Very Xtra Old Fitzgerald 1958 10 Year Old Bourbon Gift Set with Glasses 100 proof / Stitzel Weller

This is a 10-year-old Very Xtra Old Fitzgerald, distilled at the famed Stitzel-Weller distillery in 1958 and bottled a year later in 1959. Bottlings from this era—produced under the stewardship of the Van Winkle family—are incredibly prized among collectors. The phrase “A Collector’s Item,” which often adorned the shoulder label, now seems like a remarkably prescient touch.

The Stitzel-Weller company was officially founded in 1933, following the repeal of Prohibition in the United States. It emerged from a merger between the A. Ph. Stitzel Distillery and its largest client, W.L. Weller & Sons. The Stitzel-Weller distillery opened its doors on Kentucky Derby Day in 1935 and quickly gained acclaim for its smooth, wheated bourbon. Its flagship brands included Old Fitzgerald, Old Weller, and Cabin Still.

Ownership of the distillery was originally shared by Alex T. Farnsley, Arthur Philip Stitzel, and Julian “Pappy” Van Winkle. Following the deaths of Farnsley and Stitzel in 1941 and 1947 respectively, the Van Winkle family assumed full control. Pappy Van Winkle ran the operation until 1964, when he handed leadership over to his son, Julian II. The latter remained at the helm until 1972, when the company’s board forced a sale to Somerset Imports, a subsidiary of Norton-Simon.

Subsequent corporate changes brought Stitzel-Weller under the umbrella of DCL (Distillers Company Ltd.), the American arm of a major Scottish distilling firm. DCL’s substantial investment in American whiskey included the construction of a high-capacity Bernheim distillery, which ultimately rendered Stitzel-Weller redundant. The historic site was closed in 1992.

Although still owned by Diageo, the distillery has not resumed production. Today, the facility serves as the visitor experience center for Bulleit Bourbon, offering a glimpse into one of the most storied legacies in American whiskey history.