Then some members here administered an intervention (they call it "Gazebo"), and I came to realize the only way to fully appreciate bourbon -- which is made as a potable -- is to drink it. No matter how pretty the bottle is, or the color of the bourbon inside the bottle, nor how meaningful are the names on the label, it may as well be a floral bouquet or a wall tapestry if all you're going to do is look at it!

[NorCalBoozer]

I thought like that for a brief period when I started finding 'goodies'. Then some members here administered an intervention (they call it "Gazebo"), and I came to realize the only way to fully appreciate bourbon -- which is made as a potable -- is to drink it. No matter how pretty the bottle is, or the color of the bourbon inside the bottle, nor how meaningful are the names on the label, it may as well be a floral bouquet or a wall tapestry if all you're going to do is look at it!

well said Tim. the people who made it, made it to be drank! :drinking: :drinking: :drinking:

[gothbat]

Yeah, I hear ya. Fortunately the side of me that likes to admire the bottles on the shelf cannot win over the side that will feel like a fool if I never actually opened and tried the bottle! I'm not in any hurry though...

[OscarV]

yeah that's me to gothbat,

The bottles I have that are "on display" will be drank by me, and in the mean time I do not lack of some good bourbon to drink.

I told my daughter once that when I die you will be suprised at the financial wind-fall that you will inherit,... but there won't be a drop of bourbon to drink.