Here we go, a dive into an old dusty ND – the 1941 Old Sunny Brook. The Sunny Brook brand has been around since the late 1800s and is one of those brands that’ss changed hands so many times that it gets a bit tough to keep it all straight. Though what I do know is that in 1933 it was sold to National Distillers under their American Medicinal Spirits and remained under ND until ND was bought by Beam.
What I can also tell you is that the distillery Sunny Brook was being made out of was closed in 1975 and it was moved to the Old Crow / Old Grand-Dad distillery. So pre-’75 is really the dusty stuff you want to look for if you’re looking for uniqueness. Though if you’re looking for taste I had a different opinion in the 1941 Old Sunny Brook review below.
1941 Old Sunny Brook Info
Region: Kentucky, USA
Distiller: National Distillers
Mashbill: Corn, Rye and Malted Barley
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: 4 Years
ABV: 47%
Price: NA – Auction, Specialty Store or Private Seller
1941 Old Sunny Brook Review
EYE
Caramel
NOSE
Oak, butterscotch, OBE, complex baking spice, a touch biscuity, herbal and candied citrus.
PALATE
OBE, herbal, roasted corn, oak, spice, candied citrus and a bit of butterscotch.
FINISH
Medium fade fo butterscotch, oak, spice and OBE.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Ok balance, medium body and a soft feel.
OVERALL
A good whiskey, a with a simple old style bourbon character and a slight pine-like herbal underpinning which is something I’ve found in old bottles of other ND products. Don’t know if it was there fresh or it’s a product of sitting glass for 76 years but it’s actually quite nice and it works well with the butterscotch notes. The whiskey is a bit boring, but at least it isn’t bad.
Drawing parallels to things from the same era I like ’49 Old Grand-Dad and ’43 Old Forester more – especially that Old Forester. Both of these whiskeys carry more of an oak influence and carry more of that elusive depth I’m alway seeking. Still, I’d never turn down a glass of 1941 Old Sunny Brook if offered, so there’s that.
SCORE: 83/100 (B)
1941 Old Sunny Brook Review - Score Breakdown
Summary
1941 Old Sunny Brook is ok, though to be honest I like the 70s Sunny Brook more.
Overall
- Nose - 83
- Palate - 83
- Finish - 83
- Balance, Body & Feel - 83
I was visiting my 91 year old mother and she gave me an unopened 1 pint bottle of Old Sunny Broke Brand Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. I think it was bottled around 1940. Front label is mint. Tax stamps are intact. It would appear over the years there has been some evaporation, but I don’t know. Is there a collector value to a bottle like this?
There is, but it’s illegal for you to sell on your own. You’d have to send to an auction and a single bottle is never worth it because most of your $$ will be eaten up by insurance, transport, listing fees, hammer fees, etc.
I’ve had a half empty pint of Old Sunny Brook in my possession for I don’t know how long… Heck, I don’t even remember how I came to have it… I’ve never opened it to take a sniff or a sip… The bottle has what I believe is a “tax stamp” that’s dated Oct 31 195? (can’t determine the final digit)… What I can make out is, “23 4237039, D66 OCT 31 195?”… I was just curious if you had any insight or knowledge that you would be willing to share..? Thank you for your time and consideration, have a wonderful day…
Hey Tyler, Sounds like this is a 1950s bottle, though you obviously already knew that. Sunny Brook was very good bourbon from back in the day, though if it’s only 1/2 full and never been opened then it’s likely going to taste terrible as the seal hasn’t held and it’s likely oxidized pretty badly.
I have a fifth of old sunny brook whiskey from 1945 that’s never been opened, can you tell me how much it’s worth?
It’s worth opening with your friends and enjoying it :) They’re not super rare, don’t go for much in auctions and are illegal for regular citizens to sell. Cheers!
I have a quart bottle of old SUNNY BROOK whiskey that I gave me grandfather in the 40’s for a Christmas present. It has never been opened and the labels are in good shape except the neck label has started to peel. Is it worth any thing or should open it for a friend. I am not a Bourbon drinker.
Far more value in sharing it with a friend.
Can’t believe I stumbled across your site! My paternal grandfather was one of the head distillers at Old Sunny Brook, post WWII until he passed in the late 1960s (and my dad was a summertime “security guard” at the distillery in Louisville when home from college.) Unfortunately I’ve never been able to taste my grandpa’s bourbon! But I am very glad you liked what their distillery produced!
Wow, that’s amazing. I’m glad to meet you!
Do you know what years they bottled sunny brook at 93 proof .
Sorry, I don’t Bill :/
Yes. I was cleaning and found it. Forgot all about it until today. Decided to look it up and found this website to talk about it.
That’s so cool. Glad you still have it. I love the look of these old bottles :)
In the 60’s my grandfather died. My grandmother died years later. When we cleaned her house, we found an old bottle of sunny brook whiskey hidden on the top shelf of the cabinet all the way in the back. I have kept that bottle all these years. It was empty.
That’s a cool memory, thanks for sharing it. Do you still have the bottle?
Love the “dusty” reviews! I want to jump into dusty hunting. Are there on line resources for locating old whiskey? No luck so far in finding any bottles at local shops.
Cheers RG357. No real resources, you just have to spend a lot of time looking through old liquor stores. I don’t know where you’re at, but in Los Angeles it’s mostly hunted out. Haven’t found much in the last 6 months.