With over 4,000 lots, here’s a closer look at the standout bottles and category highlights from our July No Reserves I Auction.

Headline Bottles

We’ve got several remarkable bottles in this auction, including a historic lineup of A.H. Hirsch:

A.H. Hirsch 17 Year 'Reserve' Bourbon (Gold Wax) | est. $12,500-$15,000

Although many variants were released under the Hirsch label—15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20-year-olds—the 17-Year Gold Wax is one of the rarest, most sought-after versions. Distilled in 1974 at Pennco using copper pot stills, the batch is believed to have yielded just 400 barrels—making each release a cornerstone of collectible bourbon. Bourbon historian Chuck Cowdery chronicled the whiskey’s unlikely rise in his book The Best Bourbon You’ll Never Taste.

A.H. Hirsch 16 Year 'Reserve' Bourbon (Blue Wax) | est. $4,000-$6,000

The first release in the 16-year-old lineup, the Blue Wax quickly became the most coveted expression in the Hirsch series. Distilled in 1974 at Pennco and drawn from the same legendary 400-barrel batch, it’s a foundational bottle in any serious bourbon collection. Cowdery would later describe this bottling as a defining example of pre-craft era excellence.

A.H. Hirsch 16 Year 'Reserve' Bourbon (Humidor Edition) | est. $2,500-$3,500

The final bottling from the original Hirsch distillate, this 2009 release was presented in hand-blown glass and paired with a custom humidor case. Just 1,000 were produced. Tanked from the original 1974 batch and set aside for over three decades, it serves as the closing chapter in a bourbon saga that’s been studied, archived, and admired by collectors and writers alike.

Bourbon Highlights

Old Fitzgerald

A showcase of premium Stitzel-Weller Old Fitzgerald from the 1960s and 1970s—distilled under the watch of Pappy Van Winkle and bottled by his son, Julian II:

• Very Xtra Old Fitzgerald 10 Year (1968, 1969): Distilled in 1958 and 1959 under Pappy’s leadership and bottled posthumously, these “Xtra Old” labels contain 100% Stitzel-Weller bourbon and represent the first legal decade-old bonded releases after the 1958 regulation change.
• Very Very Old Fitzgerald 12 Year (1965, 1972, 1977): Barreled in the early-to-mid 1960s and bottled in the 1970s, these 12-year bonded expressions were part of the most ornate and collectible line Stitzel-Weller ever produced—often released in custom boxes or gift sets.
• Very Old Fitzgerald 8 Year (1963, 1965, 1967, 1971): The flagship bottled-in-bond release from the era, distilled entirely at Stitzel-Weller and typically released in boxed presentation formats. These 8-year-olds were the backbone of the "Very Old" premium line that defined Stitzel-Weller's legacy through the mid-century.

Wild Turkey

Two standout 12 Year bottlings from the legendary “Cheesy Gold Foil” era—widely considered the pinnacle of Wild Turkey’s output:

• Wild Turkey 12 Year Cheesy Gold Foil Bourbon (1988 & 1989): Bottled during the domestic CGF run (1985–1992), these 12-Year expressions are prized for their rich, overaged glut-era bourbon—often considered older than the label suggests. The “88” and “89” glass moldings mark these early, highly collectible years before the label transitioned to the split-label format for export markets.

American Highlights

Dowling

A rare lineup from Dowling, a now-defunct distillery with deep roots in Kentucky bourbon history:

• 18 Year Deluxe (c. 1969): A first appearance at Unicorn, this “69” glass-molded 18-Year is an exceptionally aged outlier from a long-vanished label.
• Bottled-in-Bond (1946, 1962 & 1971): A patriotic “Pre-War” 8-Year from 1946 alongside two 12-Year “Very Rare” releases from the 1960s and ’70s—each a glimpse into Dowling’s fading golden era.

Prohibition Bottlings

Two Prohibition-era whiskeys, bottled under federal license for medicinal use during one of American whiskey’s most tightly regulated periods:

• Old Hardie Bottled-in-Bond Whiskey (1931, 1 Pint): Bottled near the end of Prohibition under medicinal exemption—an uncommon glimpse into government-sanctioned whiskey of the era.
• I.W. Harper Bottled-in-Bond Whiskey (1927, 1 Pint): Issued during the heart of the Volstead Act, complete with federal tax stamp and bottled strictly for medicinal distribution

Rare Finds and Good Values

Eagle Rare Single Barrel Bourbon (2011, Japanese Export, 700 ml) | est. $125-$175

Eagle Rare bourbon, including this 2011 vintage, was initially produced at the Old Prentice Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. This distillery was currently known as Four Roses. Japanese Export.

Rare Character 8 Year 'Single Barrel Series TKO' Rye 'Raley's' Private Barrel Selection (2024) | est. $200-$300

Rare Character's TKO barrels refer to their single barrel, cask strength rye whiskey expression, often featuring a distinctive pink wax seal. These are sourced from a Tennessee distillery, aged in Kentucky, and utilize a unique mash bill of 70% rye, 25% corn, and 5% malted barley. The TKO series is known for its high proof, often ranging from 125-140.

Old Heaven Hill 8 Year Bourbon (4/5 Quart) | est. $400-$600

Bottled at 86 proof and aged 8 years, this vintage Old Heaven Hill hails from Bardstown during a period when the distillery was known for its long-aged everyday expressions. The 4/5 quart size and “Very Rare Old” branding mark it as a classic from the late 1960s to early 1970s.

Old Premium R.O.B. 14 Year Bourbon (Japanese Export) | est. $175-$275

Produced during bourbon’s export boom in the 1980s–90s, this 14-year-old expression was tailored for the Japanese market, where demand for long-aged American whiskey remained strong. Bottlings like this offered a second life for heritage brands as domestic interest waned.