The Return of Olde St Nick
Olde St. Nick “Label” to Make a Comeback
Very Olde St. Nick whiskey was released in the early 2000’s only in the Japanese market however some bottles have made their way back to whiskey collectors in the US. Kentucky Bourbon Distillers (KBD) bottled Very Olde St. Nick. It’s important to note that they bottled VOSN but it was not their brand.
Today, the TTB approved new Very Olde St. Nick labels. There are 3 new releases: Barrel Proof, 8 Year Old and Non-Age Stated (NAS).
This legendary whiskey was crafted and bottled using the purest water, the finest ingredients and small premium charred oak barrels giving it a richly unique flavor.
Initially, I thought the only thing this new release has in common with the Japanese release is the name. Notice the “Bottled and Produced by: Olde St. Nick Distillery Fairfield, CA”. My guess was the new label took a similar path as Black Maple Hill. The producers/bottler sold off the brand they had no intentions of using. People recognize the name from its legendary heritage and while they’re not aware of the changes, or just curious, they buy a bottle. It’s not a bad recipe for success. It saves money/time that you would spend building a brand since the older bottling are rumored to be old Bernheim or Medley juice.
After some more digging I became more confused. Read this post I found from Julian Van Winkle in 2000 on Straight Bourbon in response to a question about Very Olde St. Nick.
Old St. Nick is bottled in Bardstown by Evan Kulsvein. He buys his whiskey from Heaven Hill. This label was ceated by a lady in CA some years ago who sells my whiskey in Japan. I actually used to bottle this whiskey for her, and she would ship to Japan. Years ago, I did not have much older whiskey, so she switched to Evan who had the HH supply.
Julian Van Winkle
First, while it’s always been rumored the Willett/Heaven Hill connection has never been confirmed. Second, who is the lady in California and is she behind this new bottling? Third, that’s great information about the duty VOSN.
The mystery of this new label continues but I’ll keep you updated if I find anything else.
One more note: Based on yesterdays post, where is “Distilled in” on the label?!
20 comments
First Black Maple Hill, then Olde St. Nick. What’s next, Nathan Stone? Old bourbon thinking: Please, please buy this…its a 18 yr for $40! New bourbon thinking: you look stupid enough to buy a vintage-looking label with no actual facts. At this very moment, I’m sure the Kulsveens are thinking up new ways to gouge the fans who kept them in business all these years.
That’s a good point. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone resurrects the Nathan Stone brand
I can’t understand why Willett sometimes gets such a bad rap for none disclosure issues. I’ve never been disappointed with any of their standard products that I have tried. Some of the best premium bourbon I ever tasted was bottled under the Willett Family Estate label which does not disclose the source of the bourbon. Regardless of what is or what is not on their labels, it’s pretty much common knowledge that Willett does not put out crap products.
What do you know about Nathan Stones bourbon? I’m doing some research.
TTB label approval contain the email address of the person that submitted them. So, I emailed this:
Mirna Delgado,
I’m writing in regards to set of 3 recent label approvals you obtained for the Very Old St. Nick brand.
The Estate Reserve and the Barrel Proof Estate Reserve fail to list an age statement as required by 27 CFR 5.40 (a). Since these are not listed as Straight Whiskies, they are required to have an age statement.
The Estate Reserve 8 year old fails to list the actual state of distillation as required by 27 CFR 5.36 (d). Unless this was also distilled in CA, then the other actual state of distillation must be on label.
Perhaps you were not aware of these regulations? If so, I’m glad I can help out by pointing these out. Many companies such as Templeton and Tito’s Vodka are finding themselves subject to class action lawsuits for failing to follow proper labeling procedures. Some might say that since the TTB approved these labels, they are OK. I will remind you that labels when submitted are done so under perjury penalties that all information is accurate and complies with all federal laws.
Regards,
Wade Woodard
Certified Spirits Specialist
Thanks for keeping these brands in check, Wade! Let us know once you get a response
Who certified you as a spirit specialist Wade?
http://www.societyofwineeducators.org/index.php/certified-specialist-of-spirits
She has been arrested and charged in the college admissions scandal. Now is easily understood why her labels are shady!
Are you sure that’s the same person?
Mirna submitted the TTB labels. The actual owner is Marci Patella and Marci has been indicted in the college admission scandal. And no they never responded back.
Hi Blake – you don’t need to post this, but I came across a statement from Marci Palatella on Sku’s site that gives some more detail on this. http://recenteats.blogspot.com/2014/06/very-olde-st-nick-tasting-with-socal.html I tried to get in contact with her for some details but wasn’t able to make the connection. Is she the new owner…or the old one?
That lady in California appears to be the only owner. Olde St Nick was originally created in the 1980s using fabulous old barrels she sourced from Julian Van Winkle, Even Kulsveen, and others. How do I know? I asked them. It’s quirky, dozens of bottlings and labels that were created the past 30 years every time they had a new batch. An odd marketing plan, or maybe no marketing plan. Their package was totally unique and appears to have been ripped off a few times. As many globally have done, seems like when old supply was tough to come by, they used proprietary names. Do your homework, Franklin in Fairfield is only a bottler, not a distillery. They bottle barrels for many people. We hear Olde St Nick built a small distillery outside of Bardstown and have been making intense whiskey for sometime. No releases yet that we have heard of but they collected old barrels which rumor has it are said to be stored there as well. Just heard they have a 17 year Very Olde St Nick coming out that’s the last of the Stitzel Weller stock from the days of yore. That’s it. Let us know what you find out.
she’s now been arrested and charged in the college scams. Now we know why her labels were shady!
Someone on twitter mentioned that in fact according to the USPTO records a privately held company named, Allied Lomar, Inc., appears to be same owner of the VERY OLDE ST. NICK RARE trademark since 1995 so…
So much bs out there. If they are actually distilling, can someone tell us where?
VOSN brand revival is a Frank-Lin atrocity
https://www.ttbonline.gov/colasonline/viewColaDetails.do…
“fully automated high speed blending capabilities in small & large batches”, “annual production capability of 15 million cases & on-premise tank storage capacity in excess of 1,500,000 gallons”, “seven automated production lines housed in our 90,000 sf bottling facility” so you just know it’s got that craft quality.
http://www.frank-lin.com/production.html
Jeremy, you must be well connected as most of what you’ve said above is correct. Mr. McCrey, yes, lots of speculation out there. Very Olde St Nick and Olde St. Nick Bourbon is a brand founded in the mid 1980’s. Promise. Today it’s being produced by our family’s Preservation Distillery in Bardstown. Quietly making bourbon in 1-3 barrel batches, we have some limited release bottlings of Very Olde St Nick and our brand Wattie Boone. I’ve spent most of my adult life collecting unique barrels and bottlings, and although in short supply, we may have some of those as well when you visit. My last comment on the OSN that was for a short time bottled outside Kentucky is, that’s a you-have-to-know item. Most of those bottlings were from from barrels we purchased from the old Stitzel Weller plant, and stored in California. It was old bourbon and Stitzel Weller advised us to basically, “Get it out of those barrels before it goes bad.” So we used tanks that were available to us at that time, and then paid a fee to get it bottled. Really.
Trying to find out if Olde St Nick is a wheaten or rye bourbon? Just acquired a 8 year and a 12 year. Have not opened them yet?
Thanks
Dear Mortlock. See above. You may want to pick up a bottle of that Franklin bottled stuff if you’re lucky enough to find it. Best of luck.