What Are Dusties in Bourbon? A Deep Dive on Vintage Whiskeys and Why They’re So Valuable
What are dusties? Learn all about this bourbon-hunting term. (Photo: AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
If you’ve spent your time around whiskey collectors or bourbon hunters before, chances are you’ve heard the phrase “dusties” or “dusty” used once or twice. But what are dusties, exactly?
The term “dusty” is used in bourbon hunting circles to describe discontinued whiskeys from a bygone era. These bottles sit on shelves, unopened and gather dust, hence the name. Pretty self-explanatory, yeah?
There’s a certain magic about obtaining a whiskey that’s been lost to time. It’s like collecting a bit of history in liquid form. Like wine collectors seek out certain vintages and hoard them in cellars, dusties are a bourbon hunter’s version of that.
As time passes, scarcity naturally becomes a factor — whiskey is meant to be drunk, after all — and some unopened dusties can be worth a small fortune. In September 2024, Kentucky’s Speed Art Museum listed a bottle of Old Forester from 1947 up for auction and said it had the potential of fetching upwards of $20,000.
What Are the Requirements for a Whiskey to be Considered a Dusty?
Beam Suntory Global Small Batch Brand Ambassador Tim Heuisler says that in order for a bottle to reach dusty territory, it should surpass 10 to 15 years of age and remain unsealed, according to VinePair.
Some bottles that are considered particularly rare dusties come from distilleries that have shuttered their doors or labels that are discontinued. Whiskeys from discontinued brands like Golden Wedding can fetch steep prices — because once they’re gone, they’re gone.
Spirits Writer Aaron Goldfarb wrote his own tome on dusties, “Dusty Booze: In Search of Vintage Spirits,” and chronicled the adventures of dusty hunters who sought out not only bottles of old whiskey, but chartreuse and other spirits as well.
In an interview with Alcohol Professor, Goldfarb shared it was somewhat difficult to get a lot of information from dusty hunters, because they’re apparently “a very secretive bunch.”
“There’s an odd amount of rivalry and competitiveness in the vintage spirits game,” Goldfarb said.
What Do Dusties Taste Like?
A lot of factors can influence the way a dusty tastes, should you decide to open one. Breaking Bourbon reports that different factors like climate change have affected the way grains have grown throughout the decades, which might be the reason dusties can taste different than the whiskeys of today.
Distillers may have used heirloom grains of corn that are now extinct, and that too can yield a whiskey that tastes different. Not to mention, the outlet reports that specific distillers have changed the types of yeast they use throughout the ages. In the 19th century, jug yeast was used instead of mass-produced yeast.
Additionally, bourbon wasn’t exactly a prestigious spirit throughout a lot of the 19th century, so some distillers would include older liquids in the blend, as older bourbon wasn’t as coveted as it is today. So chances are, dusties probably taste… well… better.
Yet there are some exceptions.
Bourbon Banter shares that some dusties taste like “basement funk” and have flavors of “moldy cardboard box.” Some are so gross due to poor storage or oxidation that they need to be poured down the drain.
Yet for dusty hunters, the risk of spending a couple grand on a damaged whiskey doesn’t outweigh the reward of finding something truly great.
How do You Find Dusties?
Dusty hunters are, as Goldfarb said, secretive by their very nature. It makes sense, if you’ve got a killer source for rare bottles of Pappy from the 1990s, would you want to share it with your average Joe — or Josephine — Schmoe? Probably not.
A great place to find dusties is an auction, and sites like Unicorn Auctions can be good places to look. A huge part of the joy of dusties isn’t so much the dusty in itself; it’s the process of finding it, so be sure to keep your ear to the ground.
Read whiskey news regularly and search for auctions that might feature rare lots, like this unexpected find of Jack Daniel’s from the 1940s that went up for auction in July 2023 after a bar in London closed.
Another way to find dusties is to get out there and make friends within the bourbon community. In 2018, Punch reported on Alex Bachman, one of America’s most prominent dusty hunters. For the piece, Goldfarb followed Bachman for one weekend to see how the 35-year-old dusty hunter pulled off building a vertical of Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year that began with Buffalo Trace’s inaugural release in 2004.
It appears relationships are key. Bachman connected with an individual named Christopher Donovan, who owned a liquor shop named The House of Glunz that has been open since the late 1800s. Due to their close relationship, Bachman was able to have access to Donovan’s private collection.
In the realm of dusty hunting, it appears money talks.
“It’s easy if you’re willing to pay for it,” the ex-sommelier said.
Yet dusty hunting isn’t without its pitfalls. Some sources are bourbon flippers who sell bourbon without licenses — a process that is technically illegal in the United States. Like the fine wine market, there’s also the issue of provenance — is your dusty real? Or is it a fake? With scams, there’s no guarantee to get your money back — caveat emptor.
Certain states have attempted to crack down on the dusty madness, like Kentucky. In February, the state passed a new bill for retailers to acquire a license to sell dusties. If they sold more than 24 bottles of bourbon a year, they could face misdemeanor or felony charges.
With all that being said, it’s always a safe bet to go to a reputable retailer — do your research about the provenance of its dusties — and see what they have available. You may not find what you’re looking for right away, but remember, the juice is seldom the biggest reward. It’s the hunt.
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