John E. Fitzgerald Very Special Reserve 20 Year is a special release from Heaven Hill Distillery. Comprised of 12 barrels of Stitzel-Weller wheated bourbon, this whiskey was distilled in 1992–the final year of production before the distillery was mothballed. These barrels aged for seven years in Stitzel-Weller rickhouses until 1999, when Heaven Hill acquired the Old Fitzgerald brand from United Distillers (now Diageo).
The barrels were then transferred to Heaven Hill’s Warehouse Y, Parker Beam’s favorite warehouse. The whiskey aged on the first floor, allowing for a more temperate, slower aging environment that facilitates the creation of older whiskies. In 2013, the barrels were dumped into inert, stainless steel tanks to stop the aging process. The whiskey was bottled and released in October of 2015. Because the final yield was so low, 3,000 375ml bottles were released at 90 proof.
Old Fitzgerald, John E Fitzgerald Very Special Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 20 Year. 45% ALC/VOL (90 Proof). Original red wood key box with pamphlet both excellent. Plastic seal excellent. Laser labels excellent. Small sediment at the bottom of the bottle. 375ml. Distilled by Stitzel-Weller Distillery.