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"Bonded Diamond Decanter" glass bottle w/diamond stopper - $65 (ALBUQUERQUE)
condition:
excellent
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This bottle is an exceptionally rare and highly sought-after piece of whiskey history: an original 1951 Old Fitzgerald "Bonded Diamond Decanter" glass bottle with its matching diamond-faceted stopper.
What makes this absolute holy grail find so historic is its origin. This specific bottle was manufactured in 1951 for the legendary Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Shively, Kentucky. This was the pinnacle era when the iconic whiskey marketer Julian P. "Pappy" Van Winkle Sr. was personally running the distillery. In 1951, "Pappy" introduced this exact "Diamond Decanter" design to position Old Fitzgerald as the ultimate premium, wheated holiday hospitality bourbon.
🔍 Deciphering the Markings
• The Faceplate Text: The embossed text "FEDERAL LAW FORBIDS SALE OR REUSE OF THIS BOTTLE" was a strict legal requirement stamped onto all American liquor bottles manufactured between 1935 and 1964 to prevent bootleggers from refilling empty bottles after Prohibition.
• D-379: This is the federally assigned Distiller Permit Code explicitly registered to the Stitzel-Weller Distillery. Every bottle bearing this code was blown specifically for "Pappy" Van Winkle's whiskey operations.
• 64: This is the factory permit code for the Owens-Illinois Glass Company facility located in Huntington, West Virginia.
• 51: This is the date code, proving the bottle was manufactured in 1951.
• The Intersecting Diamond and Circle Symbol: This is the official vintage manufacturer's logo for the Owens-Illinois Glass Company.
• The Stopper: Your fourth image shows the gorgeous geometric clarity of the glass plug. This is a genuine ground-glass neck stopper. The cork sleeve around the peg was hand-wrapped to ensure an airtight seal on your bar.