Baker's Pure Rye Whiskey (1 BT)

Baker's Pure Rye Whiskey

Front label reads:

DISTILLED ENTIRELY FROM RYE, 1863.

BOTTLED IN, 1872.

Believed circa 9 years old, no size or strength stated, glass bottle embossed 'Walters & Co., Baltimore', ullage: bottom shoulder, label soiled, worn and partially missing, driven cork beneath tax strip

William T. Walters was a prominent grain and liquor merchant in mid-19th century Maryland (and, late in life, an avid art collector whose holdings formed the basis of the Baltimore museum that now bears his name). Like many liquor merchants at the time, he bought whiskey from distillers, then sold them under his own labels – Baker’s Pure Rye being among his best known. A bottle of Baker’s distilled in 1847 holds the record as the oldest bottled whiskey in the world; this bottle, believed to be only slightly younger, states it was distilled in 1863 and bottled in 1872, which would make it circa 9 years old.

Provenance

The bottle was consigned from the cellar of a family in New York and came into their possession some time before 1968.

This bottle was likely purchased from the estate of of Henry Walters (Son of William T. Walters). After Henry’s death in 1943 there was a prestigious sale of his liquor & wine cellar at the Ritz in NYC. The sale catalogue mentions the 1863 Baker's Pure Rye on page 48 stating:

'W3. (Lot 4)

BAKER'S PURE RYE WHISKEY 1863

Label Reads "Distilled Entirely from Rye 1863; Bottled 1872"

"Walters & Co., Baltimore" blown in each in each bottle. Bottles carefully packed in sawdust in cedar cases apparently at the Distillery. All in excellent condition.

Purchased June, 1912 from Broderick, McRae & Co.

About 246 bottles in units of three. Sale restricted to six bottles a customer'

With thanks to Adam Herz - Vintage Whiskey Expert

1 bt (nop)

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