Another White Horse scotch dating request

[ignatz]

I have a bottle of White Horse scotch, No. AT 1155362; below are links to photos of the front and back of the bottle.

Is there any chance anyone can date this bottle? (One interesting bit--there's a State of Illinois tax stamp indicating $1.00 tax on 1/5 gallon.)

http://www.dminet.com/ignatz/WhiteHo...HorseFront.jpg
http://www.dminet.com/ignatz/WhiteHo...eHorseBack.jpg

[Jojo]

We will see if we can have your bottle dated for you.

[wchurst]

Looks like your bottle is from the late 1940's-early 1950's judging from the Serial# & Royal Warrant.

If you have a clearer picture of the US Tax Stamp on the side, I may be able to give you an exact year.

Cheers,
Walter C Hurst
wchurst@hotmail.com

[ignatz]

Sorry, after taking the shot I realized it's not as crisp as I'd like, but between the photo and the information I'll type here, you'll have everything:

http://www.dminet.com/ignatz/WhiteHo..._Tax_Stamp.jpg

The tax stamp is slightly obscured, since it split at some point along the line of the underlying White Horse front label wrap-around. It says:

State of Illinois
Alcoholic Liquor Revenue (around the State Seal)
24974 (could be 214974, if that's a '1' under the split)
1/5 Gallon Series N (in circle in the bottom half of the state outline
TAX PAID AT THE RATE OF $1.00 PER GALLON

Note that there had been a US Tax Stamp across the top of the bottle and under the White Horse neck label, but over the decades all but the very bottom has disappeared; all you can make out on one piece is "4/5 Quart".

Hope this helps!

[wchurst]

igantz,

Looks like your bottle was stamped by the State Of Illinois between 1949-1952. (Your missing # under the split is either a 1 or a 2; most likely a 1).

This is a god bottle, getting a bit rough on the labels, so I would suggest not handling it much (definately try not to lay it on it's side, as the high alcohol content will consume the cork).

NOt sure what your fill-level looks like, but this should be worth between $150-$200 US, and is a good whisky for drinking!

Cheers,
Walter C Hurst
wchurst@hotmail.com

[ignatz]

The fill level is to the neck--very little to the Angel's share. I also received a nicely detailed analysis from one Craig Harvey of DIAGEO, who also placed it between 1947-1951. (Unfortunately, he wouldn't give an estimate--pointed me to a fellow at McTear's who could value it--for a fee--and provide advice.)

The labels are actually in good shape; only the Illinois tax stamp and the neck label show any appreciable wear, and some damage to the lead cap--it looks like someone, at some long remove in the past, started to pull the string to open it and thought better before fully cutting through the lead.

I'm in a bit of a quandary. If it were clearly an inexpensive bottle, I'd just drink it. If it were clearly valuable, I'd have to find out how to market it. This seems to be all over the place in auctions, at least from McTear's (http://www.mctears.co.uk) past auctions.

Oh my ducats, oh my daughter...