It’s the end of the week, and today is a very special “Sipping on History” edition of Your Bourbon Journey! We are cracking open and reviewing two incredibly rare vintage bottles of Old Crow Bourbon sourced from Unicorn Auctions. If you love dusty bourbon, rare whiskey history, and the legendary National Distillers profile, this vintage showdown is for you!
First, we dive into a pristine 1995 Old Crow Japanese Export (80 Proof). This transitional time capsule features a unique “distilled vs. bottled” loophole—distilled by W.A. Gaines at the historic DSP-KY-25 plant in Frankfort right before it was shuttered, and later bottled by Jim Beam at Clermont (DSP-KY-14). Thanks to immaculate storage by the Mercian Corporation in Japan, this bottle boasts an unbelievable fill level and a shocking nutmeg and lemon zest flavor journey.
Next, we break the 50-year-old state tax stamps on the ultimate “tuckaway fifth”—the c. 1974-1975 Old Crow “The Traveler” (86 Proof). This flat, briefcase-friendly bottle is 100% pure, unfiltered National Distillers juice from the golden era of the Frankfort plant. This specific bottle has a mind-blowing history, literally circumnavigating the globe from Kentucky to Italy, over to a Japanese private collection, through Chicago, and finally into our glasses. Wait until you hear our tasting notes—we discovered complex milk chocolate, dark cocoa powder, and allspice flavors we have NEVER found in a modern bottle.
We also share stories from our recent trip to the historic Glenns Creek Distilling property (the original home of Old Crow) for their 4th of July party with David Meier, and explain how a piece of vintage boiler coal ties this whole legendary history together!
Have you ever tried a vintage dusty bourbon? Let us know in the comments below!
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The Transitional Japanese Export: Old Crow Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Japanese Export)
- Classification: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Distillery: Distilled at Old Crow Distillery (Frankfort, KY — DSP-KY-25); Bottled at Jim Beam Distillery (Clermont, KY — DSP-KY-14)
- Mash Bill: Historic National Distillers Mash Bill (Estimated around 72% Corn, 13% Rye, 15% Malted Barley)
- Age: NAS (Not Stated, but law requires a minimum of 4 years; vintage stocks indicate it likely carries significantly more age)
- Proof: 80 Proof (40% ABV)
- SRP: Original export pricing varied $30-45 historical estimate)
- Released: 1995 (Based on the “95” glass manufacturer stamp on the base)
- Other: Imported to Japan by Mercian Corporation; features dual English and Japanese rear labels.
- Purchased: June 2026 for $228 (including fees and tax) at Unicorn Auctions
The Globetrotting Traveler: Old Crow “The Traveler” Fifth
- Classification: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Company: National Distillers Products Co.
- Distillery: Distilled and Bottled by The Old Crow Distillery Company (Frankfort, KY — DSP-KY-25)
- Mash Bill: Historic National Distillers Mash Bill (Estimated around 72% Corn, 13% Rye, 15% Malted Barley)
- Age: NAS (Typically aged 4 to 6 years during this golden era)
- Proof: 86 Proof (43% ABV)
- SRP: ~$5.00–$7.00 (Historical 1970s retail price)
- Released: c. 1974–1975 (Dating verified by the transitional “4/5 Quart • 0.757 Litro” dual metric labeling)
- Other: Double-export provenance markings; features original Italian import stamps (Ditta Sposetti-Darsena-Genova), a Japanese over-sticker, and a modern US private collection import strip.
- Purchased: June 2026 for $475 (including fees and tax) at Unicorn Auctions
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NOTE: The spirits in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.
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