From The Collection Michael Aronoff: Hirsch Selection 13 Year Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (1997). Hand bottled by Julian Van Winkle III for Henry Preiss in California; these bottles contain the very same Medley Rye found in the well known Brown Label Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye bottles of the same era. Julian stated he would finish bottling his Rye and use the remaining stock to fill these Hirsch bottles as part of a contract. For this specific bottle and lot code (97-1), the very first bottling of this type, this is comparable to an original (numbers only) series Van Winkle Rye. Black wax seal intact, however it exhibits a crack that nearly encircles the top around the cork stop. Printed labels in good condition, exhibiting some minor staining on the front and some losses on the back label. Bottled for Preiss Imports, Ramona, California. Bottled by Hirsch Distillers, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.