old cabin bitters this bottle is roughly dated between 1860-1880
-straight out of the californian gold rush era but never exported outside america
So this is another medicinal drink to help settle your stomach and give you a bit of a kick. Some of these bitters were 33% alcohol.
It’s an equivalent of the british quinine wine where it’s still using the bark of quinine but now mixed with whiskey and other herbs.
-made between 1854 and 1862 before becoming Kellys Old Cabin Bitters
source: https://www.antique-bottles.net/threads/ulysses-s-grant-and-the-kellys-and-the-old-cabin-bitters.331908/
and also
Peachridge Glass: Log Cabin Series – Kelly’s Old Cabin Bitters Posted on 22 December 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V
https://www.peachridgeglass.com/2012/12/log-cabin-series-kellys-old-cabin-bitters/
another photo:
https://abcrauctions.com.au/past-auctions/2274/abcr-auction-17/915/drakes-plantation-bitters-cabin-shaped-bottle/
-In 1870 John Garnhart was issued a patent on his bottle (KELLYS OLD CABIN BITTERS) .It seems another bottle very similar to his turned up early in 1870. This bottle was embossed with the following HOLTZERMANN’S PATENT STOMACH BITTERS.The bottle like Garnhart and Kellys was in the shape of and very similar in detail to their bottle.
source: https://www.antique-bottles.net/threads/ulysses-s-grant-and-the-kellys-and-the-old-cabin-bitters.331908/
pic of one of the imitators https://auctions.hecklerauction.com/131/view/?lot=86
also this https://thehiddensouth.com/products/antique-dr-j-hostetters-stomach-bitters-bottle-w-paper-label
ingrediants were cinchona and could include variations of gentian, orange peel and anise, vegetable extracts.
-Alcoholic whiskey content 47% in early version -variable depending on era?.
-classified as a tonic due to bitters, so didn’t attract same taxes as alcohol.
-existed in an ambiguous medicinal/alcoholic/flavouring space as described in this article: https://imbibemagazine.com/drakes-plantation-bitters/
slide show image credit: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=22424
-1864 ad for Dr H introduction into local market:
“Dr Hostettor’s Stomach Bitters. predict for this extraordinary preparation a celebrity never yet attained by any public tonic introduced into Australia. It has almost all other diffusive stimulants from the mining town of California, and completely superseded quinine. eminent medical men in the United States have recommended it, and chemical analysis show it to be free from dangerous essential oils and volatile acids which exist in other alcoholic tinctures. The basis of the Bitters ce.. rectified spirit of the finest rye grown in the The Manufactory at Pittsburgh, which is the the famous Monongahela Rye District, turns …hundred thousand bottles of Bitters per annum, and one fourth is consumed in the Pacific States.”
Hostetter’s Stomach Bitters. (1864, October 8). The Newcastle Chronicle and Hunter River District News (NSW : 1859 – 1866), p. 3. Retrieved April 14, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article128923384
-in this ad it mentions it supercedes quinine, around this time you can see ads for quinine wine. ie ‘image 170’ and ‘image 179′(N.S.W. :). The Newcastle city and country almanac & directory : with farm and garden calendar Retrieved April 14, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2968112961
also other resources: https://www.matchandmedicine.com/product/hostetters-celebrated-stomach-bitters-facsimile-label-proof-pair/
-59-60
other similar drinks, Dr H’s stomach bitters from Pennsylvannia
image credits and info:
Jacob & David Hostetter–Dr. J. Hostetter’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters by Ferdinand Meyer V from Antique Bottle & Glass Collector | March April 2022 by Ferdinand Meyer V online here: https://issuu.com/fohbc/docs/ab_gc_marchapril_2022r/s/14819697
and
source and image credits: Peachridge Glass Jacob & David Hostetter – Dr. J. Hostetter’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters Posted on 30 October 2018 by Ferdinand Meyer V online here: https://www.peachridgeglass.com/2018/10/jacob-david-hostetter-dr-j-hostetters-celebrated-stomach-bitters/
61-
Imitations of Dr H’s bitters:
63 and to 66
Dr H
1870 court case in Melbourne:
-Victorian agent Mr Newell for Dr Hostetter’s apply for a court injunction to stop ‘celebrated stomach bitters’ being distributed by Messrs Anderson, Greig, and Co., wine and spirit merchants, Melbourne,
-they deny it is an imitation.
-they are actually selling their bootleg version in recyled Dr Hostetter bottles
-some labels are Hostetter’s Stomach Bitters and some are Celebrated Stomach Bitters
-they offer to a perpeptual injunction but not to pay court costs
source: Hostetter’s Bitters, (1870, February 12). The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 – 1924), p. 3. Retrieved April 14, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article219306094
-LAW REPORT. (1870, February 11). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957), p. 1 (The Argus Supplement). Retrieved April 14, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5812144
-LAW COURTS. (1870, February 17). The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 – 1954), p. 3. Retrieved March 18, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article244910390
-LEGAL INTELLIGENCE. (1870, February 18). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 – 1954), p. 3. Retrieved March 18, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189329654
-LAW AND POLICE: Hostetter v. Anderson and others. (1870, February 19). Leader (Melbourne, Vic. : 1862 – 1918, 1935), p. 20. Retrieved March 18, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article196691090
burrows & co 