(Updated) Cool Prohibition Anniversary Find (91 year old Whiskey)

[bergie]

(Update: My dad told me he got this bottle from an old hotel in Ely, Nevada back in the 1950s. A friend's uncle had purchased the hotel.)
Prohibition was enacted January 16, 1919 and officially started one year later, Jan 16, 1920. I didn't know those dates until I found this cool old bottle of unopened Whiskey at my folks' house and did some research. I took a look at the label and realized it was 91st anniversary. The bottle has not been opened, rather what appears to be thick wax seal cracked slightly such that much of it has evaporated over the years. If I can get a story on how they aquired the bottle, I will post more details. I know, I know, you will be prodding me to take a drink. Not sure if that's a wise idea...(if hard to see, label says "manufactured prior to January 17, 1920" and "for medicinal purposes only")

 

[augusthog]

Re: Cool Prohibition Anniversary Find

You wont see many unopened ones of those!

 

[spitfire55]

Re: Cool Prohibition Anniversary Find (91 year old Whiskey)

 

[Coin Stalker]

Re: Cool Prohibition Anniversary Find (91 year old Whiskey)

Very nice... You should try it you never know JK it probable would not be wise to try it

 

[crazyjarhead]

Re: Cool Prohibition Anniversary Find (91 year old Whiskey)

Nice find. I bet that stuff is really aged Definitely a collector bottle

 

[allen]

Re: Cool Prohibition Anniversary Find (91 year old Whiskey)

All it can do is kill you.

 

[staydetuned]

Re: Cool Prohibition Anniversary Find (91 year old Whiskey)

Wow, that's really cool... might taste a little funky with all the evaporation... That label is the most interesting part though. Awesome!

 

[Bavaria Mike]

Re: Cool Prohibition Anniversary Find (91 year old Whiskey)

That's a cool find! I wouldn't open it or take a drink of it as the bottle could also be made with lead, alcohol breaks down lead. It's worth more and more interesting unopened. HH, Mike

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Re: Cool Prohibition Anniversary Find (91 year old Whiskey)

That is cool!

 

[darkwing_66]

Re: Cool Prohibition Anniversary Find (91 year old Whiskey)

try it, i had a friend that had one around that age and it was really good and strong

 

[dwatson4]

Re: Cool Prohibition Anniversary Find (91 year old Whiskey)

if its 100% proof and its 1/2 gone then the remainder is probably just nasty water. 100 proof is a 50/50 blend of pure alcohol and distilled water. Pure alcohol is 200 proof or 100%. It wasn't possible to obtain pure alcohol in a distillation process in those days. High 90% range. Personally I have achieved 192 proof or 96%. Thats pretty good. alcohol evaporates at 160 Degrees Fahrenheit, water at 210. As it is heated steam will start to show at lower temps. If it was stored up in the attic during the summer its possible that it saw temps of 120 or better. The pressure would have cracked the seal and let the alcohol out. If it had been kept in the cellar it would probably still be full but no better than the day it was bottled. The aging process stops as soon as it leaves the wooden keg. Whiskey cannot age in a bottle, it ages in wood cask. Once its in glass its as good as its gonna get.

 

[Roland58]

Re: Cool Prohibition Anniversary Find (91 year old Whiskey)

dwatson, Man, you know your liquor! In about 1995 I opened a bottle of Old Grandad from the 1940's (probably war years) and it was VERY good, maybe, the best I have ever had.

 

[pepperj]

Re: Cool Prohibition Anniversary Find (91 year old Whiskey)

if its 100% proof and its 1/2 gone then the remainder is probably just nasty water. 100 proof is a 50/50 blend of pure alcohol and distilled water. Pure alcohol is 200 proof or 100%. It wasn't possible to obtain pure alcohol in a distillation process in those days. High 90% range. Personally I have achieved 192 proof or 96%. Thats pretty good. alcohol evaporates at 160 Degrees Fahrenheit, water at 210. As it is heated steam will start to show at lower temps. If it was stored up in the attic during the summer its possible that it saw temps of 120 or better. The pressure would have cracked the seal and let the alcohol out. If it had been kept in the cellar it would probably still be full but no better than the day it was bottled. The aging process stops as soon as it leaves the wooden keg. Whiskey cannot age in a bottle, it ages in wood cask. Once its in glass its as good as its gonna get.

Interesting read about whiskey and alcohol in general.

Cool find with the 91 years old bottle, it'll display really well.

 

[Tnmountains]

This is a good post. I learned a lot. I have a 1/2 gallon un opened canadian whisky from the 60's. But yours sir is a historic find.
Cheers!

 

[Pontil]

That is a great find as labeled whiskeys from that era are highly sought after by collectors.