My Favourite and Rarest Jack Daniel’s™ Bottles from the 1970s and 1980s: What Are They Worth Today?

Hello and welcome to the second newsletter! I'm excited to continue sharing the story of how I grew my Jack Daniel’s ™ whiskey collection to over 300 bottles it is today! Missed the first newsletter?

I have many bottles in my collection that hold a special place in my heart, but as all collectors know, some items are our pride and joy. For me, it's vintage Old No.7 ™ Jack Daniel’s ™ bottles, particularly those from the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. The variety of differences between them fascinated me: different bottle sizes and shapes, labels and tax labels, proofs, and bottles from various countries, as well as those that came in special box sets and gift sets. I became obsessed with every single detail and felt compelled to acquire them all, as long as they were reasonably priced.

One particular variant of the Black Label that truly stood out for me was the 78 Proof or 78 British Proof edition. These bottles hold a special place in my collection, being both my favourite and among the rarest. They were available in the UK from the early 1970s to the early 1980s. What sets these bottles apart is the distinct "78 Proof" or "78 British Proof" inscription on the front label.

Here's an intriguing fact about proofs. Did you know that British Proof and US Proof are different? In the UK, 100 proof spirits equate to 57.14% alcohol by volume, compared to 50% ABV in the US. Therefore, a 78 British proof whiskey translates to approximately 44.5% ABV, which closely aligns with the 90 proof US whiskey that was produced during that era.

These bottles are exceptionally hard to come by and highly coveted among Jack Daniel's ™ collectors, as very few of them still exist from the 1970s or 1980s. The first 78 Proof bottle I stumbled upon was in an auction back in 2014; a year later, I encountered three of them at once, each in its original box - a truly rare find!

Owning these 78 Proof bottles brings me immense pride, as they stand as some of the most cherished and valuable pieces in my whiskey collection. Each bottle is estimated to be worth between £600 and £800, a testament to their rarity and desirability among collectors.

My obsession with these 78 Proof bottles persisted, and over the years, I was fortunate enough to track down several more. Currently, I possess 12 of them, showcasing three different versions (see picture below).

As I wrap up this newsletter, I'm excited to share some breaking news: Jack Daniel’s™ has just launched a couple of new bottles in the UK. One of the highlights is the Bonded Rye, which marks the third instalment in their Bonded series, following the releases of Bonded and Triple Mash in 2022.

To celebrate the launch, Jack Daniel’s™ produced approximately 100 promotional gift box sets for the UK market, each containing a bottle of Bonded Rye and two tumbler glasses. I'm thrilled to announce that I am the proud owner of one of these exclusive sets, courtesy of Jack Daniel’s™ UK.

For more information on this exciting release, click on the button below.

Another exciting addition to the UK market is the Jack Daniel’s™ and McLaren Racing™ 2024 Edition. To learn more about this special release, simply click on the button below.

I'm excited to announce that I'll be sending out my third newsletter at the end of this month, and I plan to continue with monthly releases from then on. This will allow me to keep you updated on the latest developments in my Jack Daniel’s™ whiskey collection journey and share more fascinating stories and discoveries with you regularly. Stay tuned for more exciting stories in the coming months!

Cheers

Linas

Disclaimers:

Jack Daniel’s, Old No. 7, Jack Daniels’ Single Barrel, Jack Daniel’s Silver Select, Gentleman Jack, and Scenes From Lynchburg are trademarks are owned by Jack Daniel's Properties, Inc., 4040 Civic Center Drive, Suite 528, San Rafael, California 94903, United States of America.  Nothing in this newsletter should be construed as anyone but Jack Daniel’s Properties Inc owning all rights to its trademarks.

Coke is a trade mark owned by The Coca-Cola Company, One Coca-Cola Plaza, Atlanta, Georgia 30313, United States of America. Nothing in this newsletter should be construed as anyone but The Coca-Cola Company owning all rights to its trademark.

McLaren Racing is trade mark owned by McLaren Group Limited, McLaren Technology Centre, Chertsey Road, Woking, Surrey, GU21 4YH, United Kingdom. Nothing in this newsletter should be construed as anyone but McLaren Group Limited owning all rights to its trademark.

Jack Daniel’s is not involved in, or affiliated with, the production or distribution of this newsletter.

This newsletter is not intended to constitute personal advice on investments.  Investments can go up and down in value, and you may not see a return on any purchases made by you if made as investments.