Pre-Prohibition "Belmont" by Max Selliger

[aelud2]

Admittedly, I'm a single malt Scotch guy that knows very little about Bourbon, but I came across a couple bottles of pre-prohibition Belmont Whiskey from Max Selliger & Co. Kentucky hand batch sour mash. The back label lists Snyder & Kurtz of Pittsburgh as well. Seems like only about 1-2 inches have evaporated and the bottles have never been opened

Can anyone tell me anything about these bottles? What they may be worth, where I can find more information on them? A few cursory searches on Google didn't turn up much for me.

Thanks!!
Eric.

[White Lightning]

How about a picture? Does it have a bell on the label? Not sure the same stuff but I have seen a very old bottles of Belmont before - in fact in one instance in what I would consider a "jug", I assume 1 gallon, but as I recall it was Louisville KY and I don't recall the Pittsburgh part but what do I know...

Best I remember the name " Max Selliger" rings a bell and I believe this was the name of the owner or part owner of Belmont between the late 1860's till prohibition (don't hold me to exact dates but there-about). Hell I might even have the names mixed up and not the right guy at all!

Anyway if it's what it sounds like - it's definitely dated LOL. Also I think the Belmont distillery (might have been located) where Bernheim currently exists.

[BSS]

Did you get them from a person that "had" about 2 cases of them?

[aelud2]

hmmm. now I'm suspicious. Actually a friend of mine got them a few years ago from the supposed grand-daughter of Max Sellinger who had a couple cases. He bought 3 of the bottles. Curious why you ask - is there a mysterious bourbon scam that I'm not aware of The bottles looked authentic to me. Even had labels that said 1/5th gallon, etc.

As to the first reply, I'll see if i can get a picture

Thanks,
Eric.

[White Lightning]

Quite a coincidence indeed - Unless this is getting to be a scheme of some sort, I believe I know about that case and a half or so of Belmont that came up recently too. By chance in denominations of quarts and gallons?

[BSS]

Tell us more about these bottles.

[cowdery]

For anyone who doesn't already know the previous history of recent Belmont discoveries, go to the other site and search for "Belmont" or for all posts by turboman.

[aelud2]

Some Pictures

[aelud2]

2 more pictures

[BSS]

I noticed that this bottle does not say bourbon anywhere on it. Is it not bourbon, or did they just not put bourbon on the labels back then?

[bunghole]

The tax stamp seems to be perfectly intact. Why not show the other side that will show the season and year of distillation along with the season and year of bottling? Seems like a very elaborate hoax to me. Everything is shown except the dates. Why?

[bourbonv]

When I was at United Distillers, I collected a lot of information on different brands and distilleries. I put this information together in a time line format and put the source of information with the facts. This included many good facts, but also some things that were questionable thus it is important to pay attention to the source. I have shared this information with many writers including the Regans, Jim Murray and Chuck Cowdery. I found my old disk with this information so I have copied the Belmont section here.


Belmont Distilling History

1872 - Max Selliger enters the liquor business as a book
keeper for Barkhouse Bros. & Co. (Caron's Louisville
City Directory, 1872).

1877 - Barkhouse Bros. & Co. build a distillery 278-300
Story Ave. and changes its name to Kentucky Distilling Co.
Max Selliger becomes a salesman for the company
(Caron's Louisville City Directory, 1877).

1879 - Max Selliger leaves Kentucky Distilling Co. and
forms Hofheimer & Selliger with Nathan Hofheimer. This is a
wholesale spirits company with exclusive control of
"Glencoe", "G.W.S. Mellwood", "J.W. Dant" and "Crystal
Springs" sour mash whisky and "J.G. Mattingly" sweet
mash whisky. (The Industries of Louisville, Filson
Club).

1881 - The Belmont Distillery Co. is formed with George
H. Moore as President and Max Selliger as Treasurer
(Caron's Louisville City Directory, 1881).

1884 - Max Selliger dissolves partnership with Hofheimer
and forms the company of Moore and Selliger with George H.
Moore (Caron's Louisville City Directory, 1884).

1891 - Belmont Whiskey from the 1881 crop is
advertised for $290 a barrel (Wine and Spirits Bulletin, March 3,
1891, p.21).

o - A fire in the mash room at the Belmont Distillery
does $1,000 worth of damage (Wine and Spirit Bulletin, April
1, 1891, p.25).

1898 - George Moore dies and the Company becomes
Max Selliger and Co. (Caron's Louisville City Directory, 1898).

1900 - Max Selliger & Co. advertisement features
Belmont, Astor and Nutwood brands (Wine and Spirit Bulletin,
Jan.1, 1900, p.14).

o - Col. Max Selliger wins a trademark dispute with
Joseph C. and Samuel Furst who were doing business as the
Belmont Distillery Co. (Wine and Spirit Bulletin, Oct.
1, 1900, p.26).

1901 - S. L. Hellman of Max Selliger & Co. has sold more
high price whiskey than any other salesman, approaching the
10,000 barrel mark (Wine and Spirit Bulletin, Aug 1,
1901, p.12).

1911 - Belmont Distillery builds a new brick warehouse
(Wine and Spirit Bulletin, Dec. 1, 1911, p.52).

o - The 1911 Mida's Financial Index list the following
address and capital value for Max Selliger and Co.:
17th and Lexington with Nutwood Distillery No. 364
and Belmont Distillery No. 412, 5th District Ky.
Louisville, with over $1,000,000 capital value.

1912 - Belmont advertisement from Max Selliger and Co.
(Wine and Spirits Bulletin, Jan.1, 1912, p.32).

1933 - Max Selliger sells his distilleries (Courier-Journal
Obituary).

1938 - Max Selliger dies in Philadelphia on April 10, 1938
(Courier-Journal Obituary).

Mike Veach

[bunghole]

Thanks for that time line, Professor Veach! I can always count on you for the facts.

ima

[aelud2]

sorry. should have posted this with the others Thanks for all the replies, I'm learning alot!

Eric.

[bunghole]

OK Eric that's very helpful. An eight year old Bottled In Bond pre-prohibition Belmont that was distilled 103 years ago. That would be interesting to taste!

ima