Unveiling The Secrets Of Dating Old Golden Wedding Whiskey Bottles

Golden Wedding Whiskey is a brand with a long history, created by Joseph S. Finch, who built a distillery near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1856. The whiskey was bottled in a distinctive carnival glass bottle, which was gold and iridescent in colour. The bottle featured a big bell on the front with some writing about the reuse of the bottle, and the back was labelled with Golden Wedding at the top and has had no peers for 50 years at the bottom. The whiskey was produced from a blend of five different whiskies to achieve a desired flavour profile.

The history of Golden Wedding Whiskey

Golden Wedding Whiskey has a long history that dates back to 1856. The brand was originally associated with American Whiskey, with its distillery located in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. In 1920, Lewis Rosenstiel purchased the distillery, which included barrels of Golden Wedding Whiskey, and sold the product as medicinal whiskey. During the Prohibition era, Golden Wedding Whiskey was one of the six companies authorised to produce medicinal spirits.

After the repeal of Prohibition, the brand continued to thrive. In 1948, Golden Wedding Whiskey was relocated to Valleyfield, Quebec, and rebranded as a Canadian Whisky. The whisky is now matured for three years in white oak casks at the Black Velvet Distillery in Lethbridge, Alberta. While the brand has a low profile today, it enjoys a loyal following in Newfoundland, Canada, where it receives more shelf space than any other whisky.

Golden Wedding Whiskey has a distinctive retro look, often presented in a tall barroom-style bottle with a label featuring a small picture of a bride and groom. The whisky has a light amber colour and offers a mix of flavours, including peppery rye spice, toffee, caramel, and hints of corn syrup. It is known for its robust rye flavour and is commonly used as a mixer, pairing well with ginger ale.

How to identify a Golden Wedding Whiskey bottle

Golden Wedding Whiskey bottles were produced in what is known as "carnival glass" or "depression glass" in a bright orange/gold colour. The colour varies in intensity, but the bottles are typically around 7 inches tall and date from the 1930s. They feature a big bell on the front with some writing about the reuse of the bottle, and the words "Golden Wedding" at the top and "has had no peers for 50 years" at the bottom. The sides are covered with bells.

Some bottles have a screw-top lid, while others have a "pilfer-proof cap". Some also have a tax stamp, which can be used to date the bottle. For example, a tax stamp dated Fall 1917 indicates the whiskey was made and taxed in 1917.

How much is a Golden Wedding Whiskey bottle worth?

The value of a Golden Wedding Whiskey bottle depends on several factors, including the age, rarity, and condition of the bottle. Golden Wedding Whiskey bottles are considered beautiful and highly collectible, especially those produced in carnival glass, a bright orange/gold-coloured glass.

Golden Wedding Whiskey bottles can be dated back to the early 20th century, with some bottles featuring various dates, such as "Since 1856", "16 years in wood", and "Produced Prior To September 8th, 1917". The brand was first trademarked in the 1910s, and the distillery changed hands several times before and during National Prohibition. During Prohibition, medicinal whiskey was still allowed, and Golden Wedding Whiskey was sold for medicinal purposes with a physician's prescription.

The value of a full-sized (one-pint) Golden Wedding Whiskey bottle in good condition can range from $70 to several hundred dollars. For example, a collector on the website antique-bottles.net mentioned that they had seen a Golden Wedding Whiskey bottle valued at around $70 in the Kovels price book. On the other hand, miniature (1/10 pint) Golden Wedding Whiskey bottles in good condition (sealed, with a decent fill level and intact label) can be worth $75 to $100, as they don't come up for sale very often, according to a collector on whiskeybent.net.

The condition of the bottle and the presence of the original label and seal can significantly impact its value. Additionally, screw-top bottles tend to be less valuable to collectors than those with other types of caps, as they are considered too modern.

Golden Wedding Whiskey advertising and marketing

Golden Wedding Whiskey was created by Joseph S. Finch, who built a distillery near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1856. By 1884, the distillery was owned by James D. Pontefract, who registered the trademarks "Golden Wedding Whiskey" and "Finch's Golden Wedding Rye". The whiskey was bottled at the Schenley Distillery in Pennsylvania, and the brand was very popular in the northeastern United States.

During Prohibition, the distillery was purchased by Louis Rosenstiel, who created the Schenley Distilling Corporation. Golden Wedding became one of the flagship brands in the Schenley portfolio, alongside James E, Pepper, O.F.C. and Old Quaker Bourbons. With the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, Schenley invested in new bottle designs and advertising for the brand. They also created the "Frosted Golden Wedding Cocktail" to promote the whiskey. In 1944, Schenley updated its label design to feature a younger couple, but this was short-lived as the company soon acquired Quebec Distillers, Inc. and changed its name to Canadian Schenley Limited.

In the late 1940s, the Golden Wedding brand was moved to Canada and became a Canadian whisky. This move was intended to capitalise on the brand's name recognition in the American market and help build the brand quickly. The Canadian version of Golden Wedding Whiskey was a success and remained in the Schenley portfolio into the 1990s. However, like all whiskey sales, the brand declined in the 1970s and 80s. It is still bottled today as a three-year-old Canadian whisky by the Sazerac Company.

The distilleries behind Golden Wedding Whiskey

During the Prohibition era, the story of Golden Wedding Whiskey became more complex. The Joseph S. Finch Distillery was purchased by Louis Rosenstiel, who created the Schenley Distilling Corporation. The whiskey's bottling was then split between Schenley's Pennsylvania distillery and the George T. Stagg Distillery. Interestingly, during this time, Golden Wedding Whiskey was sold as a medicinal spirit.

After the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, Schenley invested in the Golden Wedding brand, designing new bottles and updating the label to feature two elderly men, in line with a self-imposed rule of not using women to promote whiskey. Schenley continued to invest in advertising and promoting the brand, creating cocktail recipes and updating the label design.

In the late 1940s, the brand underwent another significant change. Schenley acquired Quebec Distillers, Inc., changing its name to Canadian Schenley Limited. They decided to take two of their American whiskey brands, including Golden Wedding Rye, and bottle them as Canadian whisky. This decision was made due to the name recognition these brands already had in the American market. As a result, Golden Wedding Canadian Whisky was launched in 1948 and became a success.

Today, Golden Wedding Whisky is matured for three years in white oak casks at the Black Velvet distillery in Lethbridge, Alberta, and it enjoys a loyal following in Canada, especially in Newfoundland. The brand has changed hands several times over its long history, but it remains a testament to the enduring appeal of a well-crafted spirit.

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