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ANTIQUES PEEK by Jessica Kosinski
ANTIQUES PEEK

Bourbon: The Gentleman’s Choice

t is impossible to talk about the occurred in a Kentucky newspaper stamp method was required under the Bottled-
gentlemen of the 19th and early in 1821. There is a county called in-Bond Act.
I20th century without conjuring Bourbon County in Kentucky. The general appearance of the bottle is also
up images of people gathered However, when the term was popu- a clue to its age. Look for air bubbles in the
together enjoying the alcoholic larized in the 1850s, it was largely glass and other imperfections indicative of
beverages of the day. One of those associated with Bourbon Street in older design processes. Lines that are too clean
most enjoyed beverages was New Orleans, Louisiana. It was not typically indicate modern production. Also,
whiskey. In the 1800s, a new name until later that many people sug- most bourbon that was bottled at the time
for a certain type of American-made gested the whiskey might truly be was sealed with a cork. When purchasing a
whiskey was coined – “bourbon.” named after the Kentucky county. supposedly antique bottle that is still intact,
Today, bourbon is still one of the Regardless of the origins of the check the cork for signs of age. Also, look for
most popular types of whiskey. It is Vintage Old Crow name, historians agree that one man signs that some liquid has evaporated from the
routinely produced in distilleries all Bourbon Bottle popularized a new distilling process bottle. Evaporation occurs over time because
over the United States. Let’s take a in the 1830s that led to the unique corks are porous.
peek at its history, as well as the bourbon- taste of the bourbon we all know
related collectibles from that era you can still and love today. In fact, he was given Bourbon-Related Collectibles
find today. the “Father of Modern Bourbon” One of the top bourbon-related
title. His name was Dr. James 19th century collectibles is the flask
A Revolution Leads to an Evolution Crow. Dr. James Crow was a or decanter. Flasks and decanters
The Revolutionary War took place from Scottish chemist. He was in no way were made from multiple materials
1775 to 1783. During that time, the associated with slavery or the “Jim at the time, including metal and
conflict with the British severely limited access Crow Laws” named after a fictional glass. Flasks were quite popular in
to sugar. As some of you may know, sugar is slave. Dr. Crow popularized the the 1800s, and they were often
the main ingredient in rum. Rum had “sour mash” method of whiskey personalized for individuals or
previously been a popular beverage, but it was production. Some sources claim he businesses, like saloons. That was
time to find a more accessible replacement. even invented the process, though because the initial sellers sold their
That is when grain-distilled beverages began that is difficult to confirm. Walla Walla Saloon bourbon and other spirits in barrels,
Bourbon Flask
to take over. Old Crow Bourbon creating the need for something
Whiskey became the top small to transfer servings into for consump-
Powerful Influences Cause a whiskey in America. Its fans tion. In 2017, a glass whiskey flask made for
Whiskey Drinking Boom included Ulysses S. Grant and the Walla Walla Saloon in Washington sold
Bourbon may have never Mark Twain. for almost $5,000. Note that glass flasks or
become popular without people decanters are often the most popular among
in positions of power – Collecting Antique Bourbon collectors who want to purchase bourbon
“Influencers” of their time. One Collecting antique bourbon containers that are still full and sealed. That is
of those people was George bottles (also called “dusty” because it is impossible to tell how much
Washington. He actually became bourbon) is a hugely popular liquid is in a flask or the condition it is in when
one of the top rye whiskey enterprise today. Some of the one cannot see inside the flask.
distillers of his day. Although Antique Whiskey Glass most popular brands to collect Of course, drinking glasses were also
bourbon is distilled from corn, include Old Crow, Kentucky popular for bourbon consumption at the time.
President Washington’s rye whiskey business Blue Ribbon, Belmont Straight, and Old Rip Most of them were short glass tumblers with
helped to popularize grain whiskey, in general. Van Winkle. Just be careful when making a varying styles. Many of them were hand-blown
Another famous figure involved in the purchase. The most important thing to know and often had elaborate patterns, such as the
whiskey-drinking boom was Thomas is it is illegal to sell antique bourbon without a horn of plenty pattern. Although they were
Jefferson, but not for the reasons you might license, so always purchase it from a licensed often clear glass, some were
think. Mr. Jefferson hated whiskey, but he had auction house or another licensed source. Also, entirely colored glass. Others
concerns that those against the whiskey tax of many modern bottles are designed to look featured a mixture of clear and
the day would start illegal whiskey antique in an effort to fool collectors. To colored glass, but those were
distilleries. Therefore, he worked hard to get recognize a truly antique bottle of bourbon, it less common in most areas.
the tax eliminated, inadvertently leading to is important to keep these key facts in mind: Finding authentic antique
more whiskey production. – Until the 1880s, most bourbon was kept whiskey tumblers today
in barrels, not bottles. can be somewhat of a
The Births of – By law, distillers could not bottle their challenge, and the movie
Bourbon and own bourbon in Kentucky until the 1890s. industry is greatly to
Modern Bourbon – Early lithographers made labels for most blame. Many movies
There is some 1800s bourbon bottles. Machine-printed have featured reproduc-
debate over how labels were rare. tions of known whiskey
the word “bourbon” Knowing changing practices relating to tumbler styles from that
was applied to a bottling bourbon can also help you check for period. Thus, copies
specific type of age and authenticity. For example, James have become popular
R.B. Cutter corn-distilled E. Pepper started using a strip stamp with and you need to be
Bourbon Bottle, 1800s whiskey. The earliest his name on it to seal bourbon bottles he careful when seeking 19th Century Cut Glass
evidence of the term being used in print produced in the 1890s. By 1897, the strip out originals. Bourbon Decanter

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