{"product_id":"a-h-hirsch-1974-finest-reserve-20-year-old-straight-bourbon","title":"A. H. Hirsch 1974 Finest Reserve 20 Year Old Straight Bourbon MINT WAX","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe rarest expression of A.H. Hirsch Reserve. Distilled spring 1974 at the Pennco Distillery (Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania) — later renamed Michter's. Extended barrel aging to 20 years, bottled between late 1994 and early 1995 at 91.6 proof. Red wax. Mint condition. Widely considered one of the greatest bourbons ever produced.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eThe full story: In 1974, Adolf Hirsch commissioned a batch of bourbon to be distilled at the small copper pot stills of the Pennco Distillery in Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania. The distillery — which traces its origins to the mid-1700s and is listed as a National Historic Landmark — was purchased in foreclosure not long after and renamed Michter's. In 1989, as the distillery faced foreclosure again, Hirsch sold the whiskey to the Hue Family in Kentucky. Most of the stock was transferred into stainless steel tanks, which halted the aging at 16 years. But some remained in barrels and was allowed to continue aging, eventually bottled at 18, 19, and 20 years old.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eThe 20-year expression — released between late 1994 and early 1995 — is the rarest and most mature bottling from the 1974 Hirsch parcel. Filled from new charred American oak at 91.6 proof (45.8%), it received America's first five-star rating from the spirit's most demanding critics. The pot still distillation method, the Pennsylvania provenance, the small copper stills, and the 20 years of aging produce a spirit fundamentally unlike anything in modern American bourbon production. This specific 20-year red wax bottling is in mint condition — \"Unicorn\" status among American whiskey collectors.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003ch3\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cul\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eAppearance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deep, rich amber with the extraordinary concentration of pot still bourbon at 20 years.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eNose:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rich sweetness — creamy vanilla and caramel, followed by oak spice and the distinctive pot still grain character that column stills cannot replicate.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003ePalate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Smooth and layered — soft notes of toffee and vanilla with the profound complexity that only pot still distillation and two decades in wood produces.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e A dry oaky finish with smoke, baking spices, and a touch of black pepper — one of the longest finishes in American bourbon history.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e  \u003ch3\u003eSpecs\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cul\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eDistilled:\u003c\/strong\u003e Spring 1974\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eDistillery:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pennco Distillery (later Michter's), Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania (est. c.1753)\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eDistillation method:\u003c\/strong\u003e Small copper pot stills (extinct in American commercial bourbon)\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eAge:\u003c\/strong\u003e 20 years\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eProof:\u003c\/strong\u003e 91.6 (45.8% ABV)\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eBottled:\u003c\/strong\u003e Late 1994 – early 1995\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003ePresentation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Red wax, mint condition\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 750ml\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e  \u003cp\u003eBrowse all \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/woodencork.com\/collections\/bourbon\"\u003ebourbon at Wooden Cork\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003ch3\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cul\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eWhy is the 20-year considered the rarest Hirsch expression?\u003c\/strong\u003e Most of the 1974 Hirsch parcel was transferred to stainless steel tanks in 1990, halting aging at 16 years. Only a small portion remained in barrel for continued aging. The 18, 19, and 20-year bottlings came from this small remaining stock. The 20-year is the oldest expression and the last to be bottled — making it the rarest and most mature of the series.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eWhat does \"mint red wax\" mean?\u003c\/strong\u003e The 20-year Hirsch was sealed with red wax — a different presentation from the gold foil and standard capsule variants of the 16-year. Mint condition means the wax seal, label, and capsule are in perfect original state — critical for collector value.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eIs this the same as the current Michter's brand?\u003c\/strong\u003e No. The current Michter's brand in Louisville acquired the name but has zero production or ownership connection to the original Schaefferstown facility. The A.H. Hirsch bourbon was literally distilled at the original Pennsylvania Michter's — a completely different company, equipment, and provenance.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eCan this ever be reproduced?\u003c\/strong\u003e No. The Pennco\/Michter's Schaefferstown distillery closed permanently in 1990. The 1974 grain crop, the copper pot stills, the Pennsylvania terroir, and 20 years of aging cannot be recreated under any circumstances.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e  \u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e {   \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",   \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",   \"mainEntity\": [     { \"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Why is the 20-year considered the rarest Hirsch expression?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Most of the 1974 parcel was transferred to stainless steel in 1990, halting aging at 16 years. Only a small portion remained in barrel for the 18, 19, and 20-year bottlings. The 20-year is the oldest and rarest.\" } },     { \"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What does mint red wax mean?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"The 20-year was sealed with red wax \\u2014 different from the gold foil 16-year variants. Mint condition means the wax seal, label, and capsule are in perfect original state.\" } },     { \"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Is this the same as the current Michter's brand?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"No. The current Louisville Michter's acquired the name but has no production or ownership connection to the original Schaefferstown facility.\" } },     { \"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Can this ever be reproduced?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"No. The Schaefferstown distillery closed permanently in 1990. The 1974 grain crop, copper pot stills, and 20 years of aging cannot be recreated under any circumstances.\" } }   ] } \u003c\/script\u003e","brand":"A. H. Hirsch","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42900680704071,"sku":"A.-H.-Hirsch-1974-Finest-Reserve-20-Year-Old-Straight-Bourbon","price":9699.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0687\/0640\/2375\/files\/a-h-hirsch-1974-finest-reserve-20-year-old-straight-bourbon-33862948978837_956f0529-fc60-4215-ba42-42a85e27a123.jpg?v=1782412854","url":"https:\/\/bourbonnest.com\/products\/a-h-hirsch-1974-finest-reserve-20-year-old-straight-bourbon","provider":"Bourbon Nest","version":"1.0","type":"link"}