Noodler's American Aristocracy - 3oz Bottled Ink
3oz (90ml) glass bottle of Noodler's American Aristocracy fountain pen ink. A quick-drying ink ideal for lefties or anyone who needs a fast drying ink. There are three possible color variations within each batch - this is intentional from Noodler's (see background story below). We will not be able to honor any special requests for specific colors - you will have a 1 in 3 chance of getting any particular variation.
From Noodler's Ink:
Henry Gage (3rd Viscount Gage) son of Thomas Gage (Royal Military Governor of Massachusetts) was responsible for the purchase of an estimated 19,000 bottles of wine including the most popular at the time among the aristocrats: red port, dark sherry, and Madeira… As the aristocrats surely were not giving the wine to those commoners paying the excessively punitive taxation of empire, but instead were using it to pry influence and connections from fellow aristocrats…in order to better distribute the largess and grandeur of state power and wealth amongst themselves – Noodler’s Ink has modeled “American Aristocracy” as an ink bottled individually, one bottle at a time with each bottle thus being purposefully unique…to resemble a conservative colonial semblance of the three most aristocratic colours: red port, dark sherry, and Madeira.
These reflect a series of plum burgundy hues – a very old style royal purple ink, traditionalist in tone due to the distance of the colonial era and age of the collective memory of it – yet fairly dramatic in the contrast of its lines upon the page. Hopefully, the memory of that “ancient regime” may give pause to those who may otherwise be prepared to embrace a new one that is surprisingly similar in its motives and behaviors.
It is being introduced simultaneously on both sides of the Atlantic with an apology to His Majesty, King George III of Great Britain printed upon the content side of every label. As it is hoped any form of aristocracy never again establishes a permanent presence in both New England and Olde England… the ink is not bulletproof. A swatch of the ink utilizing a fresh cork from Portugal seems appropriate given the provenance of English aristocratic wines….
- Condition
- New
- Brand
- Noodler's
- Type
- Bottled Ink
- Color
- Purple
- Bottle Material
- Glass
- Bottle Opening Diameter
- 23.6mm (0.93in)
- Fast Drying
- Yes
- Fluorescent
- No
- Shimmer
Whether or not the ink contains glittery particles.
- No
- Freeze Resistant
Whether or not an ink is specially formulated to better withstand freezing temperatures.
- No
- Volume
- 3oz
- Iron Gall
Ink made from iron salts and tannic acids. Though quite permanent and waterproof, these inks are typically known for causing chemical corrosion to metal pen parts (especially the nib) and should be used sparingly or with less-valuable pens.
- No
- Lubricated
Whether or not an ink is specially formulated to increase flow in your pen.
- No
- Pigmented
Whether or not the ink contains finely-ground solid particles in liquid suspension.
- No
- Scented
- No
- Water Resistant
Whether or not the ink, once dried on the paper, will resist being washed away with water.
- No
Customer Reviews
Like other reviewers I was looking for a wine-dark ink in royal purple—any of the three swatches on the Goulet page would have worked. My 3oz. bottle turned out to be a musty olive green. If this is the color of wine during the founding era, it spoiled long ago in at the bottom of Boston harbor.
This ink dries almost instantly but the payment for this trait is that it also bleeds through everything massively. On cheap paper you can expect massive feathering as well, so it's unusable outside of the specialized environment of a well-appointed desk. The color itself was definitely not the one I wanted either. If I was a lefty looking for something that would dry quick and didn't mind having to write exclusively on nice paper, I could recommend this. Otherwise, avoid.
This ink is like playing senior night Bingo. You never know what color you'll get. I got the reddish brown color. Its a lovely color, reminds me of Diamine Oxblood - browner though. Its smooth and well lubricated but dry for Noodler's. Has excellent shading and I've seen NO sheen on any paper.
The color is neat; No shading/sheen, but a nice dark maroon. But the quick dry formula is great for quick notes- no need to dab the paper or wait 30 seconds! Dry as a bone in <5 seconds for me.
I was looking for an ink that was different, but, not black or blue.Picked this one because of the story as well as the interesting color. Excellent result.Writes well and the color is fantastic.Sorry I don't have enough experience with inks to judge all the parameters. I just know I like the color and it performs well for me (medium nibs).
FAQs about Bottled Ink
Which pens can accept this ink?
Any of these fountain pens will work with bottled ink. Typically, as long as the pen can be filled with a converter, has a built-in filling mechanism like a piston, or can be eyedropper-filled, it can accept bottled ink.
What is shading, sheening, or shimmering ink?
Shading - A common (and often desired) result of a fountain pen ink pooling in certain parts of a letter when writing, so that the color and saturation of the ink appears different within a single letter or word. This characteristic cannot be achieved with ballpoint or rollerball pens and is a very appealing aspect of fountain pen use for those particularly drawn to all the pretty ink colors.
Sheen - Characteristic of a fountain pen ink where when ink pools another color can be seen on top of the ink, especially when looked at in different light angles using certain paper types. There is no way to guarantee an ink will sheen, but using a larger nib on a pen will help obtain sheening results in your writing.
Shimmering - Fountain pen ink that has small particles of glitter mixed in.
Is shimmering ink safe to use in fountain pens?
Yes! Shimmering ink is a great way to add some flare to your writing. We have found that a larger nib will showcase more shimmering particles while writing, but you can use any nib size and shimmering ink. All the ink we sell is safe for use in fountain pens.
You can learn more in our blog: How to Write with Shimmering Ink.
My ink smells funny, is it safe to use?
Generally yes! Ink does not smell good- it usually has a chemical smell, along with other scents such as sulfur, rubber, chemicals or even paint. However, as long as you’re not seeing anything floating in the ink, it should be safe to use.
It’s cold and my ink froze; is it safe to use?
Yes, frozen ink will not hurt your pen (after it’s thawed of course!) The issue with ink freezing is primarily a concern because certain glass bottles could break as the water-based ink expands, and then you’d have a mess!
What is your return policy for bottled ink?
We do not accept returns for ink that has been used. Otherwise, we accept returns on unused ink products for up to 30 days from purchase. You can read all our Return Policies here.
To initiate a return, please submit a request at the Return Portal. Our Customer Care team might reach out to you for more information.