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113 yrs old!! 1898 Stewart Distilling Pure Rye(full bottle)

Unread postPosted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:29 am
by rayvins
Recently aquired this bottle. In my opinion it is in immaculate condition. It is full to the bottom of the neck. Laid it on its side for over 2 hours and no leakage.
I wrapped it in plastic to protect label. I own a liquor store in NJ and bought this off a customer. ENJOY!!!!

Re: 113 yrs old!! 1898 Stewart Distilling Pure Rye(full bottle)

Unread postPosted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 11:26 pm
by rayvins
What do I do with something this old? Sell? Drink?
Whiskey inside is clear and there is hardly no settlement.

Re: 113 yrs old!! 1898 Stewart Distilling Pure Rye(full bottle)

Unread postPosted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 12:36 am
by Bourbon Joe
You could sell it or drink it, your pleasere, but NEVER NEVER lay a bottle of whiskey on its side. Old corks can taint quickly. Now that we know that it laid on its side you might as well drink it. It could be very good.
Joe

Re: 113 yrs old!! 1898 Stewart Distilling Pure Rye(full bottle)

Unread postPosted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 9:56 am
by rayvins
[quote="Bourbon Joe"}but NEVER NEVER lay a bottle of whiskey on its side. Old corks can taint quickly[/quote]

Being in the business for 20 years, this is something new to me. I have never heard of old corks tainting any product. Unless your are referring to "Cork Taint" , a naturally occuring fungu in cork. Which can effect anyrandom bottle of wine or spirits. Which I have seen and smelled plenty. This fungus can not be controlled and happens at the time of bottling.

Please inform me of what you are referring to? Thanks Steve

Re: 113 yrs old!! 1898 Stewart Distilling Pure Rye(full bottle)

Unread postPosted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 10:23 am
by Bourbon HQ
Steve, Joe is right. I'm suprised you haven't learned this after being in the business for 20 years.

Re: 113 yrs old!! 1898 Stewart Distilling Pure Rye(full bottle)

Unread postPosted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 10:39 am
by bourbonv
Spirits are different from wine in that the high alcohol will dissolve the cork with contact, giving the product a "corky" flavor, but not neccessarily "cork taint" which is as you describe. It is best to keep spirits standing on the shelf and not on their side. With that said, I doubt if 2 hours on its side ruined the whiskey, but you would not want to take the chance and leave it there for extended periods of time.

I would open that bottle and taste it because I would want to know what it tastes like. If you wanted to sell it you could probably find a buyer, but then you will always ask yourself "I wonder what that rye whiskey tastes like?" Save yourself the anguish and open that bottle up and then let us know what your opinion of the whiskey is.

Re: 113 yrs old!! 1898 Stewart Distilling Pure Rye(full bottle)

Unread postPosted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 11:26 am
by rayvins
Thanks Guys, the best part of this business is that you never stop learning. I never knew that the higher alcohol content would effect a cork that way.

This is a bottle that I am extreme excited to have in my possession. I have a piece of American history, that directly relates to my everyday life. I even have the story of where it came from in the early 1900’s.

It came from wine cellar of Lynnewood Hall, a 110-room Georgian-style mansion in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, which was owned by the Widener Family(Widener University). The customer has had about 3 cases of stuff in his possession for about 50yrs. It came from his uncle who worked for the Widener family during the early 1900’s.

The customer has more stuff, from the estate, that he is willing to part with. Hopefully I will be able to acquire more bottles. I will post more pictures if anything is of this uniqueness and rarity.

Thanks Steve