Found this hiding on the top shelf when I was liquor shopping today, was a bit dusty when I picked it up but that's not entirely unusual, upon closer inspection the labels look quite old, and I'm unable to find anything resembling it on google. Looking for any information, thoughts or opinions on this bottle before I open it up.
Slightly closer shot of the front label, paper lid cover removed.
Rear label, note the lack of barcode and surgeon general warnings.
And finally, the seal.
>>7531528
I was curious so I've been doing a little poking around on Google.
The law requiring the surgeon general's warning on alcohol was passed in 1988, therefore the bottle must pre-date that.
The only thing I could find on the importer was discussing wine in the early 1980's
My guess is that it was an 80's product.
Really neat, OP. How much was it? And out of curiosity, how did they ring it up with no barcode?
Its nowhere. Probably a very exclusive line from kiku-masamune.
Its in a no light container so it wont turn to vinegar as quickly.
Enjoy it, you'll never get another bottle. Its like when i went to a gas station last year and found a 1999 italian red wine that was incredible for only $12
Did you go liquor shopping at an antiques store?
did anyone at the shop have any information for you?
>>7531557
Paid 20$ for it, I assume they just priced it similarly to other plum liqueurs.
>>7531551
You beat me to that, guess I'll delete my post.
>>7531563
Nifty, might save it for a special occasion. Wondering if it's the sort of thing someone would find valuable, don't know if there's any market for old liqueurs. If anything it will be a unique experience and a prize in my bottle collection.
>>7531609
Regular liquor store, albeit one with a decent selection.
>>7531616
I didn't look at it too closely till I got it home, might ask a few questions next time I'm in there though, though I'd probably have to catch the owner for any real information, pretty sure the guy behind the counter is just a register jockey.
>>7531563
>Probably a very exclusive line from kiku-masamune.
Doubtful. It if was truly "special" or exclusive it would never have been exported.
>>7531617
>>7531637
I checked the company history on their website and it states that they first signed a distribution agreement for the US in 1968, though that was with a different company than the importer listed on your label. So at the very least that establishes that it must be from sometime between 1968 and 1988. I'm still going to guess it's an 80's product since some time must have passed before they changed importers thus it's extremely unlikely that was from anytime before the mid 70's.
If I were you I'd Email your photos to the company and ask them for more info!
http://www.kikumasamune.com/
>>7531652
Well, I've just sent the email, will let you all know if they get back to me with any details.
>>7531774
Any news? I bet its going to be garbage after 30 ish years of sitting in a bottle.
>>7532710
It should be fine
keep or sell the bottle if it's vinegar now. It looks cool.
Huh. That sounds awesome. I love Japanese plums. There are a number of liquor stores with good Asian selections around me. I should look for it. Might have some chance of something like it.
>>7531510
Plum liquor is so good. Enjoy it OP.
OP here
No reply from the company yet, giving it a few more days, then I'm probably going to open it up, sample it, and let you all know how it is.
>>7533550
You will definitely be able to find some sort of plum liqueur, but as far as I can tell the company that produced mine only makes sake now.
>>7531510
Judging by the typeface I would say 70s late 60s
>>7534393
Also HEUBLEIN, INC is the actual corporate name of "International Vintage Wine Company"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heublein
The company went defunct in 1982, so my typeface estimation is correct and you are in possession of at the very least a 34 year old wine.
>>7534426
https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_ky/0114985
http://www.beveragemedia.com/index.php/2014/05/the-legacy-of-heublein/
>>7534426
noice
Will you be sampling some [w/ pics] or are you keeping it sealed as a keepsake?
>>7534873
this is disturbingly erotic
>>7534907
Barring any crazy circumstances like someone offering me an obscene amount of money for it, or Kiku Masamune wanting it for their museum, I will be opening and sampling in the near future.
Most wines are best fresh, contrary to public belief. This stuff is no different. Its probably going to be subpar, but i bet you could still get $300 on Ebay if you prove its older than 30 years and inaccessible anywhere.
>>7536436
I'd say it's probably past its prime. Although with 25% ABV it might be hit or miss. It should certainly be safe to drink at least.
>>7537964
Oh, it will be sterile
Bamp because thread is at page 10 and i want to know how this checks out
Will op be back?
Well, here it is, finally opened.
The seal has... deteriorated.
How's the smell?
A closer view of the seal.
>>7541751
The fuck is that? Clay?
>>7541748
Smells like plum and decomposing fruit.
Funneled the contents into an empty brandy bottle; slightly cloudy with bits of sediment.
And SURPRISE! Two plums!
Last photo, sediment in the bottom of the jar.
I've taken a sip of it, and I will not be drinking the rest unfortunately. You can tell that this was plum liqueur at one point, but there is an overwhelming taste of spoiled fruit, and a metallic undertone that stays in the mouth long after drinking.
This has been an interesting experience, and I regret neither purchasing nor opening this bottle, it will still be a gem in my collection, as a piece of history and (sort of) preserved fruit.
>>7541756
What you are seeing is that some of the contents of the jar have gotten between the metal lid and the plastic coating on the underside of the lid. The corrosion has caused the plastic to "bubble up" from the metal lid. The booze will probably taste like metal because of this.
>>7541773
Good shit op, most interesting thread on here I've seen in a while. Kinda a bummer it was all gross and shit but what did we really expect
>>7541773
What a shame. At least you have a neat looking jar.
>>7541785
A shame, as the liqueur might not have been entirely undrinkable if not for the lid/seal issues.
I've poured it back into the jar, with the plums, closed it up tight and replaced the paper over the lid. It's now on my shelf in a place of honor next to my unopened six-packs of Harley Davidson special edition PBR (1993) and Budweiser (1994).
>>7541760
Eat plums
>>7541826
I'll pass on that; they probably taste like the rest of the contents of the jar. I may pick up some fresh plums to soak in fresh booze, in a fresh jar.
>>7541838
Good choice.
>>7541817
In my experience fruit-based liqueurs can go off rather easily. I've had a bottle of Chambord go off in less than a year despite being stored in a cool dark place.
>>7541846
Open bottle or sealed? I'm surprised either way, figure all the alcohol and sugar should hold up quite well. And when you say "go off" do you mean the quality of the taste is lessened, or that it is completely undrinkable?
>>7541904
Opened.
It wasn't so bad that it made me want to vomit, but it was clearly not the way it was supposed to taste. I would call it undrinkable, yeah. The color turned pale and yellowy as well.
Bottle had been opened but it was resealed with the original cork stopper.
I doubt (or OP's) stuff actually spoiled in the sense that it contained bacteria. More like it went off due to oxidization or some other chemical (not biological) process.
Did OP ever get contacted back by the company?
10/10 thread
/ck/ needs more like these
OP is a pretty cool guy
>>7541760
Cut one of them in half?
>>7542127
I'd rather not open it all back up, the paper is already starting to tear and I doubt I can get it off and on again without making a big rip in it, would prefer to keep it intact as possible. Also don't think the inside of the plum would be anything special to look at.
I do have another curious bottle I will be posting in a bit though, and will be on the lookout for more in the future, combing through the shelves of the liquor store I've gotten these from
Yubi Vodka
Short for Yubiley, Russian for jubilee.
I can't seem to turn up much on google, aside from mini (50ml) bottles for sale or in collections. I can't even find a picture of a full size bottle.
Produced by the Liviz distillery, which no longer makes any mention of the brand.
http://liviz.cz/en/home.html
Listed but not available here
http://www.theliquorbarn.com/yubi-vodka-1l/
Mini bottles (Russian sites)
http://bondarenko.org/collection/vodka/1399/
http://minivodka.ru/index.php?productID=373
I found the taste quite agreeable, a good buy for $19, will be asking the store owner where he got it, and if more is available, not getting my hopes up though.
Imported by YUBI corp, jupiter florida, which as far as I can tell was active between 1995 and 2002.
https://www.myfloridalicense.com/LicenseDetail.asp?SID=&id=311747471945A8DB36BDE26AD03639AF
http://www.trademarkia.com/yubi-74676816.html
https://inventively.com/search/trademarks/owner/YUBI%20CORP.
>>7542692
forgot to post my last picture of the bottle.
Anyone out there who reads Cyrillic want to look into this?
