Dowling Bros, Spring 1916, Bottled Spring 1929, 100 proof, pint, Whiskey, in original box, Unopened.

Hand Made Sour Mash

Bottled in Bond, under US Government Supervision.

Made in the heart of the Blue Grass.

Bottled at Distillery Bonded Warehouse no. 17 Louisville, Kentucky

Back

Caution notice

"This bottle has been filled and stamped under the provisions of an Act of Congress approved March 3, 1897, entitled 'an Act to allow the bottling of distilled spirits in bond. ' Any person who shall re-use this bottle for the purpose of containing distilled spirits without removing and destroying the stamp affixed to this bottle will be liable for such offense to a fine of not less than $100.00 or more than $1,000.00 and to imprisonment for not more than two years."

produced by Dowling Bros. , Inc., distillery No. 148 - 8th Dist. Ky., Bottled at Distillery Bonded Warehouse No. 17, District of Kentucky

A. Ph. Stitzel, Distiller

Permit No. KY. P - 15

Whiskey - One pint - 100 Proof

Manufactured Spring 1916

For medicinal purposes only. Sale or use for other purposes will cause heavy penalties to be inflicted.

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Historical email response to a thread to be printed and included with the item. Below is an excerpt

by bourbonv - Mon Nov 26, 2007

I received an email from a person who has been reading a thread about Mary Dowling and Dowling Bros. He said he did not want to reveal his name or email but that I could post information if I wish. I have copied the email and removed revealing information but I do want people to know that this is their information and to give credit where credit is due. Here is the email:

In the late 1800s and early 1900s my great-grandfather worked for Dowling (I have always been told he was a distiller for him, but have been unable to document his specific job). At one point or another,...

Mr. Dowling died in the early 1900s ... Mary Dowling bought out the other heirs & continued to run the business. When prohibition started Mrs. Dowling tried to convince my g-grandfather to move to
Juarez, Mexico to start up the W/F distillery there (to make medical alcohol)....

Distillers such as Dowling, Ripy, Hoffman, Waterfill, Frazier, Bond, Hanks, Lillard, Saffell, etc. were all part of Lawrenceburg's Guilded Age. Their distilleries grew during the 1870s-90s. It was truly a time characterized by great wealth and extreme poverty, with little in between. Not to paint all of these people with the same broad brush, but the "every man for himself" attitude, excess, and opulence characteristic of the time seems consistent with descriptions of many of their lifestyles. The street on which several of them lived was euphemistically known as "Cream Street." They threw lavish parties. One I have been told about involved having black "servants" fan them with palm leaves as they dined at the table. Several became alcoholics.

All of this ended with prohibition. I've been told that 70% of Anderson County's male population left when prohibition began. Farmers who provided grain were also harmed. While some of these distillers came back after prohibition, my impression is that they never recovered their pre-prohibition wealth and status. Their neo-renaissance homes and conspicuously large monuments in the local cemetery are all that remain.

I think this is interesting information and I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.