Dry Sack Sherry Williams & Humbert Vintage Collector's Bottle Sherry 75 cl

Some bottles just get poured. Others carry a story every time they're taken down from a shelf.

A faded paper label, a German import stamp and an old regulatory seal from Jerez - this Dry Sack Sherry from Williams & Humbert once stood in a German wine shop, waiting to be poured.

Expert's Description

Dry Sack Sherry Williams & Humbert is a Spanish Sherry from Jerez, blended from Amontillado and Oloroso with a touch of Pedro Ximénez, aged in American oak casks under the solera system.

The bottle carries a seal from the Consejo Regulador de la Denominación de Origen Jerez-Xérès-Sherry and an import label from Epikur in Koblenz am Rhein, at the time part of the Deinhard wine house, which handled a large share of German imports of Spanish and Scotch brands through the 1960s and 1970s. The typeface on the label, the English-language storage instructions and the "Printed in Spain" mark all point to that same era.

The name Dry Sack comes from the Spanish word saca, the term for the wine drawn from the solera for bottling. When Williams & Humbert launched the Sherry in 1906, it was sold wrapped in coarse sackcloth, and the name has stuck ever since.

As a collector's bottle, no guarantee can be given for drinkability or the quality of the contents. We sell this bottle as a historical artefact, not as one intended for drinking.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried figs, raisins and a touch of orange peel meet a light nutty edge.

Palate

Medium-bodied and softly sweet, with ripe pear, caramel and a hint of sun-warmed oak.

Finish

Long and lightly spiced, with dried fruit and a faint bitterness from the old oak.

Specifications

Name: Dry Sack Sherry Williams & Humbert
Distillery: Williams & Humbert
Region/Country: Jerez de la Frontera, Andalusia, Spain
Type: Sherry (Wine)
ABV: Estimated 19.5-20%
Size: Estimated 70 CL
Cask type: American Oak Casks (Solera)
Bottled: Estimated 1960s-1970s
Serving suggestion: Serve lightly chilled or at room temperature in a small Sherry glass, ideally with nuts, hard cheese or dark chocolate

Flavour Profile

Sherry-aged · Sweet · Nutty · Fruity · Spiced

Did You Know?

Williams & Humbert keeps some of its oldest solera wines in a vault called the Sacristía, where the oldest casks date all the way back to the winery's founding in 1877.

Frequently Asked Questions about Dry Sack Sherry Williams & Humbert

What is Dry Sack Sherry?

Dry Sack is Williams & Humbert's best-known Sherry, a blend of Amontillado and Oloroso with a touch of Pedro Ximénez. It has been the winery's signature product since 1906.

Can this Sherry still be drunk today?

No guarantee can be given for drinkability on a bottle of this age. We sell it as a historical collector's bottle, and any consumption is entirely at the buyer's own risk.

Why is it called Dry Sack?

The name comes from the Spanish word saca, the term for wine drawn from the solera for bottling. The Sherry was originally sold wrapped in coarse sackcloth.

How should the bottle be stored?

The original label recommends letting the bottle rest upright for a short time before serving, so any sediment can settle. Otherwise, store it cool and dark, away from direct sunlight.

What does the label reveal about the bottle's age?

The import mark from Epikur in Koblenz, at the time part of the Deinhard wine house, along with the typeface and print marks on the label, point to a bottling in the 1960s or 1970s.

What style of Sherry is Dry Sack?

It's a medium-dry, softly sweet blend, where Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez add body and sweetness, while Amontillado contributes nutty notes and acidity.

Where does Williams & Humbert come from?

The winery was founded in 1877 in Jerez de la Frontera by Alexander Williams and Arthur Humbert, and remains one of the region's largest Sherry producers, with more than 65,000 casks in its cellars today.