Very Old Whiskey Bottles found in Attic Walls - Pittsburgh

[rebecca_salata]

My next door neighbor found several bottles in the walls of his attic while remodeling. He asked if I could find any information online for him. That quest brought me here. Pics are attached. If you could tell me how old they are, if they are rare or not, and any other information would be great.
Thanks, Rebecca


Monongahela Pure Rye Whiskey - The Large Distilling Company - Pittsburg, PA -




Old Overholt Whiskey - Broad Ford, PA - 1907 (?)




Old Reserve Whiskey - Private Stock - Frederick Kinsinger Distiller- Seiter Brothers - Erie, PA - 1905 (?)





Old Hancock Rye Whiskey - James Hancock -Ludlow, Kentucky -

[cowdery]

You can find out a lot about the Pennsylvania distilleries, such as Large, at ellenjaye.com.

That's a nice stash.

[bunghole]

Holy Shit Rebecca!

You've got quite a find there. PM me, as I have a good friend in Pittsburgh that would love to aquire that bottle of Large rye if the price is not too dear.

Linn

[rebecca_salata]

Thank you so much for the responses.

OK so the lables across the tops are tax stamps and it says made & bottled right? Some are legible and some are not. Wow - 1905

The dates are on the green tax strips over the caps. You can trust those dates.

Are these bottles full?

Old Overholt was a pretty popluar brand back then. It is still sold today but, made in Ky, now.

From what I learned at the Getz museum....whisky of that age surfaces quite regularly. Empty bottles surface alot more frequently.

They are all empty - some have glass tops on them and some corks

That website is great - what an amazing resource. Thank you.

You can find out a lot about the Pennsylvania distilleries, such as Large, at ellenjaye.com.

That's a nice stash.

I have another question - Is it common to find old whiskey bottles in the WALLS of old houses. Do you believe that the builders did this on purpose as a way to date the building of the home OR do you think that they were just enjoying quite a bit of whiskey while building and just happened to toss them in???

Also there is another bottle that the label had fallen off - Gibson XXXX Rye Whiskey

[cowdery]

When empty liquor bottles are found in the walls of buildings it generally is because the workers were drinking and didn't want to get in trouble for drinking on the job, so they disposed of the evidence where it wouldn't be found for a very long time. It's nothing more romantic than that.

[enzo]

This brings up an idea I had a while ago...

Basically, the idea is to get together as a group, purchase large lots of good bourbon, and work out some kind of plan with builders to hide the bourbon in walls etc... during construction.


Why? Just think it would be a cool thing to do

[NeoTexan]

This brings up an idea I had a while ago...

Basically, the idea is to get together as a group, purchase large lots of good bourbon, and work out some kind of plan with builders to hide the bourbon in walls etc... during construction.


Why? Just think it would be a cool thing to do

Funny you should say that ..... We just built a new house and somewhere in the walls I placed a couple of bottles.

[barturtle]

Funny you should say that ..... We just built a new house and somewhere in the walls I placed a couple of bottles.

Ah, so that's what Maker's is good for...

[enzo]

[/quote]Funny you should say that ..... We just built a new house and somewhere in the walls I placed a couple of bottles.[/quote]


Awesome

[mitchell.mark]

Rebecca,

If you still have the Old Hancock bottle I would interested in whether it may be for sale? I am not a collector but our historical society might be interested. That product was produced here in Ludlow, Kentucky. Thanks!

Mark