Historic Old Fitzgerald Bottlings from Max Shapira's Personal Collection Set for Auction

A set of three bottles of Old Fitzgerald, one of America's most storied Bourbon brands, distilled before Prohibition but bottled after, will be offered at auction by Sotheby's to benefit charity. 

The Old Fitzgerald Archival Collection from Max Shapira, curated from the personal archives of Heaven Hill's Executive Chairman, is a trio of bottles that serves as a time capsule of its era, each bottle showcasing the artistry, resilience and refinement that has defined Old Fitzgerald for generations. Collectively, they capture the enduring legacy of a brand that has shaped the American whiskey landscape for more than 150 years.

The collection will be auctioned by Sotheby's during its online Whisky & Whiskey sale open for bidding from June 11-26, 2026.

The Old Fitzgerald Archival Collection includes:

• 1934 Old Fitzgerald 18-Year-Old Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey: Distilled and barreled in 1917, bottled in 1934. A 100-proof pre-Prohibition Bourbon, distilled by A. PH. Stitzel, later to become part of the legendary Stitzel-Weller Distillery. Distilled in a year when many distilleries were shutting down and shifting production to assist with wartime efforts, this whiskey was likely among the last to have been produced before Prohibition. Aged through some of the nation's most defining historical moments and bottled just after Prohibition's repeal, this pint embodies the rebirth of America's Bourbon tradition – an impossibly rare artifact preserved from an era long past. (1 pint)
  
• 1965 Very Xtra Old Fitzgerald 10-Year-Old Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey: Distilled and barreled in 1955, bottled in 1965. Bottled expressly for "Colorado Electric Co." and presented in a striking red box set with two tasting glasses, this expression captures the zenith of the Van Winkle era at Stitzel-Weller. With its wheated mash bill, Bottled-in-Bond marker and decade-long maturation, it epitomizes Julian "Pappy" Van Winkle's vision for Bourbon perfection. (4/5 quart)
  
• 2015 John E. Fitzgerald Very Special Reserve 20-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey: Distilled and barreled in 1992, bottled in 2015 and the final link between the brand's Stitzel-Weller legacy and Heaven Hill's modern stewardship. When Heaven Hill acquired the Old Fitzgerald brand with its purchase of the Bernheim Distillery, it also purchased 12 barrels of Stitzel-Weller Bourbon.

After two decades, the Bourbon from those barrels was moved temporarily to inert tanks to halt its maturation. Bottled at 90 proof to reveal the depth, grace, and complexity of a Bourbon matured to its absolute peak. This is one of just 3,000 bottles made and sold, housed in a hand-crafted wood box, cut with a keyhole to pay homage to Old Fitzgerald's origins and namesake, treasury agent John E. Fitzgerald. (375ml)

"Each of these bottles is a snapshot of Old Fitzgerald through the ages," said Shapira. "They tell the story of a brand that has survived and thrived through every chapter of American whiskey history, of which Heaven Hill is a proud part. I'm honored to now share them in a way that will support a meaningful charitable cause."

Proceeds from the auction will benefit Bernheim Forest and Arboretum. Founded by Bourbon maker Isaac Wolfe Bernheim in 1929, Bernheim is a 16,000-acre protected forest, located just 30 minutes south of Louisville. With a mission of connecting people with nature, Bernheim offers educational programs, 40 miles of hiking trails, renowned art experiences, and beautiful plant collections. 

Collectors and whiskey aficionados can take part in the online auction via Sotheby's website, with bidding open from June 11 through 12 p.m. ET on June 26.