Tap Handle #860: Big Rock - McNally's Reserve (v1)

Tap size:  9.5"

Rarity:  less than 10 seen, tap no longer produced

Mounting:  internal 3/8" nut

Way back in profile #382, I made a post about a Big Rock McNally's Reserve tap that had the appearance of a castle tower. That tap is what I now refer to as version 2, first produced around 2012. The McNally's Reserve tap in this profile I refer to as version 1, as it was first produced in 2004. It came to me from fellow collector Bill Gibson, and is part of the "Bill Gibson Wing" of the Museum. It was made by the same Canadian tap handle company that produced many of the early ultra-rare Big Rock taps, such as Chinook and Canvasback, and their initials are stamped into the bottom of one side of the tap base, with the date as part of the stamp. Astute observers will note that the stack of rocks on this tap appears on several other early Big Rock taps. However, there are some design features of this tap that are very different and noteworthy. The shield itself, the focus of the tap, almost looks as if it were 3D printed, due to grooves that look like layer lines on part of the backside. On the front of the shield, the background material looks and feels like real wood, while the lion symbol is a highly polished metal. At the top of the tap is the common resin banner-shaped marquee common to Big Rock, but instead of the name of the brewery, it has the name "McNally's"; the Big Rock brand does not appear anywhere on the tap. The sign that runs vertical up the base has the name "Reserve" on it. That sign is also unusual because instead of the standard sculpted resin sign, it appears to be either molded plastic, or possibly 3D printed. Back in 2004, 3D printing was very cutting edge and was nowhere near as widely used as it is now. These features are very unique for an early Big Rock tap. Due to the fact that I've never seen one of these on the secondary market - the few I have seen were in private collections - I've speculated that probably 10 or less of these taps exist, and it's impossible to determine what the market value might be. This version 1 tap is prized by collectors of Big Rock taps (especially Canadian tap collectors), as well as collectors who value scarce taps in general.

For more about McNally's Reserve see this post, and for more about Big Rock see this post.