70-Year-Old Unopened Gin Bottle Discovered in the Walls of a Historic Hotel
A full, unopened bottle of Gordon’s Gin dating back to the 1950s is discovered within the walls of a historic hotel amid renovations. (Photo: The Flying Horse Hotel/Facebook)
The Flying Horse Hotel in Greater Manchester, England, has unveiled a remarkable discovery during its recent refurbishment. Tucked away in the cellar behind some shelving, an intact 70-year-old bottle of Gordon’s Gin, only missing its paper label, was unearthed on Tuesday.
According to Rochdale Online, the 75-cl vintage gin dates back to the 1950s and has an estimated value ranging from £300 ($382) to £500 ($636). Speaking with the news outlet, Landlord Ben Boothman explained that the bottle was found while the building’s cellar was being cleared out for renovation.
“Fred was smashing out the cellar,” Boothman said, “and found it behind some wooden shelving in the walls.”
Founded in 1691, the historic pub stands as Rochdale’s oldest free house. Reopened on Thursday after undergoing a series of refurbishments, the establishment now showcases the integration of an on-site brewery featuring 37 brew lines. Notable improvements include the restoration of original windows and the installation of authentic-style guttering.
“We’re polishing what needs polishing; it’s been 10 years since we made any changes or improvements,” Boothman informed Rochdale Online. “It won’t change much because I love old pubs, but we’re updating the bar offer and adding a proper barista coffee machine.”
“We’re renting the space in the back to Wakey Wakey [a nano brewery in Rochdale] who will have a permanent beer on the bar. We’ve put a substantial amount of money in and we will have more beer lines than anywhere else in Rochdale.”
“We’ve always been famous for our beer but we’re going to shout about it a lot more,” Bothman added. “We love beer!”
To commemorate the 333rd anniversary of the Flyer, the pub’s reopening takes place on Feb. 1. Adding a charitable touch to the celebrations, Boothman has decided to raffle off the vintage gin bottle, with all proceeds, anticipated to reach £1,000 ($1,274), earmarked for Springhill Hospice. Raffle tickets will be available at the Flying Horse. According to the report, the draw will take place on Feb. 29 following a week-long celebration of the pub’s rich history, which includes its reconstruction in 1923 and subsequent reopening in 1926.
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