Whether you are whipping up a mint julep for Derby season or settling into a hot toddy by the fireplace at the holidays, bourbon (and other spirits) are, for many of us, a special addition to any celebration; but, are you familiar with the lengthy history of distilled spirits? Although records provide evidence of beer and wine production almost 5,000 years ago, it was not until the 8th Century that the distillation process was developed. Used, in some way, by nearly every major civilization, the very names of the liquors produced by this method give us a clue about how early people embraced it: whiskey means, literally, “water of life.” The earliest products of these efforts, as well as the vapors they produced, were probably first used for medicinal purposes.
Eventually, of course, we began consuming spirits like whiskey, gin, and vodka alongside wine and beer, and into the late 19th Century, having a drink before dinner, with dinner or after was fairly commonplace. Industrious farmers had been supplementing their income (and lining the cellar walls) by distilling and packaging spirits for decades. In fact, the average Virginia distillery in the early 19th Century produced about 650 gallons of whiskey per year, valued at roughly $475 (the equivalent of $7500 today). By mid century, private label liquor producers were capable of much larger production and shipment to merchants in major centers of commerce for resale.
As our collective love affair with cocktails grew, so did the Prohibition sentiment. Local attempts to outlaw the sale of alcoholic beverages met with dogged determination: one tavern owner in Massachusetts got around the laws in his town by charging patrons to see a striped pig - but, drinks were free. Nationally, the prohibition movement won political favor with the adoption of the 18th Amendment (prohibiting the purchase, production and transportation of intoxicating liquor), but, by all accounts, it was a complete failure. While accurate statistics from the period are sparse, most historians agree that not only were more people drinking by the end of Prohibition - they were also drinking more. The overall economic effect of the 18th Amendment was devastating, and it was ultimately repealed in 1933.
For antique collectors, the rise and fall (and rise again) of the alcohol industry, along with the effects on lifestyle, provide a multitude of intriguing collecting possibilities. Early whiskey flasks, tasters and advertising material offer buyers with 19th Century interests the opportunity to round out a collection with other material culture of the period. For the nonconformists among us, Prohibition-era documents, bottles and related paraphernalia (yes, including unopened wine and liquor - see sidebar) are a great reminder of how easily societal sentiment can jeopardize the freedoms we often take for granted. Whatever your reason, consider exploring the world of spirits to quench your collecting thirst.
Sidebar: Late last year in Westlake, Ohio, one of life’s great surprises awaited a dutiful son who walked his elderly father one last time through their home of 30+ years that had been emptied only days earlier. Directing his son to an obscure spot behind a panel and under the game room stairs, the father told of an opportune purchase in the 1970s that had been tucked away and nearly forgotten. “The Westlake Cache” (as it became known) was saved from certain destruction when the father and a few of his friends negotiated for more than 4 cases of pre-Prohibition rye whiskey and gin from the heirs to a prominent Cleveland estate whose family had been instrumental in the establishment of The National Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). Hoping to avoid an embarrassing public acknowledgement of the extensive cache, the heirs happily struck a quick deal with the men who were determined to “assist with this worthy mission to save the liquor from its current predicament and certain death at the hands of the criminally sober.” Sadly, the father passed away in December, 2012, shortly after he shared the secrets of the Westlake Cache with his son. Garth’s is pleased to bring the Westlake Cache to auction in the fall of 2013. For more information about the collection, or to inquire about bidding, contact info@garths.com.
"The Westlake Cache,” a collection of more than 4 cases of Old Quaker Whiskey and Coronet Gin, bottled more than a decade prior to the start of Prohibition. Selling at Garth’s Gentleman’s Auction (Fall 2013), with a total estimated value of approximately $50,000.
A golden amber pressed glass whiskey taster (approx. 2” high), c.1875-1900. Sold at Garth’s, $150.
An “Original Prescription Form For Medicinal Liquor,” written for Waide McCutcheon just prior to the repeal of the 18th Amendment. Selling at Garth’s Gentleman’s Auction (Fall 2013), Est: $100 - $200.
A blown “pillar mold” (Pittsburgh) glass whiskey measure (approx. 4” high), circa 1850. Private collection, $400.
A fruitwood, pocket-size cased set of “Hydrostatical glass bubbles for ascertaining the Strength of Spirits” by William Twaddell, Glasgow, circa 1795. The delicate, blown glass graduated bubbles are each numbered to correspond to a rating on the enclosed chart, ranging from “Grogg” to “Proof Whiskey” to “High Wines.” Private collection, $450.
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