Stitzel Reserve 31 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

31 years. Stitzel Reserve. Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — at 31 years, this is the oldest age-stated Kentucky straight bourbon in the current Wooden Cork catalog, surpassing the William Heavenhill 17-year (also in stock) by 14 years and the Elijah Craig 23-year Prefire expressions by 8 years.

A 31-year Kentucky straight bourbon is an extraordinary rarity. Most Kentucky bourbon is fully matured — and often over-oaked — by 20–22 years. Surviving intact barrels of sound, drinkable Kentucky bourbon at 31 years represent barrels that were either exceptionally well-positioned in the rickhouse, from a production year with unusually mild aging conditions, or both. The Stitzel Reserve name evokes the Stitzel-Weller legacy — the Louisville distillery that produced Old Fitzgerald, W.L. Weller, and the original Van Winkle bourbons before closing in 1992.

At $6,999 for a 2-bottle inventory, the Stitzel Reserve 31-year is among the most valuable bourbon expressions per bottle in the current catalog, reflecting the near-impossibility of sourcing sound 31-year Kentucky straight bourbon in any quantity.

Specs

• Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Age: 31 years
• Label: Stitzel Reserve
• Size: 750ml

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Frequently Asked Questions

• Is this connected to the Stitzel-Weller Distillery? The Stitzel Reserve name evokes the Stitzel-Weller legacy — the legendary Louisville distillery that produced Old Fitzgerald, W.L. Weller, and the original Van Winkle bourbons before closing in 1992. Whether this expression uses actual Stitzel-Weller distillate should be confirmed with the bottler; the Stitzel Reserve name is used by multiple independent programs with varying connections to the original distillery.
• Why is 31-year Kentucky bourbon so rare? Most Kentucky bourbon peaks in flavor development between 12–20 years and becomes over-oaked beyond that. Surviving intact barrels of sound, enjoyable bourbon at 31 years represent extraordinary warehouse positioning, favorable production conditions, or both — and are produced in vanishingly small quantities.