Screenshot: YouTube
Museum workers in New Jersey just uncovered an epic, centuries-old collection that would make Indiana Jones seethe with envy.
Employees of Liberty Hall Museum in Union New Jersey discovered a hoarding of wine that pre-dates the Revolutionary War … as in, this wine goes back to the founding of our country … as in, some of this wine was in preparation to celebrate the inauguration of John Adams, America’s second president.
Workers were renovating a room and had to break through a Prohibition-era wall and a locked wooden cage to get to the discovery. They were expecting to find a wine cellar, but not 50 bottles and 42 demijohns of rare Madeira dating back to the 1700s.
It’s reportedly the oldest known collection ever found in the United States.
“We had no idea how old the bottles were in there,” said John Kean, first cousin to New Jersey’s former governor and president of the museum. “We knew there would be wine, but had no idea as to the date. That was a major surprise.”
One label reads, “Imported by the late Robert Lenox, Esq, via Philadelphia in 1796.”
Robert friggin’ Lenox friggin’ Esquire. Do you know very many “Esquires?” I mean, good God.
If there was ever going to be a treasure trove of rare wine hiding behind a Prohibition-era wall it would be at this Liberty Hall place. The estate was built in 1772 and was home to New Jersey’s first elected governor, as well as William Livingston, a signer of the Constitution. Lenox was also a millionaire and major wine importer from New York City — that dude bit the dust in 1839. Here is wine lies unopened 180 years later. Incredible.
But if you want a sip, you may have to sell your Jeep first, broseph. According to Rare Wine Co. “nothing like this exists,” therefore each bottle could be worth up to $20,000.
Madeira was the “drink of choice” for 18th century “gentleman” because it was supposedly easy to ship and is one of the longest-lived wines in the world … which likely reads so much better than what our great, great, great grandchildren will read 200 years from now: “Miller Lite was the ‘drink of choice’ for many 21st century lads because it was easy to buy at local gas stations and was even easier to shotgun.”
Now check this out: A Couple Found A Secret Safe Under Their Kitchen And The Contents Are Incredible
Josh Helmuth is the editor of Crave Sports and a contributor to Mandatory.
