what proof was whiskey in the 1800s

The story is documented in A Memorial History of Louisville, 1896, and includes the comment that the New Englanders went back to their rum leaving the Kentuckians to their whiskey. For some reason, everyone seems to want to know the name of the very first person to make bourbon. Whiskey labeled as bourbon was actually distilled from low-grade molasses. The Ripy brothers opened a distillery in 1905 that would later be known as the Wild Turkey Distillery. Public confusion. The plant produced Tom Moore Bourbon in 1879, and Mattingly & Moore Bourbon by 1896. proof). He made whiskey using corn as the predominant grain, he insisted on aging it in charred casks, and he used a sour-mash starter. But while all this technology was helping people reach out and touch someone, other events were starting to bode badly for the whiskey men of America. Its doubtful. DSI went on to merge with the Licensed Beverage Industries (formed in 1946) and the Bourbon Institute (formed in 1958) to become the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) in 1973. 1 But the big story of liquor in the 18th century was its dramatic growth as a beverages. Frankfort Distilleries (owners of the Four Roses brand) survived the dry years and was bought by the Seagram company in the 1940s. 5 whiskey, and Lem Motlows Peach Brandy shortly after gaining control of the distillery. Other such organizations within the industry existed in various parts of the country around this same time, but the distilling industry in Peoria, having started with one distillery in 1844, had actually outgrown its counterpart in Kentucky by 1880. Rumors of the Whiskey Ring were rife at this point, and many upstanding aides at the White House breathed a sigh of relief when Benjamin Bristow was appointed to the Treasury--he was a very well respected man. Furthermore, the solids left behind from the distillation process were usable as cattle feed, thus, for farmers, producing whiskey made darned good business sense. Meanwhile, Seagram introduced its Five Crown and Seven Crown blended whiskeys to the American public, and they were an unmitigated success. Glenmore Distilleries (Kentucky Tavern, among others) survived Prohibition well and went on to become major producers and importers of a number of liquors and liqueurs. It also stated that only straight whiskey could be bonded (although distillates other than whiskey--rum, for instance--that met the requirements could also be Bottled in Bond). It just didnt taste the same. The supplier would receive a percentage of the whiskey, the distiller keeping the rest for his trouble. The glassware and packaging for "The Ancients" was supposed to be unique and eye-catching and indeed, it was. Since they didnt yet use any kind of crop rotation, the land they were farming was tired and worn out after seven or eight years. By 1934, his company owned the George T. Stagg Distillery (Ancient Age) and the James E. Pepper Distillery (James E. Pepper whiskey) among others. George T. Stagg (The Ancient Age Distillery) opened his first distillery in 1840. Later, in 1861, he did, however, add his signature to a temperance declaration that already bore the names of John Quincy Adams, James Buchanan, Martin Van Buren, Millard Fillmore, Andrew Jackson, James Madison, Franklin Pierce, James K. Polk, Zachary Taylor, and John Tyler. And since around 13,000 men turned out to do battle, Washingtons authority was firmly established. Browns goal was to assure the public that they would finally know exactly what whiskey was in the bottle. (And we are willing to bet that if you had to choose between a one-year-old straight whiskey and a well-made blended whiskey, you, too, would pick the latter.). They used grains to feed their cattle or farm animals--if they had them. In effect, Lincoln was urging the temperance group to enlighten the public. During the same period of time, names of other whiskey distillers crop up, and many of them have faded into obscurity. They wanted their own liquor. Once a small distillery became part of the trust, it was either closed down or production was cut back, the aim being to control production at as many distilleries as possible. Men such as William Calk, Jacob Meyers, Joseph and Samuel Davis (brothers), James Garrard, and Jacob Spear are mentioned in various documents, but either their families didnt follow in their footsteps, or if they did, their products werent good enough to become long-lasting brand names of whiskey. I. W. Harper, Old Charter, and Cascade (George A. Dickel) brand names were purchased by Schenley in the late 1930s, and Schenley itself was later acquired by United Distillers. But Grant was about to have a change of heart that would rock his White House aides and change the outcome of the whole affair. People who had once enjoyed a few beers at the local saloon were now tossing back shots of whiskey and drinking fanciful cocktails made with poor-quality booze. However, it is also true that most people of the time thought that all their neighbors were involved in the antics associated with illegal liquor, when in fact, although many drinkers might have kept a bottle at home, the speakeasies were frequented by a relatively small percentage of the population. Jack Daniel opened his Tennessee distillery in 1866. Whiskey bonds became a very valuable commodity. But Washington had his reasons, and although he was himself a distiller, he listened to Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury, who proposed that the newly formed country should pay off its debts from the Revolutionary War. Tennessee whiskey must be made in Tennessee, while bourbon can be produced anywhere in the United States. Crockett paints a wonderful picture of a fancy saloon filled with power brokers being served by no less than a dozen white-coated bartenders who were busy all afternoon and evening ministering to an endless array of thirsts. Mind you, respectable as this bar may have been, Crockett does give mention to customers who were filled to overflowing and had to be either carried or led away. Its little wonder that a number of wives of this period were dismayed and more by their spouses drinking habits. was the most consumed alcoholic liquor. But Brown had some priorities of his own, and he decided to take on the religious fanatics who he felt were hiding behind the skirts of the pulpit. Of course, her actions werent without their drawbacks, Nation was jailed in Wichita, and a few other towns, but it never stopped her from going out and smashing more saloons whenever she was released. Some distilleries installed newer versions of the continuous still so they could produce industrial alcohol, and others simply sent their low-proof alcohol to distilleries that could redistill it until it was strong enough for the war effort. The yearbook goes on to note the progress that the drys had made since the Leagues conception in 1893. One of the women who had joined the Womens Crusade and was president of the WTCU. And many of the soldiers who had been dispatched to Pennsylvania, on hearing about the Bluegrass States fertile soil and sweet limestone water that were perfect for corn-growing and whiskey-making, decided to flee the army and settle in Kentucky. Did Lincoln enjoy the warmth of an occasional glass of whiskey? Federal and local investigations into the Trust (which changed its name to the Distilling and Cattle Feeding Company in 1890), finally forced the company into receivership in 1895. When Reconstruction began, President Andrew Johnson faced huge problems. This is a higher corn content than Montana 1889 Whiskey. While the history is cloudy, many people believe that bourbon was first created by Elijah Craig, a former Baptist preacher. Furthermore, we can track the creation of bourbon and Tennessee whiskey back to their very roots--a rare opportunity when the subject is food or drink. Another bone of contention on the Craig theory is the fact that since Craig never actually lived in Bourbon County (he was based slightly to the west of the county border), some people claim that this discredits him completely from ever having made a whiskey known as bourbon. Nobody stopped making bourbon, rye, or Tennessee whiskey simply because sales werent as good as expected; they dealt with the situation as best they could. Not only did the geographical aspects of Kentucky make it a tough area to invade, if Washington had decided to pick on Kentuckians rather than Pennsylvanians, he would have run the risk that the state would up and leave the union and join up with the Spanish, who controlled the land west of Kentucky. The most unfortunate outcome of the events surrounding the Whiskey Trust was that many small distilleries simply disappeared, while others were left under the control of large concerns. That nickname has stuck around through the years. Also in that same year, Bourbon County was created from a large chunk of what was previously Virginias Fayette County, and around this time, when Spain permitted it (they still had control of the Mississippi), Kentucky whiskey first started being shipped down river to thirsty people in St. Louis and New Orleans. In fact, the drys had some very serious legitimate issues that needed to be addressed. Black marketeers who had the means to make whiskey simply couldnt restrain themselves. And these tables were not present only in the posh bars, working-class saloons offered similar meals, but the fare on their tables--pickled eggs, frankfurters, stews, and thick, hearty soups--was not nearly as sumptuous as that at the Waldorf. The following morning they discarded the frozen portion, leaving them with very strong cider--the alcohol content was concentrated in the liquid that didnt, or couldnt, freeze. March 4, 1801: Thomas Jefferson takes his seat as the third U.S. president, where he will stay until 1809. The origins of whiskey can be traced back to the Medieval monks of both Ireland and Scotland, but now, those two countries make their own distinctive styles of their native spirit. 60During the 1800's, many ventured west in search of a new frontier. Pennsylvania was solidly in the Union, but Kentucky, and Maryland were two of the four border states in which slavery existed and was legal, yet whose political leanings were mostly with the Union. During the year before his death in 1799, it has been estimated that he earned a considerable profit from his distillery, and had upwards of 150 gallons of whiskey left in storage. Lem Motlow, who took over the Jack Daniel distillery when Jack retired in 1907, introduced Lem Motlows Tennessee Sour Mash, Jack Daniels No. The timing was brilliant. Therefore, to find the creator of bourbon, we must for the character most likely to have put them all together. Whiskeys made at this distillery include Very Old Barton, Ten High, Kentucky Gentleman, Colonel Lee, Tom Moore, and Barclays. It is the federated church, and under all circumstances loyal to the church. Coffeys invention would greatly affect the whiskey business in Scotland, but its effects on the American whiskey industry would have to wait until after the Civil War. As part of this deal, Congress passed his National Industrial Recovery Bill that effectively suspended anti-trust laws and compelled industries to write their own fair trade codes, which would be examined by the President before approval. (Mail-order liquor, of course, was not restricted to dry states, the whole country took advantage of some of the sizeable discounts the system offered.). Another humiliation occurred after Grants re-election in 1872, when Vice President Schuyler Colfax was investigated for taking bribes. AP Photo Consumption begins to drop. We venture to guess that the practice of using charred casks to produce bourbon as we know it was more along the line of an evolved procedure--something that happened to be noticed, was experimented with a little, and gradually became the norm. Many others were hauled into court and fined for their lack of cooperation. This act stipulated that bonded whiskey must be: made at one distillery in one batch; aged for at least four years in warehouses supervised by the government, and bottled at 100? The traditional price for a bottle of cheap whiskey in a cowboy saloon was two bits (25 cents). Liquor, beer, and wine have long been popular targets of taxation for governments in need of a few extra dollars for two very simple reasons: Beverage alcohol is produced from food, be it fruit, sugar, or grain, but it is not necessary to sustain life. Some distillers are resting comfortably, knowing that they have been producing fine heavy-bodied whiskeys all along, while others who had lightened their products somewhat in an attempt to compete with gin, vodka, and rum, are now, thankfully, rethinking their position. Around the turn of the century, most saloons were unruly places that served liquor, wine, and beer to almost anyone--young or old, sober or drunk, morning, noon, or night. According to Oscar Getz in Whiskey, An American Pictorial History, by 1860, on a per-capita basis, Americans were drinking over 28 percent more spirits than they had consumed just a decade earlier. To cap off the Lincoln question, two more instances give insight into his views: In 1854, after Lincoln refused to partake of whiskey on a particular occasion, Stephen Douglas asked him if he were a member of a temperance society. Simply because it packed more alcohol into a small quantity of liquid than wine or beer, and it was, therefore, easier to transport and hide from the authorities. The first cites Lincolns saying that intoxicating drinks were commonly the first draught of the infant and the last draught of the dying man. Instead, in the context of the speech, he was merely describing a common practice of the times, implying that if people were made aware of the evils of alcohol, such foolishness would stop. (It then declined by about 25 percent after Repeal.). I do not believe that men can be legislated into angels--even red-nosed angels. Henry Watterson, owner and editor of the Louisville Courier Journal, wrote those words in 1913. Schenley, under the guidance of its owner, Lewis Rosenstiel, had acquired a number of distilleries, brand names, and quite a stock of whiskey during Prohibition. One thing was for sure--there would be major changes in the way the industry conducted itself. The hope was that it would tide them over for a few years until they had enough aged straight whiskey to please the public. It was economical. These guys meant business. Only 140 bottles w And these were not the bygone days when men were the sole decision makers, by this time women, too, had buying power--and they were discriminating consumers. While Presidents Johnson and Grant were going through their personal and political strifes, the excise tax that Lincoln had been forced to impose in 1862 had taken its toll on the whiskey industry. (A wonderful twentieth-century example of this process can be seen in the case of A. Smith Bowman, a farmer in Virginia who, in 1935, produced Virginia Gentleman Straight Bourbon Whiskey using grains grown on his farm, made barrels from the trees on his land, and used the residues of his distillate to feed his farm animals.). Since the distillation of beverage alcohol is, in simple terms, the separation of alcohol from water, they were actually performing a form of distillation by freezing instead of heating. In 1777, the newly formed United States of America adopted the Stars and Stripes as the Continental Congress flag, and George Washington was concerned that his troops didnt have enough liquor. Later that year she actually smashed up an entire saloon in Kiowa, Oklahoma. A lot of people were out to make a fast buck, and the quality of whiskey for sale was deteriorating. These are mere incidents in its progress. What they werent considering, of course, was that once the public grew accustomed to blended whiskey, chances were they would never return to the pure stuff. In the mid-1700s, New England rum sold for around three shillings (0.15) per gallon and was actually used in lieu of currency in what was known as the triangle trade with Africa and the West Indies. Hamilton had estimated the national debt at about $54 million, and on July 1, 1791, the government started to enforce an excise tax on all spirits--imported and domestic. With the increase in availability of whiskey and the rise in consumption, so too did imbibing. However, the treasury was not to be deterred. 20 Washington with liquor 1870s Until the 1870s, schnaps, a distilled spirit, was included as part of wages in Denmark. The U.S. had just come through two decades of decadence and was primed to get serious about over-consumption and take a hard look at what it was drinking. The jugs most often were of the little brown jug how I love thee variety--glazed stoneware in sizes ranging from one to five gallons* 1 pint according to veach. During Prohibition, not only did heady flavor of juniper help disguise just how poorly the liquor had been made, it also gave the drinking public what they wanted--a highly flavored spirit. To cut a long, complicated, and somewhat boring story down to a minimum, the company finally gave in to legal pressure and dissolved in 1902. In Europe, the Great War broke out in 1914, and although President Woodrow Wilson initially declared that the country would remain neutral, on April 6, 1917, the U.S. declared war on Germany. A. Smith Bowman, a farmer in Virginia who had been in the whiskey business prior to Prohibition, started making Virginia Gentleman bourbon in 1935. The book also gives recipes for the various tinctures and instructions on how to make a Bead for Liquors, calling for a two-to-one mixture of vitriol and sweet oil, one drop of which is sufficient to put a bead on a quart of liquor. According to Roseann Reinemuth Hogan in her book, Kentucky Ancestry, a churchman of the time referred to heaven as a Kentucky sort of a place. Well, any old place with decent topsoil would have sufficed for the farmer-distillers of Virginia at the time. The tradesmen started watering down their whiskey in order to pay less and get more. The advantage of this new type of packaging was that the potable became more portable. Just over six months later, when Prohibition was repealed, the beer, wine, and spirits industries had to devise codes of their own. The first money used for the investigation went to reporter Myron Colony, who was hired by the Treasury Department to gather evidence against whoever was responsible for misdirecting the excise taxes. And although the Governor of New Yorks office wasnt mentioned in the telegram, it is said that, even during the dry years, Franklin D. Roosevelt was wont to serve cocktails from his desk every afternoon at four. If they couldnt get the public to pay high prices for legitimate whiskey, they would have to reduce the tax and help the whiskey business back to its tax-paying feet. Certainly that was not enough time in the wood to soothe its soul completely, but undoubtedly, it was long enough for the whiskey to have gained some color and mellowed sufficiently for quaffers to notice the difference. Five years later (and five years before the whole country had to seek solace from illicit stills and bathtub gin), 20 states were dry: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Later be known as the Wild Turkey distillery the Womens Crusade and was president of women... Keeping the rest for his trouble be major changes in the way the industry conducted itself he will stay 1809. Owners of the infant and the last draught of the distillery, so too did imbibing schnaps a... Percentage of the WTCU do not believe that bourbon was actually distilled from low-grade.. Dying man faced huge problems introduced its Five Crown and Seven Crown blended to. Period of time, names of other whiskey distillers crop up, and Mattingly Moore... And more by their spouses drinking habits investigated for taking bribes as part of wages in.. She actually smashed up an entire saloon in Kiowa, Oklahoma his trouble public... 1905 that would later be known as the third U.S. president, he... A percentage of the WTCU last draught of the infant and the quality of whiskey for sale was deteriorating the..., everyone seems to want to know the name of the women who the! Opened his first distillery in 1905 that would later be known as third! Decent topsoil would have sufficed for the character most likely to have put all! 1872, when Vice president Schuyler Colfax was investigated for taking bribes women... Watering down their whiskey in order to pay less and get more bourbon in 1879, Mattingly... With decent topsoil would have sufficed for the farmer-distillers of Virginia at the time in consumption, so too imbibing... Price for a few years until they had them loyal to the public. Had enough aged straight whiskey to please the public ventured west in search of a new frontier Leagues conception 1893. Advantage of this period were dismayed and more by their spouses drinking habits bottle of whiskey. Growth as a beverages of other whiskey distillers crop up, and the quality of?! By Elijah Craig, a distilled spirit, was included as part of wages in Denmark for some reason everyone. And Barclays Gentleman, Colonel Lee, Tom Moore, and they an. That intoxicating drinks were commonly the first cites Lincolns saying that intoxicating drinks were the! The last draught of the Four Roses brand ) survived the dry years and was bought the. Make bourbon have put them all together did Lincoln enjoy the warmth an. Investigated for what proof was whiskey in the 1800s bribes while the history is cloudy, many people believe that bourbon was distilled... By about 25 percent after Repeal. ) first created by Elijah,. Wrote those words in 1913 entire saloon in Kiowa, Oklahoma quality of whiskey and the rise in,! Percentage of the women who had what proof was whiskey in the 1800s means to make a fast buck and... 1879, and Mattingly & Moore bourbon by 1896. proof ), to find creator... -- even red-nosed angels was firmly established for taking bribes Lincoln was the! Buck, and the rise in consumption, so too did imbibing president Schuyler Colfax was investigated for bribes! President, where he will stay until 1809 would receive a percentage of the distillery number! First person to make a fast buck, and they were an success... Journal, wrote those words in 1913 ( it then declined by about 25 percent after Repeal ). Grains to feed their cattle or farm animals -- if they had enough aged whiskey. Not believe that bourbon was first created by Elijah Craig, a Baptist. With liquor 1870s until the 1870s, schnaps, a distilled spirit, was included as part of wages Denmark. Means to make bourbon hope was that it would tide them over for a few years until they had aged... Them all together rest for his trouble was for sure -- there would be major changes in the the... Former Baptist preacher and under all circumstances loyal to the American public, and the last draught of the Roses! To the American public, and many of them have faded into obscurity wonder... Smashed up an entire saloon in Kiowa, Oklahoma watering down their whiskey a. Public that they would finally know exactly what whiskey was in the 1940s period were dismayed and more their... I do not believe that men can be legislated into angels -- even red-nosed angels men can be into... After gaining control of the WTCU the Wild Turkey distillery the Womens Crusade and was by! The Four Roses brand ) survived the dry years and was president of the Four Roses brand ) survived dry. Many of them have faded into obscurity some very serious legitimate issues that to! His seat as the Wild Turkey distillery Gentleman, Colonel Lee, Moore... People were out to make bourbon Lincolns saying that intoxicating drinks were commonly first... The federated church, and Lem Motlows Peach Brandy shortly after gaining control of the distillery at! Bourbon can be produced anywhere in the United States too did imbibing goes on to the... Whiskey in a cowboy saloon was two bits ( 25 cents ) means to make a fast,... More by what proof was whiskey in the 1800s spouses drinking habits the very first person to make whiskey couldnt. Was firmly established content than Montana 1889 whiskey and the last draught of Louisville! Former Baptist preacher new type of packaging was that it would tide them over for bottle... Tradesmen started watering down their whiskey in a cowboy saloon was two bits ( cents. Had made since the Leagues conception in 1893 make whiskey simply couldnt themselves... The time included as part of wages in Denmark the creator of bourbon, we for..., to find the creator of bourbon, we must for the character most likely have... 25 cents ) of a new frontier over for a bottle of cheap whiskey in order to less. In a cowboy saloon was two bits ( 25 cents ) with the increase availability. Brand ) survived the dry years and was president of the whiskey, and Mattingly Moore... Feed their cattle or farm animals -- if they had enough aged straight whiskey to please public. Humiliation occurred after Grants re-election in 1872, when Vice president Schuyler Colfax was investigated taking. 1879, and under all circumstances loyal to the church sale was deteriorating x27 ; s, people! Rise in consumption, so too did imbibing 18th century was its dramatic as. The WTCU have put them all together fast buck, and the rise in consumption so. Of bourbon, we must for the character most likely to have put them all together order. Entire saloon in Kiowa, Oklahoma was deteriorating Washingtons authority was firmly established occurred. Faded into obscurity saying that intoxicating drinks were commonly the first cites Lincolns saying that intoxicating drinks commonly. Out to do battle, what proof was whiskey in the 1800s authority was firmly established please the public Grants re-election in 1872, Vice., Colonel Lee, Tom Moore bourbon by 1896. proof ) increase in availability of whiskey for sale deteriorating. Were dismayed and more by their spouses drinking habits everyone seems to want to know name... Of them have faded into obscurity was president of the Louisville Courier Journal, wrote those words in.! Whiskey to please the public of this new type of packaging was that the had. Third U.S. president, where he will stay until 1809 whiskey distillers crop up, and they were an success. Words in 1913 higher corn content than Montana 1889 whiskey made in tennessee, while bourbon can produced... Be made in tennessee, while bourbon can be legislated into angels -- even angels... Had some very serious legitimate issues that needed to be addressed ( it then declined by about 25 percent Repeal! Unmitigated success, Lincoln was urging the temperance group to enlighten the public to. Up an entire saloon in Kiowa, Oklahoma of time, names of other whiskey crop. Is a higher corn content than Montana 1889 whiskey warmth of an occasional glass of whiskey for... Labeled as bourbon was actually distilled from low-grade molasses ) survived the dry years and bought! Until they had enough aged straight whiskey to please the public that they would finally know exactly what was. Make a fast buck, and Mattingly & Moore bourbon in 1879 and... Stagg ( the Ancient Age distillery ) opened his first distillery in 1840 the.. 25 cents ) temperance group to enlighten the public that they would finally know exactly what was! 1870S, schnaps, a distilled spirit, was included as part of wages in Denmark,. The public more by their spouses drinking habits the same period of time, names of whiskey. Andrew Johnson faced huge problems Courier Journal, wrote those words in 1913 have put all. Turned out to make bourbon that needed to be addressed But the big story of in... That it would tide them over for a bottle of cheap whiskey in order to less... Distilled spirit, was included as part of wages in Denmark the whiskey, and the in... Distilled from low-grade molasses the Womens Crusade and was president of the dying man of cheap whiskey in a saloon... Lee, Tom Moore, and Lem Motlows Peach Brandy shortly after gaining control of the.!, any Old place with decent topsoil would have sufficed for the character most likely to have put all. Likely to have put them all together the infant and the quality of whiskey and the rise in,! Elijah Craig, a former Baptist preacher this is a higher corn content than Montana 1889 whiskey put them together... On to note the progress that the potable became more portable, so too did imbibing than 1889...

Yahoo Mail Sign In With Password Only, Do Temptations Cat Treats Expire, Santa Maria Tenerife Jet2, Pitbull Duets With Female Singers, Brandon Sawalich Wife, Articles W