brendaj
09-25-2002, 19:02
Wondering if Mike or Chuck could help here. A local consignment shop has some interesting old bottles. They're from Bardstown Distillery and the brand is 'Old Fiddle'. I found info in Sam Cecil's book:
excerpt from 'The Evolution of the Bourbon Whiskey Industry in Kentucky,' (page 129) by Sam K. Cecil.
Jim Beam sold the distillery to W.O. Stiles , Garfield Barnes, and Lambert Willett just prior to prohibition, and they continued bottling for a short time. According to records in the Nelson County Courthouse the property was sold to Joe Downs on December 9, 1926.
Charlie Newman had moved to Bardstown in 1931 and was somehow associated with Lewis Guthrie, and he bought the property from Stiles. Shortly after repeal, the plant was rebuilt as Bardstown Distillery RD #4 with Joe Cravens, son of Henry Cravens, as distiller. Henry Cravens was distiller for Jack Beam at Early Times prior to prohibition and was grandfather of Bob Briney at Double Springs and Oscar Cravens of Old Boone at Meadowlawn. Bardstown Distillery introduced the fiddle bottle in amber glass in all sizes in recognition of Stephen Collins Foster, the song writer and author of "My Old Kentucky Home," "Camptown Races" and many others. Brand names were "Bardstown," "Bourbon Springs," and "Old Anthem."
At no place do they mention 'Old Fiddle' but, this bottle sure looks real.
Beej
excerpt from 'The Evolution of the Bourbon Whiskey Industry in Kentucky,' (page 129) by Sam K. Cecil.
Jim Beam sold the distillery to W.O. Stiles , Garfield Barnes, and Lambert Willett just prior to prohibition, and they continued bottling for a short time. According to records in the Nelson County Courthouse the property was sold to Joe Downs on December 9, 1926.
Charlie Newman had moved to Bardstown in 1931 and was somehow associated with Lewis Guthrie, and he bought the property from Stiles. Shortly after repeal, the plant was rebuilt as Bardstown Distillery RD #4 with Joe Cravens, son of Henry Cravens, as distiller. Henry Cravens was distiller for Jack Beam at Early Times prior to prohibition and was grandfather of Bob Briney at Double Springs and Oscar Cravens of Old Boone at Meadowlawn. Bardstown Distillery introduced the fiddle bottle in amber glass in all sizes in recognition of Stephen Collins Foster, the song writer and author of "My Old Kentucky Home," "Camptown Races" and many others. Brand names were "Bardstown," "Bourbon Springs," and "Old Anthem."
At no place do they mention 'Old Fiddle' but, this bottle sure looks real.
Beej