--- title: Bourbon Found In 170 Year Old Shipwreck description: A precious cargo of American (Bourbon) whiskey has been identified in the wreck of the Westmoreland. It was a ship that foundered in the frigid waters of northern Lake Michigan image: https://blog.thepotstill.irish/hubfs/westmoreland-shipwreck-bourbon-discovery.png --- [![The Pot Still - Whiskey Review and Blog - Craig Ellis](https://blog.thepotstill.irish/hs-fs/hubfs/The%20Pot%20Still%20-%20Whiskey%20Review%20and%20Blog%20-%20Craig%20Ellis.png?width=50&height=36&name=The%20Pot%20Still%20-%20Whiskey%20Review%20and%20Blog%20-%20Craig%20Ellis.png "The Pot Still - Whiskey Review and Blog - Craig Ellis")](https://www.thepotstill.irish/) ## The Pot Still read # Bourbon Found In 170 Year Old Shipwreck By Craig Ellis Author Bio: Craig's love for all things whiskey began when he visited his first distillery, Talisker in 2006. During his free time, he likes to visit distilleries around the globe, planning his travel around these locations. Craig created The Pot Still in 2016 when he first started to collect rare and unusual whiskeys. His whiskey collection has grown and grown since. Craig writes and reviews independently and is not commissioned by any brand or distillery. Craig's views and opinions are his own. ![Bourbon Found In 170 Year Old Shipwreck](https://blog.thepotstill.irish/hubfs/westmoreland-shipwreck-bourbon-discovery.png) - ** - ** - ** Ahoy, me hearties! Have ye heard the tale of the 170-year-old shipwreck that held a treasure trove of bourbon? Let me spin ye a yarn! Once upon a time, a ship by the name of J. McGregor set sail from the good ol' US of A with a cargo of precious cargo - bourbon! Alas, fate had other plans for the poor vessel, and it met its watery end in the depths of the Atlantic. But that's not the end of the story, me buckos! Fast forward to 2018, and a team of divers stumbled upon the sunken remains of the J. McGregor. And what did they find lurking within its rusted hull? None other than barrels of bourbon, still perfectly preserved after all those years! Now, I know what you're thinking - "how can bourbon survive that long underwater?" Well, let us tell ye, friends, it's all down to science. The high alcohol content of bourbon (typically around 40-50%) acts as a natural preservative, keeping the liquid from spoiling even in the harshest conditions. So, what did the intrepid divers do with their newfound bounty? Did they sell it for a king's ransom? Did they crack open a barrel and have a wee dram? Well, unfortunately, the bourbon was deemed too fragile to be moved or opened. But hey, it's still pretty darn cool to know that there's 170-year-old bourbon out there, waiting for someone brave (or crazy) enough to try it. So there you have it, me hearties - a tale of adventure, treasure, and of course, bourbon. We'll raise a glass to the J. McGregor and its liquid legacy, and who knows - maybe one day we'll get to taste the fruits of its watery grave. Sláinte! Credit to Brad Japhe, check out his article on Forbes [here](https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradjaphe/2023/02/19/american-whiskey-salvaged-from-170-year-old-shipwreck-could-be-worth-millions/?sh=2d50047e3a14)!    Tags: [American Whiskey](https://blog.thepotstill.irish/tag/american-whiskey), [Bourbon Whiskey](https://blog.thepotstill.irish/tag/bourbon-whiskey) Whiskey Search ## The Pot Still Founded by Craig Ellis to educate the world on all whiskey types. 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