Callahan’s Old Cabin Whiskey Patented 1865 Pittsburgh Pa

Callahan’s Old Cabin Whiskey

Patented 1865 Pittsburgh Pa

Hugh Callahan, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Amber Figural Cabin

Provenance: Chip Cable Collection

The very rare figural “Callahan’s Old Cabin Whiskey” is as good as it gets. According to Don Denzin, author of Antique Eastern Whiskey Bottles, “This is the most sought-after of all antique whiskey bottles!” The lighter yellow-amber example pictured in the museum was used on the 1999 33-cent United States “American Glass” stamp sheet, Scott catalog #3325-28. The stamp sheet, designed by Richard Sheaf, features four stamps that showcase distinct styles and production methods of American art glass. Beautiful examples of Free-blown Glass, Mold-Blown Glass, Pressed Glass, and Art Glass are shown on the stamps, while the selvage has an image of Tiffany Glass work. Examples pictured on the four stamps were exhibited at the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York, where the stamps were first issued.

Our amber “Callahan’s Old Cabin Whiskey” is rectangular with 21 stacked horizontal logs meeting at yellowish knobs on the bottle side corners. There are arched shoulders, a slightly tapered neck, and an applied tapered collar. The logs diminish into the neck, giving a dual appearance of the cabin roofing. The base is smooth. ‘CALLAHAN’S OLD CABIN WHISKEY’ is embossed within a depressed, more-than half-circle on two opposite broad sides of the bottle in a serif typestyle. A sharply arched inset smooth door with a doorknob and window is also depicted on both sides, the window with cross-hatched panes. The thinner sides have a smooth inset arched door and a circular inset window with ‘PATENTED PITTSBURGH PA 1865’ embossed within. The bottle is based on the American Life Bitters mold, proudly displayed in the museum Bitters Gallery. With only a handful of examples extant, our example, according to the consignor, “was dug on the north side of Pittsburgh about two blocks from where Hugh Callahan’s saloon was once located.

See the museum example of American Life Bitters.

Hugh Callahan was born sometime around 1823 in Ireland and emigrated to America, initially settling in Philadelphia, we believe. By 1859, he came to Allegheny or Pittsburgh and opened a liquor store at the corner of Craig and Ann streets. For the next 15 years, he was alternately listed as a liquor dealer or merchant, a saloon keeper, and a tavern owner in the First Ward in various Pittsburgh directory listings, always at the 65 Craig street address. 1865 was his big year when he patented “Callahan’s Old Cabin Whiskey” using a figural cabin bottle form. Advertising said he was the sole proprietor and manufacturer and that his whiskey was the “most Superior Tonic in the World.” You could buy it by the case, keg or barrel. Callahan was located at 6 Smithfield Street, opposite the Monongahela House. His sole agent was Wright & Hull, located at 43 Magazine Street in New Orleans, Louisiana. Unfortunately, the brand was not a big seller attesting to its extreme rarity.

Hugh Callahan was very successful in later life in real estate and was one of the first residents and largest property owners in the First Ward. When he died in August 1890, living at 77 Craig St., Allegheny, he left $125,000 to his wife, Maria Callahan. At her death, it was to go to his two daughters, Katie and Stella, and three years after the death of his wife, his three sons, James, Hugh, and Martin D., were to receive $1,000. His daughter Katie Callahan was appointed executrix. 

Primary Image: Callahan’s Old Cabin Whiskey bottle imaged on location by Alan DeMaison, FOHBC Virtual Museum Midwest Studio.

Support Image: “CALLAHAN’S / OLD CABIN / WHISKEY” (on front and back panels) – “PATENTED / 1865 / PITTSBURGH, PA.” (on both side panels). (Denzin CAL-11), Pennsylvania, ca. 1865 – 1870, medium amber cabin, 9”h, smooth base, applied mouth, pristine perfect condition, and with nice glass whittle. According to Don Denzin, author of ‘Antique Eastern Whiskey Bottles’. “This is the most sought-after of all antique whiskey bottles”! We originally auctioned this bottle on August 17th, 1993 at the Federation of Historical Bottles Collectors auction in Richmond, Virginia. It was lot 77 selling for $8,000.00! Since that time it has been in the collections of Roger Long, Eric Schmetterling, and most recently Chris Hartz. Of the known examples, and there aren’t many, it is considered to be the finest of its kind. – Jim Hagenbuch, Glass Works Auctions, Auction #95

Support Image: Auction Lot 25: CALLAHAN’S OLD CABIN WHISKEY, yellow amber, near perfect, Circa 1865-1880, rectangular, modified cabin form. This exact bottle was used for the 33-cent American Glass postage stamp designed by Richard Sheaf a few years ago. This bottle has been on exhibit at the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York. ex: Norman Heckler Sr. collection. Tall cabin form with cathedral arched windows and doors, applied sloping collared mouth – smooth base, ht 9 inches. – Norman Heckler Jr. & Sr., Norman C. Heckler & Company, Auction #76, November 2005.

Support Image: CALLAHAN’S OLD CABIN WHISKEY – This exact example was pictured on the United States ‘American Glass’ 33-cent postage stamp and displayed at the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York. The bottle is ex: Norman C. Heckler Sr., Ferdinand Meyer V and Sandor Fuss collections.

Support: Reference My ex Callahan’s Old Cabin Whiskey – The Big Fish that Got Away, Ferdinand Meyer V, PeachridgeGlass.com

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