Jameson The "Jubilee" Whiskey

[neady]

I have been given a bottle of John Jameson & Sons Twenty Year Old Whiskey The "Jubilee" Whiskey with Woodford Bourne & Co also mentioned on the label that is at least 30 years old. I have been given it as a prize for a school raffle and was wondering what is the value of this bottle.

Neady

[JohnM]

Yes! I'd say it is quite valuable. You could contact the Celtic Whiskey Shop about it.

It would be useful to post pictures of it if you have any.

Let me know if you're interested in selling it...

[varizoltan]

looks interesting

a friend of mine wanted to give me a jameson, and it said on the lable "roadstone", it was a christmas present for workers some year ago, but he did not found it
bad luck for me

[JohnM]

Neady sent me the pictures to post. I've seen the label for this before, but never a bottle of it.

[JohnM]

It is a lovely bottle and just the kind of thing I'd like to get my hands on, but I'd say it's out of my range.

I don't mean to be laying down a marker or anything with my interest, so hopefully others will pitch in.

John

[DavidH]

Here's a photo of Woodford, Bourne & Co. It doesn't help establish a date, I'm afraid, but it's interesting.

[John]

Sorry JohnM, couldn't resist!
Don't suppose the seller knows exactly what Jubilee was celebrated as marked on the bottle?
Btw, very nice prize to win in a raffle!!!
John.

[jcskinner]

Potstill.de has an image of this label, but no further details.
Clearly a special one-off bottling for the Cork-based bottler. God only knows when, though. Betty the second's silver jubilee was 1977 and golden in 2002, but I doubt it would be commemorating either of those events.
I'm stumped, but clearly it's not recent, and is likely a 20 yo bottling from Bow Street, which would make it a) pretty valuable, and b) of interest to collectors with deep pockets.
I doubt there are many sealed bottles like this still floating about. Nice gift!

[JohnM]

A Cork business/bar/hotel might be interested in this either - if any of them have any money left. The one on Fota Island has some fantastic whiskey displayed.

I don't know if they buy things, but the Midleton Distillery might also be interested.

Anyway, it's a beautiful bottle and a very interesting one too. An excellent prize.

[jcskinner]

I wonder might it be in commemoration of the golden jubilee of the Easter Rising, which was quite a big deal back in 1966?

[DavidH]

Let me see if I understand this right: you were given this as a prize for a school raffle, and the raffle hasn't been held yet?

In which case, can we buy tickets?

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

This could be a seriously old bottle. Can get a picture of the capsule. i.e. top of the bottle.

If it is what I think it is .... this is a 1000Euro plus bottle easily.

I think there may be a few in Bow Street on display too. I have pictures some where just need to dig them out.

My only issue is that this bottle looks too clean and new.

I do not think that any of the Southern Distilleries would of released bottles for either of the current Queens Jubliee.

However I do know they did release a bottle for a certain Jubliee and Bushmills also released a whiskey for the same event.

Are ye ready for this ....

It was QUeen Victoria's Diamond Jubliee.

That was back in 1897

If this is one of those you have a 112 year old bottle.

However caution needs to be taken becasue as I said this really look too clean to be true.

Do you have any further information of where this came from. Can you go back and see who donated because this could be a seriously valuable bottle or it could be a hoax.

This is possibly a seriously exciting find lucky you

[JohnM]

I agree, Adrian, about the price.

I wonder if it was a jubilee of the bottler.

Wouldn't you think if it was a Queen's jubilee, they'd have that on the bottle?

[neady]

Hi,

I have uploaded two photos of the top of the bottle. They are not very clear as the bottle is covered in it's original cellophane. The top is gold not shiny plastic with no writing on it. It was given to me by an aunt who got it as a present for doing a large favour in the late 1960's early 70's from a realtion who owned a bar in Ennis, it has been in a cupboard ever since.

Neady

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Yes I maybe getting over excited but for some reason I think Jubilee used on it's as a description for a celebration is tended to be used as an important anniversary for the Brittish Royals and therefore Jubilee on it's own was enough to describe the event. Also as we were part of the empire back then all Irish Distilleries would of seen the importance of this and some would of released commemeration bottles. Bushmills just released a plain Jubilee whiskey too ... no mention of the queen. Maybe it was considered vulgar.

Here is the bottle from Bow Street which I think is not intact so basically worthless.

[DavidH]

OK, I have a theory... This merchant released a 20yo whiskey for Queen Vic's diamond jubilee. Thereafter, they called their 20yo expression the "Jubilee" whiskey. It's just a name on this bottle.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

OK, I have a theory... This merchant released a 20yo whiskey for Queen Vic's diamond jubilee. Thereafter, they called their 20yo expression the "Jubilee" whiskey. It's just a name on this bottle.

Ahh you may have a point there .... Jubilee was in 1897 ... the whiskey casked that year could be released as Jubilee whiskey so making it no older than 1917. But as you say may have carried the name on for a while. However I don't like the Celofane on it. Not really a turn of the century wrapping method. Paper and hay I would of thought.


I think a mail should be dropped to IDL and I would reckon they will know for sure if they bother to reply

neady can you see if there are any markings or letters on the base of the bottle.

[varizoltan]

even if someone got it in late 60-s early 70-s as a prize, that celophan could not last 50 years for sure

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

If neady can track this down with IDL (Midleton) it would be very interesting to know when it dates from.

I originally thought it was the QUeens Jubilee as Bushmills did a similar probuct and the bottle o display in Bow Street is quite old looking. However the bottle seems too clean to be 100+ years old.

However let that not disheaten you. This is a rare whiskey and very unusual for it to be an exceptionally old whiskey.

I still think it is quite a valuable bottle.

[jcskinner]

I'm inclined to agree that the bottle looks a lot younger than a century, but I still suspect it is a pretty valuable find.
I'd like to proffer again the suggestion that it might have been bottled in 1966, with the golden jubilee of 1916 in mind. Remember that the entire year was spent, at Dev's instigation, holding celebrations nationwide to mark 50 years since the Rising.
So in an Irish context, that's the most plausible jubilee, other than JohnM's suggestion that it was the bottler's own jubilee, that I can think of.
Also, the bottle condition and fonts on the label would seem to indicate something a lot younger than the 19th century.
But like I say, a valuable bottle nonetheless, whatever its actual age and provenance.

[varizoltan]

sittin on a cupboard for 40-50 years.... and nothing seen as wear or tear or dust on the wrapping, still shiny

got me thinking

[neady]

Hi,

It was given to my aunt in the late 60's early 70's which means it has been in a cupboard for 29 years. The bottling in 1966 would make sense to me given when it was received as a present.
Neady

[varizoltan]

if it is 70 than it is 39 years ago
am i right?

Hi,

It was given to my aunt in the late 60's early 70's which means it has been in a cupboard for 29 years. The bottling in 1966 would make sense to me given when it was received as a present.
Neady

[neady]

Hi,

Yes sorry you are right got my maths wrong !.


Neady

[TheWhiskeyBro]

In 1869 Richard Sainthill of Maziere and Sainthill wine spirits and porter suppliers died leaving instruction that should be the business not be taken on by his heir and namesake his company should be sold to his friends Bourne and Nicholson which brought the wines and spirits concerns together, a commercial partnership that was to remain in place for over the next 100 years.

Records of the company’s wine imports since 1871 were meticulously kept in flowing longhand. Entries continued right up until the 1970’s giving an accurate idea of market trends throughout this time. In total the Woodford Bourne cellars would carry at any one time over 50,000 gallons of choice Cork and Dublin whiskeys, Scotch whiskies, fine French cognac, Jamaican rums and casks of wines sherries and ports all carrying the marks of the principal continental growers.

There is a book on the history of this company, I've seen one in a local bookshop, the book is €40, i'll sneak in for a peek and see what I can find out.

Irish Whiskey Society detectives at work