Welcome to Part 2 of the whiskey jug story. The china jugs are native to Ohio, and possibly among the whiteware treasures at Fort Laurens Antiques in Bolivar, Ohio. People throughout Northeast Ohio; East Liverpool, Ohio in particular, might find this half of the story as interesting as the first.
Hopefully you have already read about the upstart of a pottery company (KT&K) established in 1854 by Isaac Knowles. Located in East Liverpool, Isaac Knowles’ company utilized 270 kilns to manufacture “whiteware.” The whiteware was given a clear glaze that developed a lustrous white finish.
Once the kilns were up and running, George W. Meredith went to work at KT&K as a jiggerman. His job was that of a laborer who turned the potter’s wheel to shape the clay. Meredith worked for KT&K until his health became an issue. He then discovered that a better occupation for his taste was to blend and distribute his own whiskey. And so he did, in his own space, not too far from Knowles’ operation.
The word “pure” was incorporated by Meredith as part of his claim that his whiskey was the best on earth. He claimed that one “nip” was worth 10 doses of medicine and boasted that his liquor had been “officially recognized” by the medical profession.
You betcha!
The man was smart enough to circumvent the on-coming Temperance Movement and eventually Prohibition. This entrepreneur became one of the largest whiskey distributors in the country.
But before Meredith could put his brew out for sale, he needed one more item – packaging. He really liked the attractiveness of his whiskey in whiteware china jugs, and he decided that was it! He wanted a graceful, tapered body with a serpent handle and a fancy over glaze label with plenty of gold trimming.
The next part – selling it – was easy.
In 1891, the local newspaper ran an ad stating: “The G. W. Meredith Co. is offering its Diamond Club Pure Rye Whiskey in china jugs that will come in three sizes.” Meredith then distributed his product in china jugs along with the message: “Expressly for Medicinal Purposes.” And with that, the KT&K whiskey jug was on its way.
Shortly thereafter, other whiskey distillers and distributors were attracted to the idea. And they also commissioned KT&K to apply their labels.
Meredith grew in wealth and prestige in the quaint town in Northeast Ohio, about an hour away from Bolivar. He also became very wealthy as a major stockholder in various local operations. Then in 1908, Meredith moved his whiskey operations to Pittsburgh. When Prohibition wiped out his liquor business in 1920, he moved to New Jersey and made more money in real estate.
Finally, the man with a mind for business bottled a soft drink called “Whistle.” It was an orange-flavored beverage that had been invented in St. Louis just as Prohibition began.
Fort Laurens Antiques is located at 127 Canal Street in Bolivar, Ohio, exit 93 off I-77. We encourage you to visit this two-story antique shop in Northeast Ohio. You may just find a KTK whiskey jug from East Liverpool, Ohio and other distinct whiteware china jugs for your collection. Bottoms Up!
Fort Laurens Antiques
330.874.4136
A special thank you to Jack Sullivan, a blogger in which I used a great deal of his information regarding Meredith’s Diamond Club Pure Rye Whiskeys.