Joseph Finch 1981 Rare Bourbon 15 Year Old / Stitzel Weller

Joseph Finch 1981 Rare Bourbon 15 Year Old

When United Distillers was formed by the merger of the Distillers Company Ltd (DCL), Arthur Bell & Sons and Guinness in 1987, the company initially had grand plans to invest heavily in bourbon. The product of many multiple mergers over the years, it was asset rich in the US, counting Stitzel-Weller and Bernheim among its distilleries, as well as their associated brands, such as Old Weller and Old Fitzgerald. In addition to a mass refurbishment of the Bernheim distillery, the company planned several new premium bourbon lines in order to make use of its depth of ageing stock. The first of these was the Bourbon Heritage Collection in 1996, shortly followed by this, the Rare Bourbon range.

Now incredibly rare, the Rare Bourbon series never really found its feet and was quickly shelved when United Distillers became Diageo in 1997, subsequently divesting from the American whiskey market. Only two bottlings were ever-produced, this Joesph Finch, and a Henry Clay. Both are named after historic figures and distilleries which, although closed, were part of the United Distillers portfolio.

The Finch distillery was built in 1856, and acquired by Schenley during Prohibtition. After repeal, it became the home of their Golden Wedding brand until it was eventually closed down in 1968 as the company concentrated production in its larger facilities elsewhere. Schenley was bought by United Distillers in 1987.

Distilled in 1981, it is not clear where this bourbon is actually from. However, the "doing business as" address of the bottle states that it was distilled in Louisville, Kentucky, suggesting Stitzel-Weller as a prime candidate. The bottling is known to have taken place there too.