Old Yum Bourbon Vintage T-Shirt

Not available in stores

When we think of a 12-year aged bourbon, we think yum, as that tends to be the sweet spot. After that, the oakiness and tannins start to take over.

But older bourbons have been bottled. Pappy Van Winkle and Elijah Craig both have 23-year- bourbons. But the oldest may be the Final Reserve James Thompson and Brother Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey at 45 years.

The source is the Yellowstone Distillery in Louisville, which was purchased by Glenmore in 1944. Normally these barrels would have been bottled as a small bourbon brand called Yellowstone Mellow Mash, popular in New York and Japan. The stock ended up not being bottled, and then America's whiskey took a dive in popularity the 1970s and 1980s, as other spirits, like vodka ruled the decades.

So the barrels sat and sat and waited and wait. Like the Jimmy Webb song, Highwayman:

"I slipped and fell into the wet concrete below
They buried me in that great tomb that knows no sound
But I am still around.
I'll always be around, and around, and around, and around, and around..."

The grandson of an Irish immigrant , James "buddy" Thompson kept watch over the nearly forgotten barrels. He figured it was time to bottle them.

There are three different vintages, the first of which was made available at the Frazier History Museum in Louisville. It was a 115 proof and retailed for $1800. Proceeds were directed toward charity.

There is a Balvenie 40 year Scotch. The distillers grows their own barley and make their own casks. A craft whiskey, to say the least. We googled it: a bottle is now about four or five thousand US dollars. A glass would be about $295, if you can find it.

If you don 't have $4,000 for a bottle or $295 for a glass, and you'd like to contemplate a tee that is far less expensive, is made of the finest distilled textiles, and will last longer than any bottle, here is one of our favorite shirts, which works in a surprising array of colors. Old Yum, a fantasy full of the oakiness and tannins that you might imagine. You'll be dressed and ready to tell some tales.

The Vintage Look
The shirt has a unique distressed, vintage look; cool, subtle, like washed in a creek. Like maybe it's seen a few things. The fabric remains the highest quality (see below).

The T-shirt
Our tees are the highest quality you will find. 100% combed and ring-spun cotton by Bella Canvas, a USA-based company. Feels soft and lightweight, with the right amount of stretch. It's comfortable and very flattering for both men and women.

Free Shipping -- Please allow from 7 to 14 days for shipping.

• 100% combed and ring-spun cotton (Heather colors contain polyester)
• Ash color is 99% combed and ring-spun cotton, 1% polyester
• Heather colors are 52% combed and ring-spun cotton, 48% polyester
• Athletic and Black Heather are 90% combed and ring-spun cotton, 10% polyester
• Heather Prism colors are 99% combed and ring-spun cotton, 1% polyester
• Fabric weight: 4.2 oz (142 g/m2)
• Pre-shrunk fabric
• Side-seamed construction

Size guide