TREAT YOURSELF
TO A STORY
OURS IS a tale of time-honored
craftsmanship and a rich
legacy,
kept alive at Heaven
Hill Distillery. It’s a taste of
elegance shared
over
candlelit tables and poured
into cut crystal glasses. AND
IT
BEARS A name that has
traveled through
generations—
old fashioned,
yet still in style.
A LOOK THROUGH
THE AGES
As you read through the story
of how our Bourbon came
to
be,
take in our collection of
vintage advertisements
from
decades past.
Click to enlarge and explore.
tap to enlarge and explore.
IT BEGAN IN
THE
1870s
The trademark, JNO. E. Fitzgerald,
appeared for
the first time in
1870. Inspired by the notorious
John E. Fitzgerald—a man
renowned for his
refined palate
and adventurous spirit—the
rich,
full-bodied whiskey was
exclusively available to
luxury
steamships, rail lines, and
private clubs:
much to the
delight of their clientele.
A decade later, in 1884, the Old
Fitzgerald name
made its debut
on the register. The first
bottles
hit the market in 1889,
and its reputation grew at
home
and abroad.
RISING TO
PROMINENCE
1920s - 1999
While other distilleries were
forced to
close, Old
Fitzgerald survived 1920s
Prohibition by being one of the
few brands
licensed to be sold
as "medicinal" whiskey.
Upon
the repeal of the 18th
amendment, its
star continued
to rise under the
stewardship
of Julian "Pappy" Van Winkle.
Prohibition Bottle of Old Fitzgerald
The 1950s saw the release of
Old Fitzgerald’s now-iconic
decanter bottle. With its
eye-catching design and
exquisite taste, it became a
fixture on well-set tables
and high-end backbars, and
celebrated as “The Key
to Hospitality.”
THE LEGACY
CONTINUES
1999 - Present
In 1999, Heaven Hill Distillery—
a steward of
American Whiskey
since 1935—acquired the
historic Bernheim Distillery,
and with it,
the Old Fitzgerald
brand. Our Bottled-in-
Bond
decanter series was
introduced in
2018, and
remains the jewel of many a
whiskey collection.
In 2025, it was our pleasure to
debut Old
Fitzgerald 7-Year-
Old Bottled-in-Bond. We
hope
this modern expression
serves as a
lasting reminder
that some things simply
never
go out of style.
A DISTINGUISHED
DESIGNATION
Bonding over Bourbon is what we do best. Well,
other than making it, of course. Old Fitz is specially
crafted to meet the exacting standards of the
Bottled-in-Bond Act. Let us tell you all about it.
