Whisky Memorabilia
Whisky Memorabilia provides material links to the history of whisky and the many brands, which constitute the tightly woven tapestry that is the backcloth to today’s super successful industry.
With the arrival of blending of malt and grain whiskies in the 1860's, the development of brands eventually followed so that this new product, largely sold in bulk to grocers and publicans, with one blend indistinguishable from another, could be identified by name. Often it was the surname or the full name of the blender, as in Johnnie Walker, Bell's, Teacher's, Dewar's etc., but gradually more imaginative names were adopted, as in White Horse, King George IV, Vat 69, Famous Grouse and Black and White and so on.
Given the keen competition that emerged as between the different blenders, these companies became vigorous proponents of advertising, not only in the print media, but also in all manner of promotional activities. Indeed, one of the criticisms of Peter Mackie of White Horse fame by his competitors was that he spent far too much on advertising which caused them to have to increase unnecessarily their own advertising and promotional budgets! The result of all this was the appearance of all manner of promotional items - many of very high quality - to advance the competing brands in the eyes of customers.
We have for sale from our collection a range of rare items of whisky antiques and paraphernalia either of a generic nature or associated with a particular brand or distillery. They will often be "one-off" items and priced accordingly.
Further information on whisky and advertising can be found in the chapter entitled "Name Your Poison" in The Schweppes Guide to Scotch. The subject is explored in much colour with many fine examples of old advertising in Jim Murray's The Art of Whisky.
