Atherton Whiskey

[13][10] The company sold in bulk to the likes of J. T. S. Brown and their whiskey was blended and rebranded with barrels from Mellwood and BF Mattingly Distilleries and until they began bottling in bond.

There is an Owen's mark underneath and a caution notice on rear not permitting reuse of any bottle containing a distilled spirit.

Sold by the Meyer Brothers Drug Co.[16] By the end of 1881, the company had on its books orders of 55,000 barrels of its several brands.

As the founders' interests moved on into the real estate business, his son Peter Lee Atherton,[25] took over the management of all distillery operations, as vice president.

During this time the company portfolio included a total of four distilleries within LaRue County, making them the largest product of Bourbon by volume in the United States.

John M Atherton testified before Congress about issues involving taxation and the bonding period for whiskey.

[32] However, it was a time when some unsavory Distiller's were bottling paint thinner, or at best, adding a splash of caramel coloring, and calling it whiskey.

Such actions resulted in the passing of the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 legislation to protect the consumer and raise product standards.

After more than 30 years with John M Atherton at the helm, the brand and all the company assets were acquired by the Whiskey Trust.

With the onset of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, the Whiskey Trust would eventually become part of American Medicinal Spirits Company in 1927.

During prohibition they produced "medicinal whiskey" under the Atherton brand in one pint bottles for sick, blind, and non-mobile patients.

The "mothballed" Atherton distillery, complete with plant and equipment was acquired and rebuilt by Arthur J. Cummings Jr. and a partner in 1933.

However, the site fell into disrepair with Cummings closing down the plant shortly before it was acquired by the Seagram Company in 1946.

The power house, fermenting room and evaporator escaped damage and did not spread to the three warehouses where the whiskey was stored.