Charles Bellows Pure Unblended Rye Whisky (1 BT 25 Am. Ozs.)

Charles Bellows Pure Unblended Rye Whisky

Top Label reads:

Pure Unblended Rye Whisky

OF GREAT AGE

EXACT DATE OF DISTILLATION UNKNOWN

CHARLES BELLOWS, 52 NEW STREET, NEW YORK CITY.

Bottom Label Reads:

This Whisky is guaranteed to be over 25 years of age.

Contents of bottle 25 Am. Ozs.

Charles Bellows, Wine Merchant, 52 New St., N. Y. City.

No strength stated, ullage: mid shoulder, capsule worn and damaged, front labels worn and stained

Based in Manhattan, Charles Bellows was one of the country’s most prominent wine and spirits merchants, at a time when middlemen like him were the dominant means for whiskey to get from the distillery to the customer. In the days before government oversight, they acted as a sort of quality control, and Bellows was known for selling some of the best spirits from the United States and Europe. His first business, at 52 New Street, collapsed in the late 1870s, but he reopened a few years later on 50 Broad Street. This bottle, with the New Street address, would likely have been filled circa late 1800s, with the details on the label suggesting this may have been distilled prior to 1870, making this believed to be some of the oldest American whiskey in existence.

Provenance

This bottle originated from a New York cellar alongside many other old liquors, which was sold as part of an Estate Sale over 40 years ago, and included other Charles Bellows bottles.

1 bt 25 Am. Ozs. (nop)

Please note that all spirits are sold for collection in New York or delivery within New York via specialized carriers. For delivery outside of the United States, please see Important Information for Purchases at Wine and Spirit Sales in the Conditions of Business.