Unopened Whiskey Bottles

[Tecumseh]

Hi all,

An i-friend of mine from another board found some bottles in the basement after his grandmother passed away. I'll copy the information here:

"My Grandmother passed recently and in the basement, I found an old bottle of whiskey still in the original paper packaging. It is bottle of Hermitage Pure Rye Whisky from the W.A. Gaines Co. Distillers. The government seal over the cork (bottle is has never been opened) states it was made in fall of 1908 and bottled in fall of 1916, so it had to have been from my great grandfather.

A quick search revealed that W.A. Gaines went belly up during prohibition.

I have no intention of parting with this, but do wonder what type of value this would have, considering it is unopened and with the original packaging. And, it was 50% alcohol in 1916 when bottle, what are the chances this is drinkable (again, no intention to do so, just curious)?"

He also later posted pics, and added a second bottle:

"You'll notice there is another bottle. I talked to my Dad this morning about the bottle, etc. I had known my Great Grandfather had a Pharmacy in Detroit in the early 1900’s that the family eventually lost during the great depression. I had never heard the story of how he used to barter with the local doctors and his favorite thing to get was booze. Anyway, the second bottle is a bottle of scotch, as labeled from George Ballentine & Son, Limited – aged 17 years. It does not have a date, but appears to be similar to the other bottle. It was given to my Dad from my Grandmother a while back. "

Does anyone know what these bottles are worth?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7474357@N04/431770770/sizes/l/



EDIT: Mystery Solved

"Thank you for your email and helpful images...

Anyway, auction estimates are as follows, these are provisional figures
subject to confirmation upon a physical inspection:

Ballantines-Early 20th Century USD $200-240
Hermitage Rye-1906 USD $250-280


Best regards,


Martin Green
Whisky Specialist
Bonhams
22 Queen Street
Edinburgh
EH2 1JX
Mob: 07775 842626
Tel: 0131 225 2266 Main Reception
Fax: 0131 220 2547

www.bonhams.com/whisky

www.bonhams.com/whiskysale "

 

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[SODABOTTLEBOB]

Tecumseh ~

Welcome to TreasureNet!

I was surfing the various threads and your's caught my eye. I collect ACL (Applied Color Label) soda bottles, and am by no means an expert on whiskey bottles. But due to my familiarity with bottles in general, I would say your Hermitage Whisky (odd spelling of whiskey) w/original paper container is easily worth $150.00 - $200.00. It is a fine example of a collectible early 20th century whiskey, and would make a great addition to any collection. Note: It appears that some of the whiskey may have evaporated or leaked out. Unless, of course, it was just "short filled." May possibly be spoiled and not healthy to drink!

Also, I couldn't help but notice your profile name. Did you know there is a Tecumseh soda bottle from the 1950s - 60s? (Pictured below). And that Tecumseh, meaning "shooting star" was one of the greatest Native Americans, and was born in the Scioto River Valley, south of Columbus, Ohio, around 1765? Tecumseh was known by some as the "Lincoln" among the Indian peoples, and made it his career to unite the Indians of North America in an attempt to put an end to the white man's advances into Indian territory.

A mint condition Tecumseh bottle is worth about $50.00.

If you care to use the image for your profile, please feel free to do so.

SODABOTTLEBOB

 

[Unicorn]

Welcome to TN Tecumse. Not sure about your whisky bottles or whether they are drinkable. Over in the UK, Scotch whisky's are stored for years in oak casks before they are bottled, and are still drinkable.... hic....scuse me, a good malt whisky can be ohhhhh!!!! really old.

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

Tecumseh ~

I hope you don't mind that I took the liberty of cropping and posting the image of your bottles. I thought it might be easier this way for others to view and enjoy.

Best Regards,

SODABOB

 

[Harry Pristis]

Tecumseh ~

Welcome to TreasureNet!

I was surfing the various threads and your's caught my eye. I collect ACL (Applied Color Label) soda bottles, and am by no means an expert on whiskey bottles. But due to my familiarity with bottles in general, I would say your Hermitage Whisky (odd spelling of whiskey) w/original paper container is easily worth $150.00 - $200.00. It is a fine example of a collectible early 20th century whiskey, and would make a great addition to any collection. . . .

A mint condition Tecumseh bottle is worth about $50.00. . . .

SODABOTTLEBOB

I think Bob is being overly-exhuberant about the values of these whiskey bottles. They are worth only what someone is willing to pay for them. I don't know any labelled, twentieth-century whiskey collectors -- never met one.

I'd say that the only realistic way to put a value on these bottles is to take them to a bottle show and get appraisals or offers. You may be able to sell them as collectibles on eBay, but you'll have to check the eBay rules.

 

[bigwater]

When my grandfather died in '96 my brother and I were going through his stuff and found a pre-WWII quart bottle of Jack Daniels. I would suggest that drinking whiskey that old can be hazardous to your health.

About a year after his death, my brother and I decided to take a box of my grandfather's favorite cigars and that bottle of whiskey out in the woods, camp out, build a big bonfire and celebrate his life. We invited a friend of ours to go with us who had recently lost his grandfather. Man, that whiskey tasted so good. It was sweet and as smooth as caramel. No bite or burn when it went down, and we polished that bottle off in just a matter of a couple of hours.

My friend got that wild look in his eyes and decided he was going to go home. He jumped in his car and threw it in reverse without saying a word to us. Of course, the passenger door was open and being in the woods he ripped the door off the car without even realizing what he was doing. Off he went, fishtailing down the dirt forestry road completely oblivious to anything. How the hell he made it home that night none of us will ever know.

The rest of the night for myself and my brother was a series of massive hallucinations. If you've seen the movie "Young Guns" when Lou Diamond Phillips' character took the gang off into the desert for a peyote trip, that is what the rest of the night was like. The next day was a mess. It took us four hours to take down two tents and pack them in the car.

It took over a week to get over that night for all three of us, and it wasn't "hangover" symptoms, was more like severe brain damage like you might experience from getting hit in the head with a baseball bat really hard.

 

[Cachefinder]

When my grandfather died in '96 my brother and I were going through his stuff and found a pre-WWII quart bottle of Jack Daniels. I would suggest that drinking whiskey that old can be hazardous to your health.

About a year after his death, my brother and I decided to take a box of my grandfather's favorite cigars and that bottle of whiskey out in the woods, camp out, build a big bonfire and celebrate his life. We invited a friend of ours to go with us who had recently lost his grandfather. Man, that whiskey tasted so good. It was sweet and as smooth as caramel. No bite or burn when it went down, and we polished that bottle off in just a matter of a couple of hours.

My friend got that wild look in his eyes and decided he was going to go home. He jumped in his car and threw it in reverse without saying a word to us. Of course, the passenger door was open and being in the woods he ripped the door off the car without even realizing what he was doing. Off he went, fishtailing down the dirt forestry road completely oblivious to anything. How the hell he made it home that night none of us will ever know.

The rest of the night for myself and my brother was a series of massive hallucinations. If you've seen the movie "Young Guns" when Lou Diamond Phillips' character took the gang off into the desert for a peyote trip, that is what the rest of the night was like. The next day was a mess. It took us four hours to take down two tents and pack them in the car.

It took over a week to get over that night for all three of us, and it wasn't "hangover" symptoms, was more like severe brain damage like you might experience from getting hit in the head with a baseball bat really hard.

Those special cigars- always takes a few days to get over

Cachefinder-

 

[Unicorn]

Serves you right bigwater.. Like good wine, Scotch wiskey should be supped slowly.


U.

 

[Old Dog]

Note that the Scotch is blended 17 year old ...
A bottle of Balvenie single malt, single barrel, 15 year old, sells on today's market for upwards of $75 to $85.
That is recently bottled. 20 year old same as above is upwards of $175 to $200.

As a connoisseur of single malt scotch whiskey I would fathom a guess that this bottle would start for no less than $250,
and could go much higher if the right bidders were present.

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

Note of Interest:

There is an ongoing debate worldwide as to whether eBay and other notable auction houses are a viable resource for establishing values on many varieties of collectibles, including bottles of every sort. I have been collecting ACL soda bottles now for the past thirty years, and it continues to boggle my mind the amounts being paid for soda bottles that just ten years ago could be bought for mere pennies. I could state dozens upon dozens of such examples, but all one has to do is go to eBay and see for themselves. The same is true about comic books, (which I also collect), ... with unprecedended prices being set every day.

In my opinion, I wholeheartedly support this new trend that is not only sweeping the country, but the entire world. If I have a bottle or comic book that the price guides value at $10.00, but then I turn around and sell it for $50.00 on eBay, then as far as I'm concerned it has a bonified "value" of $50.00! Even many of the the guide book publishers are beginning to recognize and acknowledge this trend, and are sitting up in their seats and taking notice.

I've read and heard where there is a new collector born everyday, and that "everything" from ceramic thimbles to paper label whiskey bottles are collected by someone somewhere. Their numbers may be small, but they're out there!

I realize this debate about pricing may never end, and although I truly respect the opinions of others, I honestly have to say "Three Cheers for eBay!"

In closing, here's a link to a series of current bottle auctions, some of which are 20th century whiskey bottles with paper labels.

http://www.collectorsweekly.com/bottles/auctions

SBB

 

[Unicorn]

A very interesting link SBB thank you. I have long admired perfume bottles and have often thought of collecting them. I did go into a department store to enquire what they did with their empty perfume bottles, and the lady told me that they just threw them away. Some perfumes are of a limited edition and I am sure they could be antiques of the future. Do you think it would be a good way to start a collection by collecting these? ..Thnk you in advance

regards U.

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

Unicorn ~

I don't want to get sidetracked here. It's Tecumseh's thread, and I think we both want to respect that. But to answer your question, I say "Go for it!" And will close by saying a decent copy of "Action Comics" no.1 (Superman's first appearence), was valued at $300.00 in 1970, but today is worth $300,000.00! I was 18 years old in 1970 and knew about collecting, but missed the comic book boat entirely until just recently. Bummer!

SBB

 

[Tecumseh]

Thanks to everyone who responded.

Bob, Tecumseh is actually a personal hero of mine. I'm pretty well versed in his history, and have always admired his efforts to unite the various tribes.

I've got a post about the bottles up at a whiskey BB, so if I get more information, I'll let y'all know.

 

[Skrimpy]

They way I understand it, Whiskey is fantastic to drink the older it gets...just like some kinds of wine. The problem comes with liquor that was distilled during prohibition (i.e.; "Rot gut"). I think this maybe what happened with bigwater's pre-wwII whiskey.

Check this out.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article654686.ece

My sis in-law's ex told me a story that he found a bottle similar to this one in a crawl space in an old house on Long Island. He said there was a date on the bottle "1816". I said to him "Please tell me you didn't drink that bottle", to which he replied "Are you crazy? Of course I did! How many people could say that they drank 190 year old whiskey?". I showed him the above link and he just about broke down in tears.

...and for the record, I would sell those bottles one glass at a time for way more than they are worth, AFTER drinking one glass of each myself.

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

Skrimpy ~

Thanks ...

Great stuff!

I wish I had a shot of it myself right now!

(Stay Safe and Sober)

SBB

 

[gleaner1]

When my grandfather died in '96 my brother and I were going through his stuff and found a pre-WWII quart bottle of Jack Daniels. I would suggest that drinking whiskey that old can be hazardous to your health.

About a year after his death, my brother and I decided to take a box of my grandfather's favorite cigars and that bottle of whiskey out in the woods, camp out, build a big bonfire and celebrate his life. We invited a friend of ours to go with us who had recently lost his grandfather. Man, that whiskey tasted so good. It was sweet and as smooth as caramel. No bite or burn when it went down, and we polished that bottle off in just a matter of a couple of hours.

My friend got that wild look in his eyes and decided he was going to go home. He jumped in his car and threw it in reverse without saying a word to us. Of course, the passenger door was open and being in the woods he ripped the door off the car without even realizing what he was doing. Off he went, fishtailing down the dirt forestry road completely oblivious to anything. How the hell he made it home that night none of us will ever know.

The rest of the night for myself and my brother was a series of massive hallucinations. If you've seen the movie "Young Guns" when Lou Diamond Phillips' character took the gang off into the desert for a peyote trip, that is what the rest of the night was like. The next day was a mess. It took us four hours to take down two tents and pack them in the car.

It took over a week to get over that night for all three of us, and it wasn't "hangover" symptoms, was more like severe brain damage like you might experience from getting hit in the head with a baseball bat really hard.

Those special cigars- always takes a few days to get over

Cachefinder-

bigwater, there is something profoundly hilarious about your story of celebration with your brother and friend, and the bizarre and terrible consequences of your fateful encounter with your dearly departed grandpa's powerful and enticing unopened nasty old bottle of JD, and
mysterious cigars. What I'm trying to say is that this is the funniest story about unopened booze bottles ever.

 

[bigwater]

Well after that experience I went out and bought another bottle of JD and stashed it in a spot that's hard to get to, well hidden, and on private property. All three of us know where it is, and the rule is that after one of us dies, the other two will go dig it up and drink it. Hopefully it'll be many years old by that point. I'm the oldest at 46, the youngest is 43, so hopefully there will be another 20 years or more on that bottle that's already been in hiding for 12 years before it has to get dug up.

And no, that was not bootleg whiskey. It was whiskey taxed by the government well after Jack Daniels went back in business after the repeal of prohibition. Seems like the tax stamp on it is 1940, but I can't be 100% sure. And it wasn't nasty at all. It was as sweet as honey... it just did weird things to the brain.

I still have the empty bottle with the tax stamp on it around here somewhere packed in a box, but I've moved twice since it was packed up, so there's no telling where it is.

 

[rjw4law]

They could be good. Several Years back wine was found in G. Washington's well. Someone paid an enormous price for it and reported it was still good and very tasty.

 

[Tecumseh]

Bump-Solved.

 

[diggummup]

Cool thread. I got a few unopened bottles of Bonded Beam from the early '70s and an IV drip bottle of M*A*S*H* Vodka from the 80's. I guess i'll hang on to them till i'm old and grey.