The First Dusty

[Gillman]

Using the search function, I checked who was the first poster to use the term "dusty bottle". If I checked it right, the honors go to long-time SB-er Texascarl, who still contributes here (hi Carl).

Here is part of his statement:

"David Nicholson 1843 BIB

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I've seen several favorable mentions of this bourbon in the archives, so when I spotted a few dusty old bottles on a bottom shelf recently, I grabbed one.

I'm going back to grab the rest. This is some good old whusk. (my highest rating)"

This was made in June, 2002, some months before I joined the board. Carl went on to note that David Nicholson had always been made with 7 years old 100 proof Old Fitzgerald.

Some years before this use of the term, there were references to "dusty corner" (Chuck said this about Fairfield McKenna) and "dusty shelf" (a poster was speaking in reference to Royal 1889, a brand bottled (it was determined with BJ's help) by HH some years before that. In the discussion about 1889, a poster had one acquired in an insurance salvage auction in the 1940's and was inquiring about value. He had posted a picture, so the Internet clearly was advanced even some 9 years ago.

As far as I can tell, that bottle, although not so dubbed, was the first truly dusty bottle discussed on SB.

The distillery was Meadowvale, in Jefferson County which is Louisville area. That distillery became known as Boone, and it closed some years before 1977 but continued bottling bourbon until that date. The first Pappy 23 and I think 20 was a rye-recipe whiskey from Boone, probably the 1889 brand.

Although that bottle might have been the first true dusty, there were discussions early on about bottles no longer made, e.g., Chuck noted about 9 years ago that he always liked the pre-Beam Old Taylor and occasionally he could still find some. So there was always discussion of prized gems from an earlier time but the above firsts (unless my research was off - if so happy to be corrected) seemed notable and worth mentioning here. There is a ton of great stuff in the SB archive including many posts from the Boss when he used to post taste notes and impressions. In one very early post he nails the (then) palate of EC 12, noting its "camphor" qualities. Still rivers run deep!

Gary

[spun_cookie]

Texascarl... thank you for teh great term... so does that make you

"The Father of the Dusty"

[jinenjo]

Great topic, Gary! Thanks goes out to TexasCarl, Chuck, the Boss.

True pioneers of the dusty whusk (never heard that term until now--I like!).

[SBOmarc]

I am of the belief that a monument needs to be built to commemorate such an expression.

Anyone suggestions on location and design are welcomed.

[Gillman]

By the way I didn't read whusk as a typo. In England and parts of Scotland, "whusky" is a variant pronunciation of whisky. I assumed the same thing took root in parts of the States, via the Mayflower (once again). Carl can tell us!

Gary

[jeff]

Cool. I would have guessed it was Doug with his "Dusty Corners" threads.

[Gillman]

It was indeed Doug, and Roger, who first used the term dusty extensively in terms of its latter-day use. This "modern" use encompasses searching out old bottles and methodically tasting and reporting on them. And all credit to them for this, I was an early applauder if you look back! I was referring in this thread only to the original use of the term on the board. But thanks for pointing this out, a salutary point , Jeff.

Gary

[OscarV]

Some years before this use of the term, there were references to "dusty corner" (Chuck said this about Fairfield McKenna) and "dusty shelf" (a poster was speaking in reference to Royal 1889, a brand bottled (it was determined with BJ's help) by HH some years before that. In the discussion about 1889, a poster had one acquired in an insurance salvage auction in the 1940's and was inquiring about value. He had posted a picture, so the Internet clearly was advanced even some 9 years ago.

Gary, thanks for the info you dug up on "dusties".

In the above quote I get lost because your use of parenthsies i.e. "(" , is missing a closing one so I am not sure if I have this correct.

Hence my question, is Old 1889 Royal a HH product or not?

I picked one up about a year and a half ago in TN it is aged 12 years.

[barturtle]

Gary, thanks for the info you dug up on "dusties".

In the above quote I get lost because your use of parenthsies i.e. "(" , is missing a closing one so I am not sure if I have this correct.

Hence my question, is Old 1889 Royal a HH product or not?

I picked one up about a year and a half ago in TN it is aged 12 years.

Old 1889 Royal is indeed still a HH product, though one not seen often from what I can tell.

[Gillman]

I agree - i.e., I meant to state the brand today is owned by HH and was at the time of the earlier, SB exchanges I was referring to, but at 12 years old that would be an unusually advanced age for a HH cat and dog.

Either the bottle is quite old but was still issued after HH bought the brand, or the bottle pre-dates the sale of the brand (therefore Boone/Meadowvale issue). I gather, Oscar, you don't have it any longer, because the bottle labelling should indicate the situation.

Gary

[OscarV]

I still have the bottle Gary, I havn't opened it yet.

It only states that it was Bottled by the Old 1889 Distillery Co in Bardstown.

No mention of the who distilled or barreled it.

[barturtle]

I mentioned this bottling and posted a picture back in this thread. I took the bottle to the gazebo last year, but didn't keep track of where the bottle got off to...

[OscarV]

yep, that's the one I got.

I did notice today that it has a little "mud" in the bottom, I shook it up and it dissolved back into the whiskey.

Not very interested in trying it.

[Gillman]

Isn't that interesting? I'd never have thought HH would put out a 12 years old version of a label like this. I wonder if it still does. I missed that at Gazebo, I'd like to have tried it. I guess too you never know about such stuff. Maybe it was even Boone whiskey that had been purchased in barrrels with the label buy and was much older than 12 years. Hey Oscar if you are coming to KBF this year, and since you seem disinclined to try it, might be a good fodder for the Gazebo table!

Gary