I. NELSON’S OLD BOURBON in found condition – Antique Whiskey Bottle Hall of Fame

Isaac Nelson – The Dollar Weekly Bulletin – Maysville KY – Aug 7 1862

I. NELSON’S OLD BOURBON / MAYSVILLE. K.Y – Blown in Mold, 7 1/4″ figural barrel shaped whiskey in olive amber coloration. Sold on consignment by Reggie Lynch to the Mason County Museum in Maysville, Kentucky – Antique Whiskey Bottle Hall of Fame

I. NELSON’S OLD BOURBON / MAYSVILLE. K.Y – Blown in Mold, 7 1/4″ figural barrel shaped whiskey in olive amber coloration. Sold on consignment by Reggie Lynch to the Mason County Museum in Maysville, Kentucky – Antique Whiskey Bottle Hall of Fame

The I. NELSON’S OLD BOURBON example now resides at The Museum Center, aka the Mason County County Museum and Research Library, was chartered as the Maysville and Mason County Library, Historical, and Scientific Association in 1878 and is said to be the oldest state historical organization in continuous existence. In 1975 the association changed focus and continued as the Mason County Museum. In 2003, with plans for change and expansion, the name was changed to Museum Center.

A second example. Description from eBay: This barrel shaped whiskey I have had for nearly 30 years in the collection. The color is a medium olive amber. There is green to the color and hardly any amber at all. Just enough to shade the olive green. This color is just like the U.S.A.  hospital bottles. It stands 7 3/8 inch high, by 3 1/4 inch wide at the base. It is nearly 4 inches wide at the center and is 3 1/2 inches wide at the shoulder. The lip is 1 1/2 inches wide and there is no damage at all. There is a narrow light streak of interior stain on the front half of the barrel, below the words I. NELSON’S. The base interior has a light stain, probably from the original contents. The light stain does not go to the sides, it is mostly in the center area. Half of the original cork is in the neck yet. I never tried to remove it. The glass has nice crudity to it, with lines and bubbles and some stretch marks. This is one fantastic whiskey. I have seen an amber version of this whiskey before, but never an olive amber one. I could not find any that have been on eBay either. It would be a long time until you find another one. PRG: Thanks to Brad Seigler on finding this historical eBay post. This bottle sold for $4,650 in June 2012 by nev.bott

MAYSVILLE, K.Y. embossing on eBay example pictured above

This picture just taken at the FOHBC 2012 Reno Expo Gazebo display. I. NELSON’S OLD BOURBON in a greenish amber.

I. NELSON OLD BOURBON figural barrel consigned to American Bottle Auctions (December 2012). I believe it is the same bottle pictured above. Read: Bring out the (Antique Bottle) Barrels

To me, it is astounding that the STILLMAN & BREEN MEMPHIS, the W. WOLF PITTSBURGH  and the I. NELSON’S OLD BOURBON are so similar. Look closely at the serifed typography! Extraordinarily similar for such early bottles.

Purchased at the 47th Annual Golden Gate Historical Bottle Society’s Antique Bottle and Collectibles Show and Sale on 13 April 2013. – Jerry Forbes

“I. NELSON’S / OLD BOURBON / MAYSVILLE, KY.”, (Denzin, NEL-21), Kentucky, ca. 1865 – 1875, golden yellow amber barrel, 7 1/4”h, smooth base, applied mouth. A pinhead in size flake is off the outer edge of the lip. A rare bottle and in the desirable barrel form! Purchased from Paul Van Vactor, in 1976. – Glass Works Auctions #112 – Bob Ferraro Collection – Session 1