The Old Fitzgerald Archival Collection (1 Bottle Pint, 1 Bottle 4/5 Quart, 1 Bottle 37.5cl)

The Old Fitzgerald Archival Collection

This special trio of bottles was curated from the personal archives of Max Shapira, Executive Chairman of Heaven Hill Distillery, representing many decades of Bourbon craftsmanship, tracing Old Fitzgerald’s evolution from its pre-Prohibition roots to its modern revival under Heaven Hill’s stewardship.

Proceeds from this lot will be donated to The Isaac W. Bernheim Foundation, benefiting Bernheim Forest and Arboretum. Founded by Bourbon maker Isaac Wolfe Bernheim in 1929, Bernheim is a 16,000-acre protected forest, located just 30 minutes south of Louisville. With a mission of connecting people with nature, Bernheim offers educational programs, 40 miles of hiking trails, renowned art experiences, and beautiful plant collections.

“Each of these bottles is a snapshot of Old Fitzgerald through the ages. They tell the story of a brand that has survived and thrived through every chapter of American whiskey history, of which Heaven Hill is a proud part. I’m honored to now share them in a way that will support a meaningful charitable cause.”

Max Shapira

The Old Fitzgerald Archival Collection comprises:

Old Fitzgerald 17 Year Old Bottled In Bond 100 Proof 1917 (1 Bottle Pint)

Distilled Fall 1917, bottled Fall of 1934, produced by A. Ph. Stitzel, Distillery No. 17, Kentucky, bottled at bonded warehouse No. 17, top of tax strip nicked, Illinois state tax stamp adhered to right shoulder, front label slightly scratched down the middle, includes original carton with top flap almost fully detached

This 100 Proof pre-Prohibition bourbon was distilled by A. PH. Stitzel, later to become part of the legendary Stitzel-Weller Distillery. Distilled in a year when many distilleries were shutting down and shifting production to assist with wartime efforts, this whiskey was likely among the last to have been produced before Prohibition. Aged through some of the nation’s most defining historical moments and bottled shortly after the repeal of Prohibition, this pint embodies the rebirth of America’s Bourbon tradition.

Very Xtra Old Fitzgerald 10 Year Old Bottled In Bond 100 Proof 1955 (1 Bottle 4/5 Quart)

Distilled Spring 1955, bottled Fall 1965 at Stitzel-Weller Distillery expressly for Colorado Electric Co., top of tax strip nicked, front label very slightly peeling from bottom right, neck label slightly stained, includes original presentation case and two Old Fitzgerald shot glasses, presentation case slightly worn and scratched

Bottled expressly for “Colorado Electric Co.” and presented in a striking red box set with two tasting glasses, this expression captures the zenith of the Van Winkle era at Stitzel-Weller. With its wheated mash bill, Bottled-in-Bond marker and decade-long maturation, it epitomizes Julian “Pappy” Van Winkle’s vision for Bourbon perfection.

John E. Fitzgerald Very Selection 20 Year Old 90 Proof 1992 (1 Bottle 37.5cl)

Distilled by Stitzel-Weller DSP-KY-16, Shively, KY, bottled by Heaven Hill DSP-KY-31 Bardstown KY, original wooden presentation case very slightly worn, includes educational booklet, pedestal inside wooden case has detached from base

This bottle is the final link between the brand’s Stitzel-Weller legacy and Heaven Hill’s modern stewardship. When Heaven Hill acquired the Old Fitzgerald brand with its purchase of the Bernheim Distillery, it also purchased 12 barrels of Stitzel-Weller Bourbon. After two decades, the Bourbon from those barrels was moved temporarily to inert tanks to halt its maturation. Bottled at 90 proof to reveal the depth, grace, and complexity of a Bourbon matured to its absolute peak. This is one of just 3,000 bottles made and sold, housed in a hand-crafted wood box, cut with a keyhole to pay homage to Old Fitzgerald’s origins and namesake, treasury agent John E. Fitzgerald.

1 bottle pint, 1 bottle 4/5 quart, 1 bottle 37.5cl (no original packaging)

Please refer to images for levels and conditions

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