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Mount Vernon Whiskey Sells For $32,000 At DISCUS Charity Auction

DISCUS President & CEO Adm. Peter Cressy holds the Bill Clinton-signed bottle of George Washington's Rye during the Spirit of Mount Vernon auction October 14, 2014. Photo courtesy DISCUS.October 14, 2014 – A rare bottle of George Washington’s Whiskey signed by former President Bill Clinton sold for $32,000 tonight at the annual “Spirit of Mount Vernon” gala sponsored by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. The bottle was #11 of 24 created when a group of master distillers gathered in 2003 at the restored George Washington’s Distillery at Mount Vernon to produce a rye whiskey using the original recipe found in the mansion’s archives. The whiskey was bottled three years later, with proceeds from the bottles that have been auctioned since going to charity. This year’s auction raised more than $450,o0o, with $400,000 to benefit Mount Vernon’s educational programs and $50,000 to benefit Wounded Warriors Family Support.

The Clinton bottle was one of only two signed by former Presidents that have been auctioned so far. In 2007, a bottle signed by George H.W. Bush brought a winning bid of $35,ooo at the Spirit of Mount Vernon gala. The winning bidder’s name has not been released.

This was the 13th annual Spirit of Mount Vernon gala, continuing a partnership that began in 2000 when DISCUS members agreed to fund the reconstruction of Washington’s original distillery, which was in use from 1797 to 1814 and was one of the largest whisky distilleries in the original 13 states. The annual events have raised more than $3.2 million to benefit Mount Vernon’s educational programs and other charities.

Editor’s note: This story was updated with additional information on the proceeds of the charity and the history of George Washington’s Distillery at Mount Vernon. 

Links: Distilled Spirits Council of the United States | George Washington’s Distillery | Mount Vernon