N. & E. BOUKOFSKY - EARLY UTAH DEALERS

Since we are talking Miller's

thought I would bring back this old post about the Boukofsky brothers.

 

 

Utah has produced more than it's share of Miller's flasks.  Both large and small embossing circle variations.  Also it has produced many, many J.F. Cutter Extra (Star in Shield) fifths.   Nelson and Edward Boukofsky ads first appeared in the Salt Lake Tribune in 1871. 

The Boukofsky's were probably the largest (most successful) of the 4 major dealers of San Francisco whiskies in the Utah Territory market.   If the number of embossed containers is any indication,  they certainly were the most successful.  Miller's Extra and J.F. Extra was shipped throughout the state.  Every early town/ mining district I have poked around has remains of these containers scattered about. 

They were also the Utah agents for Baldwin's Superior Hand Made Old Bourbon (S.H.M.)  and McKennas.

It didn't take long for the E.Martin (J.F. Cutter) / A.P. Hotaling (J.H. Cutter)  feud  to show up in the local Utah papers.  Early in 1872 Cunnington and the Boukofsky's started taking potshots at each other as to which was the "true and genuine' Cutter whiskey.

It is interesting to try and calculate the survival rate of some of these bottles.  Cunnington's ad indicates Hotaling's purported warehouse inventory of J.H. Old Bourbon in early 1872.  Besides all the barrels and casks,  5000 cases of bottled product!    I don't think these would be circle cutters... early 1872! 

 

Boukofsky's owned the market in Alta, Utah.  At least 30 intact star/shield fifths have been found in this lofty mining town.  Probably over 20 Millers flasks.   Cunnington did a pretty good job early on as the early J.H.Cutters with and without crown are found here.

The more famous Utah dealers, the Walker Bros.,  had a hard time selling whiskey in Alta.   They made their pile at the Emma and Prince of Wales mines,  but when they gained access to an early mining claim that basically included the entire business district of Alta,  and threatened to make townsfolk re-purchase their lots or move... that didn't go over real big!

Very few circle Cutters in here,  just a couple of shards of Suits.  Alta was all Boukofsky after 1872.

  

ANDERSON BOTTLE SHOW

The 35th Annual Superior California Antique Bottle Show (otherwise known as the Anderson Show) will take place on Saturday Jan 22, 2011.      9 am to 4 pm.    Shasta County Fairgrounds - Anderson, California


I have just received a list of bottles and shot glasses for sale from Ken Schwartz.  He is planning on setting up a sales table ... tables.... at the show and will have approx. 100 whiskies and 100 shot glasses for sale.  Some very rare tools and globs will be available for collectors.   These are duplicate bottles and glasses that Ken has accumulated over the years as he has upgraded examples in his collection.    That collection,  sometimes referred to as the "whiskey museum" on this site,  is the most spectacular grouping of antique whiskey bottles, flasks, shot glasses, advertising signs and related stuff that exists... anywhere!    

Ken will hold an open house for collectors to visit and enjoy viewing this unbelievable collection of western whiskies and related items.     

Just a small sampling of the museum.

AUCTION NEWS

Whiskies find tough love on ebay
Earlier today two very nice western whiskey fifths closed on the ebay auction site.
Fifth number one, a J.H. Cutter Sole Agent, described as “a very crude and whittled 1870s Western whiskey” “The color is light honey amber, and the top is crudely applied. The embossing is very strong, with the jewels on the crown easily seen. There is an "A. No.1" on the reverse shoulder. Condition is about perfect with a few light scratches, but otherwise a sparkler!” finished at a disappointing $156.99
I followed this bottle throughout the run of the auction and still can’t figure out why it went for such a bargain price.

The real shocker for me was the Newmark-Gruenberg Old Judge fifth that closed at just over $650. Described by the seller as “Here is a top specimen of a very tough to find Western whiskey. This crudely applied "glob top" fifth is a light yellow with topaz tone. This is a super color for this San Francisco whiskey! The embossing reads " Newmark Gruenberg & Co, Old Judge Bourbon, S.F." This one does not have the patent date on the base. Condition is gem mint, and it has never been tumbled. A sparkling perfect example of this early San Francisco whiskey!”
As I watched these auctions I kept wondering when the bidding on these two items was going to take off. Unfortunately for the seller it never did and the winning bidders, in my opinion, found a real bargain.

Goes to show you never know
rs

Some Fun Memories in Picture....

Since the Summer is almost here, I figured I'd try and recapture just a few things that remind me of the past year.

Just for Fun....

Part of the current Cutter core:

Here's to the Glob Top!

Gents,

I've been too busy lately to blog, talk, and dig much....But I knew in advance, that working on my MBA would slow down the quest of finding great old whiskies in my free time. In any event, the few digs I have been on lately have produced nothing more than poop-seeds in the bottom layer, literally!?!? I'm going to try and get out digging this weekend.....And I'm already looking forward to two upcoming shows (San Diego and Reno) where some good whiskies tend to make an appearance. In the meanwhile, here's an inspirational photo for our blog:



Any guesses what embossed fifth this is? I know they have been found from SoCal all the way up into WA, not for sure about NV, but would certainly guess they've shown up there too! Not the rarest of old bourbons, but it ain't as common as a Cutter....if you're even luckier, you may one day dig it's rarer, little brother!

COLLECTORS PHOTO ALBUM

Here are a few picts. sent to me from a collector and blog follower OL'BODIE.    He has built a mighty fine collection,  including some spectacular examples.    

 It's great when we get to see some of these super collections..  Thank  you for sharing.

         WOWZER!!                 LOOK AT THIS GROUP!!!

Thanks Bill,   you have a heck of a collection.

Western Flasks- Top 10

For many years there has been the ever evolving, and controversial "Top 25" for Western Whiskeys. There has even been a recent survey to try and rank the "Top 25" Western bitters. These rankings show collector opinion as to the "weight" of one bottle against another. It sometimes translates to monetary value, but most often is a subjective opinion as to what bottle someone would want to have in their collections compared to others. It is general, and not specific to a particular example. I have seen some lesser ranked whiskeys with spectacular color, and character, and a number 1 ranked example that I did not find attractive at all.

So...here is my opinion of the top 10 Western Flasks. There are fewer early flasks than cylinders, or bitters, so a "top 25" would not work in my view.It also does not include two notable flasks: the A.M. Smith Salt Lake City, and the Dr. Hausman's Bitters. These are hard for me to rank as my desire for each is not at cardiac rising levels, though they are unique in undamaged condition. Remember, this is MY opinion only, and is the product of many years of collecting Western flasks, and having great friends and mentors like Ralph Van Brocklin, Jon Lawson, Dennis Eastley, and Bill Anderson. I would appreciate your opinion as to your "top 10". I would like to conduct an actual survey for other collector's opinions. There are not alot of us passionate for the flasks, and most whiskey collectors have a few, usually to pair up with a cylinder. I love the early open face glob flasks the most, and my list does not include any slug plate examples even though they are usually very rare. let me know what you think.

1) N. Grange (either variant)

2) Wormser Bros. (horizontal embossing)

3) J. Angeli San Francisco

4) Old Bourbon Castle Whiskey

5) J. H. Cutter (crown on shoulder)

6) Jesse Moore

7) Wormser Bros. Fine old Cognac

8) Miller's Extra (small design)

9) AAA Old Valley

10) J.F. Cutter Star in Shield

EARLY CUTTERS IN UTAH

It may seem strange to many of you that so many embossed glob's have been located in Mormondom.

The wholesale and retail liquor industry was thriving in Salt Lake City in the early 1870's,  even to the extent that we have two embossed containers from that era...  S.T. Suits fifth (Walker Bros) and California Wine Depot flask (A.M. Smith).    Although the Walker Bros. became agents for J.H. Cutter in 1872,  the first agent in Utah Territory for Mr. Hotaling's bourbon was Cunnington and Co.

A venerable establishment,  Cunnington & Co. was well established as dealers in dry goods, hardware, clothing, groceries, etc.  Their familiar advertising, THE ELEPHANT STORE,  was seen daily in the local papers beginning in the early 1860's.  

As has been mentioned before,  the transcontinental railroad was the spark that set off the mining boom in Utah.  The local merchants, Cunnington, Walker Bros, Auerbach Bros. (recent arrivals from La Porte), Wm. Godbe, and others immediately broadened their horizon and clientele.  Instead of limiting their business to the agricultural based "Valley Saints",  they decided to become miner's outfitters.  Not only sellers of seeds and broadcloth,  they sold picks, blasting powder, fuse, and ore sacks......  and whiskey.   After all,  a 'real miner's outfit' has to have a bottle or two.

The experienced prospectors and miners that poured in were not willing to settle for the local concoctions,  Pop Skull, Tanglefoot, & Valley Tan.  Something more palate-able was in order.   Cunnington & Co. stepped up big, and provided the best .. J.H. CUTTER OLD BOURBON. 

The "boys" were happy! 

Years later a few diggers were happy too!

This is a favorite photo of mine..  just to prove that the stodgy old Mormons had a sense of humor.   The crowd is waiting for the festivities to begin.   A tightrope walker is set to perform, maybe on that rope you see just below the Elephant Store sign.   A "one legged" tightrope walker!

Now that I think of it,  maybe there is more to it!   Cunnington could have been receiving their first shipment from Mr. Hotaling this day!!

REVISITING SOME OLDER POSTS

Here are some ads that surfaced again when sorting all my files and junk.   We have written about these topics in the past and you may find these interesting.

E. Chielovich was out in the "wilds" of Eastern Nevada in 1869 trying to grow the market for Jesse Moore Bourbon.   Obviously, this is a couple of years before the embossed J.Moore bottle made an appearance.   Outfitting saloons was a significant part of the early San Francisco liqour dealers distribution method.  

Chielovich supplied, "fitted up", and/or "managed" saloons in several early Nevada towns.

DAVY CROCKETT - PURE OLD BOURBON   label.   This blown up  from an envelope or advertising cover.

Here is a cool Renz Wholesale Dealer ad that I had printed once before.  It comes from an 1882 issue of the San Francisco paper, the WASP. 

Renz's Blackberry Brandy,  Renz's Herb Bitters and Bonanza Bourbon Whiskey represented.

COLLECTORS ADDITIONS

Here are a couple of photos that I just received.   Some super additions to M.E.'s ever growing collection.

Here is one that he has been wanting for quite awhile.

WOW!



















Very nice Jesse Moore(t-94 var.A)  or without the vent.  Great color!  Just came from the digger, needs to be cleaned up a little.

Davy Crockett(t-73)     Here is a rare one.  I have only seen a couple of these over the years with the glob top.   Great addition!

Here is a photo sent in by a reader from the "Southern Mines". 
Little fuzzy on the picture,  but there is no doubting the color.

Gads!   I don't know if these get any more green than this!

Nice bottle, Zeke!

VARIANTS AND TYPES great, more things to think about!

Since we began publishing the blog in Jan.,  variations of certain bottles have been identifed and have become popular with collectors.   The differences in these bottles have been known to advanced collectors for some time,  and I think it might be time to put some sort of nomenclature together for identifing these bottle for collectors that might be confused by the slang or terminology used by us oldtimers.  The slang will never go away,  I frankly hope that it never completely dissappears,  but there are a couple of bottles that need to be identified by variation or maybe type.  (type1) (type2) if you will.

By default,  I guess, we are using John Thomas' book Whiskey Bottles of the Old West as our standard work.  I don't think there is an argument for using any other current book for discussion of glob top fifths or flasks.  They are all right there in Thomas' book,  organized, with numbers, etc....  pretty easy to follow along.  There is confusion with several bottles,  particularly J.F. Cutter Star/Shield (t-46)  and the assorted J.H. Cutter (t-44) bottles.  Thomas has 4 variants of the Star/Shield (t-46).  He calls them Var. 1 thru Var. 4.   On the J.H. Cutter (t-44) they are listed as 44A, 44B, 44C. 
A quick look through the book and I could only find one instance where numbers were used to identify variants, the (t-46).  All other bottles with noted variants used a letter A, B, C, to identify examples.

I propose that we use the lettering system to identify the Star/Shield (t-46) variations.  We are having trouble with that var.1, 2, 3  thing as it is!
How about:
J.F. Cutter (t-46A)(type1)  =  pointed A, "Fatboy"
J.F. Cutter (t-46A)(type2)  =  pointed A
J.F. Cutter (t-46B)             =   flat A
J.F. Cutter (t-46C)             =   curved R's,  X on base

No, I don't plan on a recall of all copies of Thomas' book for a rewrite,  and I really hate to make any changes to the numbering system for identification.   Maybe we can do an addendum (1 or 2 page insert) to Thomas book with a list of variants and types as collectors have identified them to us.

My friend, Warren Friedrich, got me thinking as to what determines a variant for a particular bottle, and what is just a manufacturing whim or glassblowers tool choice. (type of top)

What say you??   I guess in my thinking, a new mold or major mold alteration would be a variant.
A different style of top, (lipping tool choice) or a minor mold change would be a type.  ie - Millers flask single collar -type1, double collar -type2....so on. 
Jesse Moore fifth  non vented - type1;  vented - type2
O.K. Cutter (t-41)   light slug, older look - type1;  heavy slug, different base - type2

It takes a long time for terminology to change or become mainstream in the hobby.  (I guess it didn't take long for Fat Boy?)   After reading this,  everyone stand down, stay calm,  put your gun back in the holster,  just write 'um up the way you're used to.  But if you see some new terms or phrases showing up in bottle descriptions,  you know who to blame...

How Times Have Changed

There has been alot of discussion as to how this blog might be affecting the prices of certain whiskeys, and that there have been peaks in the whiskey market at times, and adjustments to prices as supply meets demand. That is after all the real factor for determining the value of anything. Supply and demand. Every generation of collector it seems relates stories of the prices back in the day, and how crazy the prices seem to be today...you know the deal. Just when a bottle sells at a mega price it sends a shock wave through the hobby, until the next monster bottle sells at a super high price. I remember reading the Old Bottle Magazine in the 70s where it was predicted that some day soon a bottle will sell for $10,000!!! I could not afford a $50 whiskey at the time, and some houses were selling for not much more than that back then. In updating my insurance coverage recently, I was in the process of listing some stuff on my policy, and going through notes which showed what I paid for something, or what I sold it for etc. I was photographing one of my Wormser flasks and smiled when I noticed a long forgotten sticker on the base with a price tag of $125! It sure makes one wonder what crazy prices will be paid for good glass in the future. Here is a photo of the flask. Has a bit of olive in it and one of those "half a second" and walk away tops. Not sure what it would sell for today, but likely a tad more than the sticker price...

MORE PHOTOS FROM FOLLOWERS

Here are a few more pictures that have found their way into my email box. If you have anything that you would like to share send it on to me. If you have a story to go with it and want to sign up as an author even better.

Keep the stuff coming, we love it.

Dave S. of the Salt Lake area has only been collecting for couple of years. He has been ghosttowning for longer. The influence of seeing shards of all that early S.F. blown glass scattered around the hills is evident on the top shelf.

The bottom shelf is starting to include a few globs. Now we've done it! Sorry Dave.

How would you like to stumble on this while hiking around the hills. Kelly P. an Arizona
collector and now digger sent me this photo.

This is what I mean by digger. WOW! What a color.

Found a broken Miller's fifth in the general area also.

Kelly, if that list of new, best friends hasn't gotten too long can I be on it??

Way to go!

PHOTOS FROM FOLLOWERS

Here are a few photos from L. Westfall that show a portion of his fine collection.

He has been at it for just a few years, has built some nice groupings... buying / selling / swapping / digging.... however you can add a bottle or upgrade an example. Just keep at it.

Cutter barrels:

A pair of O.K.'s (t-41)

Super nice Bird (t-42)

Classic A No 1 (t-40)

Jesse Moores:

Vented and Non vented Jesse (t-94)

Red amber glob Jesse (t-94 var)

Big and tall Serbian -- Mr. Chielovich to you, if you don't mind! (t-90)

Teakettle run (t-136)

A few more:

Jesse, O.K. and a very pretty Lilienthal (t-104)

What's the "oldest" whiskey bottle in your collection?

Not what you thought, right.? How many of you were thinking, "ok... I dont have a pontiled whiskey"? haha.
I thought it would be fun for us collectors to reflect back on the glob top fifths and flasks that are currently in our collections and make two determinations....... First off, what is your fifth or flask that you currently own and have had for the longest time ??(doesnt matter if you bought, traded, or dug it). How long have you had it?

Second, if you dug a fifth or flask and still have it, which dug-bottle have you had the longest? How long, and why do you still have them??

Don't be afraid if it makes you feel as old as some as your bottles, that's not the intention here !The idea is to see why each of us has kept certain bottles longer than others, to reflect back,and also to kind of jog your memory to enjoy the reasons why, or how we acquired our "oldest" bottles.

AP

Where Have all the CUTTER'S Gone?

I received a mail yesterday from a fellow collector and dealer in Western Whiskeyana. He was wondering if I had any Cutter fifths that I wanted to sell. Cutter fifths? Hmm.. I took a look at my Cutter's and thought - sell?- heck, I need to buy a few, I'm kinda' short on Cutter's for a guy that collects western whiskies.

All of a sudden it dawned on me "Hey, where are all those Cutter's you saw on the tables at bottle shows?" A while back someone I knew always had a few Cutter's for sale, and come to think of it, I haven't seen a decent Cutter up for grabs in a while. This got me to thinking.....

I fired up the laptop and dialed into Western Glob Top Whiskies to take a look at any information I could find on the disappearing consummate western fifth.

Now things were coming into perspective. Heck, there were no less than 22 posts on Cutter whiskey bottles. The first post I read was from a collector in San Diego that had in one day purchased or traded for 2 Cutter whiskies at a BBQ and 2 more at a bottle show the next morning. This same collector posted a picture on the American Bottle Auctions site showing his color run of 5 star-shield fifths.

The earlier post titled "J.F. Cutter Star in Shield" showed pictures of 29 different Cutter fifths from about 5 different collectors. That's a rough average of about 6 Cutter bottles per collector.

Now things were getting interesting...

Seems to me this western whiskey blog has really made certain collectors more aware of the so-called lowly Cutter bottle. Why just the other day I was talking to a whiskey collector and he was relating to me the fun he was having putting together a "run" of Bottled By globby fifths. Why, Bottled By fifths? Here's what I was told by a beginning collector. "Its a way collectors that can't hack the buy in price of high dollar fifths can put together a grouping to be proud of. It takes as much time and effort to put together a run of lower value fifths as it does high ticket ones and the satisfaction is just as great without breaking the bank!" I don't even own a Bottled BY fifth, but maybe I better get one before they are all gone.

Don't even talk to me about color runs.... seems like every western whiskey collector I talk to has a color run of some Cutter variant.

Have you tried to buy a Star-Shield fifth lately? Those $100 fifths now start at $300 and go on up in price depending on the color. And how about the 4 piece circle Cutter, when was the last time you saw one of those for sale? These "circle's" are coveted and bought & sold in the parking lots of bottle shows - like they were McKenna's or Teakettle's.

Cutter OK's start at $200 - 225 if you can find one and the tool top version, that used to be a $15 bottle, now starts at around $100.

In this old collector's opinion the Cutter fifth has finally started to get the respect that it deserves.

So....... better start stocking up on those Cutter's -while there are still some left !!!

THE PRE-75 GANG

A.P. noted the relative small number of pre-1875 fifths. I'll start this little exercise and plan to make changes for awhile. Help me with the dates of service and colors. Here is the listing of fifths and flasks that were in service prior to 1875. Some came and went before 1875, others started before '75 and carried on somewhat longer.
Notes:
I tried to list the 5 colors that I would consider if I was collecting a grouping of each of these bottles. Green - truly green. Yellow Green is a click or two more toward yellow. Yellow Amber - light amber shades (pure yellow coloration is rare). Old Amber - Plain ol' amber, sometimes with the olive amber shade. Dark Amber - Very dark, chocolate amber or dark olive amber. You can find several shades of yellow amber and old amber if you are collecting the Circles or Star in Shields. I don't want to split hairs, my point is trying to identify the very few fifths and flasks that come in the 'full rainbow' or all 5 colors. The Teakettle has the royal flush + 1 (the joker) aqua.

Dates I have used are from Thomas, or my own estimation or guess. Dating whiskey bottle usage, exactly, -to quote 'old cutters' - is a s.w.a.g. The bottled product, in cases or in the consumer's hand, is not subject to spoilage. Wholesalers and retailers had no worries about the product going bad. Inventory was kept on hand until sold. The Cutter bottles in particular were constantly changing. There had to be some overlap in bottle usage, possibly a couple of years in some cases.
Please give me direction if you think some date changes need to be made, or if you have seen examples of bottles in colors that I have a question mark next to. Post a comment or email me, thanks.

Fifths:

Old Castle 1872-1885?

Amber/Yellow/Olive

Jockey Club(t-19) 1870?-1873

Yellow Green/Old Amber/DarkAmber

CutterCircle(t-43) 1873-1877

YellowGreen/YellowAmber/OldAmber/Dark Amber

J.F. Cutter Star&Shld(t-46) 1870-1884

Green/YellowGreen/YellowAmber/OldAmber/DarkAmber

Cutter Hotaling Crown Shldr(t-47) 1872-1874

YellowAmber/OldAmber/DarkAmber

Cutter Martin Crown Shldr*no circle (t-48) 1873-1874

YellowAmber?/OldAmber

Cutter Hotaling non Crown(t-49) 1868-1871

Green/YellowGreen/OldAmber/DarkAmber

Cutter Martin Mid Crown(t-50) 1875-1878

Green?/YellowGreen/YellowAmber/OldAmber/DarkAmber?

Evans & Obrien(t- 64) 1871-1873 (They were agents for Miller's Extra)

Green/YellowGreen/YellowAmber?/DarkAmber

J. Moore Chielovich (t-90) 1871-1875

Green/YellowGreen/YellowAmber/OldAmber/DarkAmber

Laurel Palace(t-96) 1872-1874

OldAmber

Pride Of Kentucky(t-108) 1874-1883

YellowGreen/YellowAmber?/OldAmber/DarkAmber

G.O.Blakes Pond,Reynolds (t-115) 1872-1875

YellowGreen/YellowAmber/OldAmber/DarkAmber

G.O.Blakes More, Reynolds(t-116) 1875*-1880
* I know, not pre-75. Same mold as t-115 and nice colors...

YellowGreen/YellowAmber/OldAmber/DarkAmber

California Club House(t-119) 1872-1874

Green/YellowGreen/YellowAmber/OldAmber/DarkAmber

Teakettle(t-136) 1871-1887

Green/YellowGreen/YellowAmber/OldAmber/DarkAmber/Aqua

S.T. Suits - Walker Bros.(t-148) 1872-1874

YellowGreen/YellowAmber

Thos. Taylor Virginia, N.(t-151) 1871-1877?

Green/YellowGreen/YellowAmber/OldAmber/DarkAmber

Gold Dust - John Van Bergen(t-154) 1872-1875

Green/YellowGreen/YellowAmber/OldAmber?/DarkAmber

Gold Dust - N. Van Bergen(t-155) 1875- 1880 (N. Van Bergen advertised as Sole Agents for Gold Dust from 1875-1880 and began advertising as Sole Proprietor for Gold Dust only in 1880)

YellowGreen?/YellowAmber/OldAmber/DarkAmber

Old Woodburn(t-159) 1875- 1880 (N. Van Bergen advertised as Sole Agents for Woodburn from 1875-1880)

YellowGreen/OldAmber?/DarkAmber

Weil Bros.(t-162) 1870?- 1872?

YellowGreen/YellowAmber

McKennas(t-168) 1874?-1883

YellowGreen/YellowAmber/OldAmber/DarkAmber

* I believe the C&I variants are a bit newer, 1877-1879 or so.

S.H.M(t-169) 1873-1876 *

Green/YellowAmber/OldAmber/DarkAmber

* I believe the C&I variants are even more recent than above, 1878-1880
or so. We need more info on the four C&I fifths. Would make a nice article.

Flasks:

Wormser Bros (Horizontal variant) 1868-1869
Green/Amber

Wormser Bros (Vertical variant) 1869-1871
Green/Yellow/Amber

J. Angeli (March 1871-May 1872)
Ambers

Old Castle (1872-1876?)
Amber/Yellow/Green

Lilienthal (1872-1880)
Amber/Yellow/Green

AAA (1871-1880)
Amber/Yellow/Green

Millers (1871-1879)
Amber/Yellow/Green

John Thomas

Picked up this copy of the Old Bottle Magazine, Aug. 1971, a few days ago. I remember when it came out, with John Thomas witching for bottles. I guess no one ever perfected that art!!

Here is John Thomas holding court in 1997 at the great Whiskey Extravaganza - Downieville Bottle Show.

John passed away in 2000. He was instrumental in bringing glob top whiskey bottles and collectors together with his first book (booklet) A Choice Listing Of The Most Desired Older Whiskey Bottles.

Whiskey prices

Don't we wish we could go back to the "good old days" when bottles were priced like this? Of course, most of us didn't have two quarters to rub together at the time, but it's fun to reminisce. This is what some western whiskey bottles were worth in 1970.