Busacca Gallery

A Rare Treasure: Antique Bottle of Boone's Knoll Scotch Whisky. An exceptional find! This rare, unopened bottle of Boone's Knoll Scotch Whisky—aged six years in wood and labeled as Private Stock from the Crocker Family—is over 100 years old. The bottle features a heavily dipped red wax closure, preserving its contents in pristine condition. * Disclaimer for Sale of Antique Alcohol: This bottle is sold solely as a collectible item and is not intended for consumption. The contents are over 100 years old and may no longer be suitable for drinking. The buyer and seller assume all responsibility for any risks associated with consuming the contents. This consignment sale complies with all applicable state and federal laws concerning the sale and transfer of alcoholic beverages. The buyer affirms they are at least 21 years of age and acknowledges that this product is sold exclusively as a collectible item. The transaction will be handled directly between the owner and the buyer. Busacca Gallery will not be involved in the transaction unless a licensed broker is engaged. * Regulatory Compliance: Antique alcohol, defined as alcohol over 50 years old, may be sold in California, subject to state and federal regulations. The buyer’s legal drinking age (21 or older) must be verified. These items are sold primarily for their collectible value, not for consumption. If it is determined that the alcohol is being purchased for consumption, a licensed broker will be engaged to complete the transaction. * Recommendation: Busacca Gallery recommends that sellers consult with a legal professional or an expert in alcohol sales regulations to ensure compliance with all applicable laws. Historical Provenance: The Crocker Family Legacy. This extraordinary bottle originates from the family of Charles Crocker, one of the "Big Four" industrialists responsible for constructing the Central Pacific Railroad, the western segment of the First Transcontinental Railroad in the United States. Known as "The Associates," the Big Four—Leland Stanford, Collis Potter Huntington, Mark Hopkins, and Charles Crocker—played pivotal roles in shaping America's transportation infrastructure. Charles Crocker: A Visionary Railroad Executive Charles Crocker (1822–1888) was instrumental in founding the Central Pacific Railroad. Alongside his partners, he oversaw the construction of the western portion of the First Transcontinental Railroad. As the head of Charles Crocker & Co., he also managed the construction of the Southern Pacific Railroad, connecting major networks across the U.S. Notable achievements of Charles Crocker include: Role in Banking: Briefly the controlling shareholder of Wells Fargo in 1869. His legacy extended into banking through Crocker-Anglo Bank, which later became part of Wells Fargo. Philanthropy: His family contributed significantly to civic and cultural causes, including the establishment of the Crocker Art Museum, California's oldest continuously operating art museum. The Crocker Family’s Influence Charles Crocker's descendants continued his legacy, becoming prominent figures in California's development: William H. Crocker financed San Francisco's reconstruction after the 1906 earthquake and played key roles in civic projects, including donating land for Grace Cathedral. Charles Frederick Crocker, Charles's eldest son, became Vice President of the Southern Pacific Railroad, while his descendants contributed to philanthropic and cultural institutions. The Crocker Art Museum remains a testament to the family's dedication to preserving and celebrating art and history. The Significance of Boone's Knoll Whisky. This bottle's connection to the Crocker family adds unparalleled historical value. A product of its time, it offers a glimpse into the lifestyle and preferences of one of California's most influential families. Rare artifacts like this bottle not only tell a story of craftsmanship but also serve as tangible links to the past. Collectors and connoisseurs alike will appreciate the unique combination of historical significance, exceptional preservation, and provenance associated with this exquisite bottle.

The market for rare antique whiskey has grown significantly in the last hundred years due to several factors. First, the increasing appreciation for craftsmanship and the rich history behind aged whiskey has led collectors to recognize its value as both a liquid and a historical artifact. Limited production runs, the rarity of certain bottles, and the distilleries’ legacies have created a sense of exclusivity and desirability among collectors. As whiskey aging techniques have evolved, older bottles have become rarer, further fueling demand. Additionally, the rising popularity of whiskey as an investment asset—particularly as its value appreciates over time—has contributed to a growing market. Auctions and specialized whiskey retailers have allowed collectors to easily access these rare bottles, while the global nature of the market has introduced a wider pool of interested buyers, driving up prices. This combination of historical significance, rarity, and investment potential has made antique whiskey a sought-after collectible.

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whisky

Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Different grains are used for different varieties, including barley, malted barley, rye, malted rye, wheat, and corn. Whisky is typically aged in wooden casks, made generally of charred white oak. Whisky is a strictly regulated spirit worldwide with many classes and types. The typical unifying characteristics of the different classes and types are the fermentation of grains, distillation, and aging in wooden barrels.



It is possible that distillation was practised by the Babylonians in Mesopotamia in the 2nd millennium BC, with perfumes and aromatics being distilled[3] but this is subject to uncertain and disputable interpretation of evidence.[4] The earliest certain chemical distillations were by Greeks in Alexandria in about the 3rd century (AD), but these were not distillations of alcohol. The medieval Arabs adopted the distillation technique of the Alexandrian Greeks, and written records in Arabic begin in the 9th century, but again these were not distillations of alcohol. Distilling technology passed from the medieval Arabs to the medieval Latins, with the earliest records in Latin in the early 12th century. The earliest records of the distillation of alcohol are in Italy in the 13th century, where alcohol was distilled from wine. An early description of the technique was given by Ramon Llull (1232 – 1315). Its use spread through medieval monasteries, largely for medicinal purposes, such as the treatment of colic and smallpox.

The art of distillation spread to Ireland and Scotland no later than the 15th century, as did the common European practice of distilling ‘Aqua Vitae’ or spirit alcohol primarily for medicinal purposes. The practice of medicinal distillation eventually passed from a monastic setting to the secular via professional medical practitioners of the time, The Guild of Surgeon Barbers. The first confirmed written record of whisky comes from 1405 in Ireland. In the Irish Annals of Clonmacnoise in 1405, the first written record of whisky attributes the death of a chieftain to "taking a surfeit of aqua vitae" at Christmas. In Scotland, the first evidence of whisky production comes from an entry in the Exchequer Rolls for 1494 where malt is sent "To Friar John Cor, by order of the king, to make aquavitae", enough to make about 500 bottles.

James IV of Scotland (r. 1488–1513) reportedly had a great liking for Scotch whisky, and in 1506 the town of Dundee purchased a large amount of whisky from the Guild of Surgeon Barbers, which held the monopoly on production at the time. Between 1536 and 1541, King Henry VIII of England dissolved the monasteries, sending their monks out into the general public. Whisky production moved out of a monastic setting and into personal homes and farms as newly independent monks needed to find a way to earn money for themselves.





The distillation process was still in its infancy; whisky itself was not allowed to age, and as a result tasted very raw and brutal compared to today’s versions. Renaissance-era whisky was also very potent and not diluted. Over time whisky evolved into a much smoother drink.

With a licence to distil Irish whiskey from 1608, the Old Bushmills Distillery in the north coast of Ireland is the oldest licenced whiskey distillery in the world.



In 1707, the Acts of Union merged England and Scotland, and thereafter taxes on it rose dramatically.



After the English Malt Tax of 1725, most of Scotland’s distillation was either shut down or forced underground. Scotch whisky was hidden under altars, in coffins, and in any available space to avoid the governmental Excisemen. Scottish distillers, operating out of homemade stills, took to distilling whisky at night when the darkness hid the smoke from the stills. For this reason, the drink became known as moonshine. At one point, it was estimated that over half of Scotland’s whisky output was illegal.

In America, whisky was used as currency during the American Revolution. It also was a highly coveted sundry and when an additional excise tax was levied against it, the Whiskey Rebellion erupted in 1791.

In 1823, the UK passed the Excise Act, legalizing the distillation (for a fee), and this put a practical end to the large-scale production of Scottish moonshine.

In 1831, Aeneas Coffey patented the Coffey still, allowing for cheaper and more efficient distillation of whisky. In 1850, Andrew Usher began producing a blended whisky that mixed traditional pot still whisky with that from the new Coffey still. The new distillation method was scoffed at by some Irish distillers, who clung to their traditional pot stills. Many Irish contended that the new product was, in fact, not whisky at all.

By the 1880s, the French brandy industry was devastated by the phylloxera pest that ruined much of the grape crop; as a result, whisky became the primary liquor in many markets.

During the Prohibition era in the United States lasting from 1920 to 1933, all alcohol sales were banned in the country. The federal government made an exemption for whisky prescribed by a doctor and sold through licensed pharmacies. During this time, the Walgreens pharmacy chain grew from 20 retail stores to almost 400.