Jack Daniel's 1904 Gold Medal

[brian12069]

I found this bottle of Jack Daniel's Yesterday in a store that I rarely stop in to. Jack Daniel's 1904 St. Louis World's Fair Gold Medal. It was marked $65.00 and the owner said he would take less if I wanted it. I ended up getting it for $35.00!!! Anyway, does anyone know if this is rare? I believe this is the first bottle in the Gold Medal series but I was wondering about it's value. I looked on ebay but none have been sold and now I am afraid to open it. Anyone have any idea of it's value?

[TNbourbon]

I found this bottle of Jack Daniel's Yesterday in a store that I rarely stop in to. Jack Daniel's 1904 St. Louis World's Fair Gold Medal. It was marked $65.00 and the owner said he would take less if I wanted it. I ended up getting it for $35.00!!! Anyway, does anyone know if this is rare? I believe this is the first bottle in the Gold Medal series but I was wondering about it's value. I looked on ebay but none have been sold and now I am afraid to open it. Anyone have any idea of it's value?

They are not particularly rare -- I can find them here and there still on store shelves in Middle Tennessee. And while there may not be any on eBay NOW, I'm sure I've seen them pretty regularly there.

Jack Daniel's knows it has a large collector base, and so issues these things in large enough quantity to sell them in large quantity. The fact that they sell pretty ordinary, young-ish whiskey at a premium (for what it is) price, and sell more of it than anybody else, vouches for the effectiveness of their marketing.

[Gillman]

Yes but the contents are probably on a par with the Single Barrel - which is good whiskey.

Gary

[TNbourbon]

Yes but the contents are probably on a par with the Single Barrel - which is good whiskey.

Gary

I doubt it, Gary. It's my understanding that they put standard-issue Jack Daniel's in these things, though they may vary the proof. As I noted above, they make them in large quantities -- large enough to 'batch' a group of barrels to fill them. There can be as many a half-dozen different versions of these decanters on the shelves at a time -- the decanters are the thing for JD, not the whiskey. They're intended for sale to Jack Daniel's collectors who may or may not ever drink the contents.

[Gillman]

We need to do a side by side but I doubt this is standard Jack, Tim.

Gary

[TNbourbon]

We need to do a side by side but I doubt this is standard Jack, Tim.

Gary

Then the folks at JD don't know what they're talking about:grin: .

[brian12069]

They are not particularly rare -- I can find them here and there still on store shelves in Middle Tennessee. And while there may not be any on eBay NOW, I'm sure I've seen them pretty regularly there.

Jack Daniel's knows it has a large collector base, and so issues these things in large enough quantity to sell them in large quantity. The fact that they sell pretty ordinary, young-ish whiskey at a premium (for what it is) price, and sell more of it than anybody else, vouches for the effectiveness of their marketing.

You can find this one? Are you sure you are not mixing it up with the 1915 Gold Medal bottle which I always see? I believe this is the first in the Gold medal series maybe from 1994 or so? Anyone know?

[Gillman]

The Silver Select is better than and, based on two samples, has its own character compared to Single Barrel.

Yet I am told the only difference is the proof.

Gary

[brian12069]

I would like to try the silver select. I haven't run into a bottle of that yet.

[Joeluka]

I would like to try the silver select. I haven't run into a bottle of that yet.

Its sold Duty-Free. EXPORT ONLY!!!

Brown-Forman must figure that if JD drinkers in the US keep buying all that 80 proof " bananna water", why bother giving them something good to drink from Tenn.

[Hedmans Brorsa]

The Silver Select is better than and, based on two samples, has its own character compared to Single Barrel.

Yet I am told the only difference is the proof.

Gary

I agree completely. Got my first bottle of Silver Select this summer and it is without doubt the most un-JD tasting JD I´ve ever had.

I´m in two minds about it, it has to be said. It´s very good but the unique JD character is not there. Maybe something for Barrel Proof as a Christmas present?

[MikeK]

Jack Daniel's fanatics are funny people, they like to collect decanters and other advertizing items. I know, cause I used to be one of them I recently started digging out some of my stored away JD collectibles. I thought I might sell some off to pay for my current bourbon habit.

Anyway, a number of years back when I drank and collected JD, I recall that the whiskey in the decanters was not all that good. It tasted different than any of their normal offerings, and not in a good way.

[HighTower]

Brian, this particualar bottle was released around 1997-1998. It is the first issue in the Gold medal series. If the bottle and box are in perfect condition, I have seen them go for US$200 on ebay. In Australia I have seen them go as high as AU$600:bigeyes: . If you want to get good money for this bottle, I would suggest waiting until the last bottle is the series (the 1981) is released (supposedly before Christmas) and the collectors will be hunting again, with deep pockets.:grin:

And the whiskey in the bottle is 90 proof Jack, and it's a damn load better than the 80 proof crap theyre passing out now.

Scott

[brian12069]

...um...I may have to sell it for that...

[HighTower]

Brian, the 1981 bottle has been released, I believe it's been out for about 2 weeks in TN. Needless to say, still waiting for it in Australia :grin:

If you're going to sell, I say do it now!

Once they make their way over here, I will buy one and then have a whole spare set to sell....hopefully that will buy me a Pappy 23 :grin: and another 2006 Antique collection, and some distiller's masterpiece (now I'm just getting greedy:lol: )

Scott

[HighTower]

I just got a 1904 Centennial replica bottle (1.75L) on ebay for a steal, $92.

Ive never seen one go for under $120, especially in the last 6 months!

Scott

[cowdery]

I learned this week, from the highest authorities at Jack Daniel's, that all Jack Daniel's special bottlings or commemorative bottlings, regardless of the bottle shape or style, contain standard issue Jack Daniel's No. 7 Black Label. The only exception is Silver Selection (maybe it's called Silver Select, I forget), which is sold in Duty Free. That is a variation of Single Barrel.

[TNbourbon]

You can find this one? Are you sure you are not mixing it up with the 1915 Gold Medal bottle which I always see? I believe this is the first in the Gold medal series maybe from 1994 or so? Anyone know?

I was in a store tonight (about 15 miles for the JD distillery -- about equidistant between JD and Geo. Dickel, in fact) that has multiples (in some cases, as in the 1915, dozens) of the following bottlings, which I believe include all of the to-date anniversary years. I jotted down the prices:

• 1904 -- $299.99
  
• 1905 -- $299.99
  
• 1913 -- $299.99
  
• 1914 -- $199.99
  
• 1915 -- $199.99
  
• 1954 -- $35.99
  
• 1981 -- $35.99
  
• 1996 Tennessee Bicentennial -- $299.99
  
• Barrelhouse 1 -- $499.99
  

So, yes, $35 was an exceptional price for the '04.

If anyone just has to have one of these bottlings, PM me and I'll send you store-contact info. Be aware, however, that liquor cannot be legally shipped from Tennessee, so no storeowner who values his license is going to attempt it.

[HighTower]

I learned this week, from the highest authorities at Jack Daniel's, that all Jack Daniel's special bottlings or commemorative bottlings, regardless of the bottle shape or style, contain standard issue Jack Daniel's No. 7 Black Label. The only exception is Silver Selection (maybe it's called Silver Select, I forget), which is sold in Duty Free. That is a variation of Single Barrel.

It may well only be Old No 7 Chuck, but the commemorative bottles are bottled at 90 proof, opposed to the now 80 proof black label bottles.

Scott

[cowdery]

Yes, I should have mentioned that. Proof is the only variable.