A.H. Hirsch Reserve is a high-quality, rare, sour mash bourbon that was distilled in 1974 at Michter's Distillery in Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania. The bourbon is considered among the world's best, and the distillery has an interesting history.
Identification
A.H. Hirsch Reserve Bourbon Whiskey was distilled in what is known as the Kentucky pot-still tradition, a slow, work-intensive process demanding painstaking thoroughness. This liquor was then aged in casks, some for 16 and some for 20 years. As of 2008, only about 200 cases of the 20-year whiskey and about 5,000 cases of the 16-year-old are still available. They also are the only available whiskeys left of the Kentucky pot-still type.
Features
Hirsch Reserve is described as having a silky texture and flavors of sweet oak, maple and spice. Internet reviews rhapsodize about the flavor and aroma, calling the whiskey "sophisticated," "seductive," "sublime" and "soothing," along with other glowing commentary. Many store websites advertise it as among the world's best, and it even is claimed by some to be the finest ever made.
Hirsch Reserve 16-year-old received the first five-star rating ever awarded a bourbon by "The Spirit Journal," the highly-regarded review of fine spirits, in November 1994.
History
Michter's Distillery dates back to 1753 and became a commercial producer in 1783, making it one of the oldest commercial distilleries in the United States.
The distillery remained in the same family until it was sold to Abe Bomberger in 1860, who was related by marriage. He produced Bomberger's Rye Whiskey there until the 18th amendment enacting country-wide prohibition was passed and then sold the distillery to a farmer.
Theories/Speculation
From prohibition forward, the history of this distillery becomes murky, and different accounts are given by the Henry Preiss distributorship, which handles A.H. Hirsch Reserve, and Bomberger's descendants. It's assumed that the man who bought the distillery during prohibition produced some limited amounts of whiskey for the locals. Since federal law makes it a felony to knowingly deal with a felon and also can negate the legitimacy of deeds, titles and contracts, it appears that the entire distilling industry was rather lax in record-keeping during that time frame.
According to the distributorship site, Louis Forman eventually bought the distillery after the 18th amendment was repealed and, in the 1950s, began producing whiskey in the traditional pot-still method. He hired Charles Everett Beam, a direct descendant of whiskey producer Jacob Beam, as master distiller. Beam was thrilled to have the chance to produce some very fine bourbon, an unusual opportunity since other commercial producers thought this was too expensive a proposition to be worthwhile.
Adolf Hirsch, a former Schenley Company executive, later bought some stocks of the whiskey, and bottled a 16-year-old and a 20-year-old under the A.H. Hirsch label, creating the A.H. Hirsch Reserve Bourbon Whiskey, which is so revered by enthusiasts today.
Significance
Michter's Distillery closed for good in 1988. It now stands vacant, and although it once was listed on the National Historic Register, it is deteriorated and crumbling into ruins and only used for lumber storage.
The Hirsch brand name has been preserved by the Preiss distributorship by creating Hirsch Bottlings with purchased whiskeys, but the original Hirsch whiskey likely will soon be unavailable in stores.
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