With over 4,200 lots, here’s a closer look at the standout bottles and category highlights from our July Spirits Auction.

Headline Bottles

We’ve got several remarkable bottles in this auction, including a standout lineup of vintage large-format bottles:

Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon (1971, 1 Gallon) | est. $6,000-$8,000

Extremely clean full gallon of Old Fitzgerald 6 Year Bottled-in-Bond, distilled Fall 1965 and bottled Fall 1971 at Stitzel-Weller. These large formats haven’t been seen since 1980, when the industry shifted to metric—but as of 2025, they’re legal to produce once again for the first time in 25 years.

Old Grand-Dad '86 Proof' Bourbon (1971, 1 Gallon, Cradle) | est. $1,500-$2,000

Vintage “71” label Old Grand-Dad from National Distillers, long prized for its rich profile and growing cult following. Once an overlooked dusty, it's now one of the most sought-after expressions of the brand. The portrait on the label is Basil Hayden Sr.—grandfather of the brand’s creator and namesake of Beam’s later tribute bourbon.

A.H. Hirsch 16 Year 'Reserve' Bourbon (Blue Wax) | est. $4,000-$5,000

Released as the first in a line of 16-year-olds, the blue wax Hirsch is the most coveted of the series. Distilled in 1974 at Pennco from a 400-barrel batch, it’s a true piece of bourbon history—immortalized in Chuck Cowdery’s The Best Bourbon You’ll Never Taste.

Bourbon Highlights

Very Old Fitzgerald 

A trio of historic Stitzel-Weller gems, all distilled under Pappy’s leadership:

• Very Very Old Fitzgerald 12 Year, barreled in 1958 and bottled in 1970 by his son Julian II, contains 100% Stitzel-Weller distillate.
• Very Xtra Old Fitzgerald 10 Year, barreled in 1952 and bottled in 1962, is a rare pre-1960s bonded release from the distillery’s peak era.
• Very Old Fitzgerald 8 Year, a 1953 distillate bottled in 1961, is a classic example of the premium line Pappy championed in his final decade.

Michter’s

 Two ultra-rare releases showcasing the brand’s mastery of aged whiskey:

• Celebration Sour Mash (2016), Michter’s second release following the 2013 debut, was bottled at 116.8 proof and limited to just 256 bottles ($5,000 MSRP). Crafted by Willie Pratt from six barrels of Kentucky rye and bourbon aged 10–30+ years.
• 25 Year Bourbon, one of Michter’s oldest and most coveted expressions, with sourcing long debated—early batches rumored to be Stitzel-Weller, more recent likely Brown-Forman.

Blanton’s

A rare anniversary release celebrating one of bourbon’s most iconic labels:

• 40th Anniversary Single Barrel. Bottled in November 2024 at barrel strength, this marks the first appearance of this commemorative release. It features special packaging and an acrylic display case, with distribution limited to just a few export markets to date.

Rye Highlights

Woodwork Distillery 

A pair of creative, cask-finished ryes born from a unique collaboration with LeNell:

• 'Darker Side of the Moon' and 'Lighter Side of the Moon' are 6-year MGP ryes, each finished in the same legendary barrel that once held LeNell’s 15yr Willett bourbon, then an imperial stout, and finally this rye—creating a rare third-use cask profile.

Willett

A notable lineup of single barrel ryes, including one of the earliest and most talked-about private selections:

• 22 Year Rye ‘Doug’s Green Ink’, the very first private barrel rye ever bottled by Willett, was distilled in 1984 and nicknamed for the green pen used to label it. Part of the famed “epic rye” series, it shares its origin with Doug’s ‘Black Ink’ and other legendary barrels like Red Hook and Velvet Glove.
• Also featured: 10 Year ‘Skurnik 2024, 9 Year, and 5 Year Willett Family Estate ryes—highlighting the distillery’s rare age-stated single barrel program.

Van Winkle 

Multiple lots of the only rye ever produced under the Van Winkle name:

• 13 Year Family Reserve Rye is the sole rye in the Van Winkle lineup. Released annually in limited quantities, it's consistently in high demand among collectors.

Japanese Highlights

Hakushu 

Two age-stated single malts from Suntory’s forest distillery in the Japanese Alps:

• 25 Year Single Malt, one of the distillery’s rarest and most prestigious releases, first introduced in the mid-2000s and bottled in limited quantities each year.
• 18 Year Peated Single Malt, launched in 2023 as part of Suntory’s 100th anniversary, marked the first Hakushu release to highlight peated malt at this age statement.
  

Rare Finds and Good Values

Old Grand-Dad '86 Proof' Bourbon (1/2 Gallon) | est. $900-$1,000

While current Old Grand-Dad is produced by Beam, earlier National Distillers-era releases like this one are widely regarded as the most collectible and sought-after. Once considered an overlooked dusty, vintage OGD has steadily gained recognition among both collectors and drinkers.

W.L. Weller 12 Year Bourbon (2012, Embossed Wheat, 1 Liter) | est. $400-$500

The term “Embossed Wheat” refers to early W.L. Weller 12 Year bottles that featured embossed wheat stalks molded directly into the glass. These bottles emerged after the transition from paper labels and were eventually phased out in favor of smooth glass designs. Collectors often associate these embossed versions with higher quality or more desirable whiskey, possibly due to their proximity to the Stitzel-Weller era, renowned for its wheated bourbons.

Smooth Ambler 11 Year 'Old Scout' Bourbon 'Prav Saraff' Private Barrel Selection | est. $350-$450

Prav Saraff has earned widespread recognition in the whiskey world for his sharp palate and precise barrel selection skills. He serves as the Director of Operations at 1 West Dupont Circle Wines and Liquors, a trusted family-run establishment in Washington, D.C. that has been in business since 1995. Over the years, he has built a strong reputation for sourcing and curating exceptional, high-quality spirits.