A. Keller Bourbon: An Unopened Window into American Whiskey History
This is not a reproduction, a replica, or a lucky attic find. This is an original, unopened bottle of A. Keller Bourbon, sealed with its authentic red wax, bottled in 1878, and distilled in October 1856. With a rich orange label that reads:
“BOURBON WHISKEY A. KELLER – Bottled by Jacob Vanderpoel – 1878”
…this extraordinary bottle offers one of the oldest surviving examples of pre-Prohibition bourbon known to exist in private hands. It is a rare, tangible link to Kentucky’s earliest commercial whiskey makers.
The Bottle: Condition and Features
- Red Wax Seal: Original, fully intact
- Glass: Clean, no cracks or chips
- Label: Original vibrant orange label remains legible and well-preserved
- Contents: Bourbon level clearly visible, seemingly undisturbed since bottling
The Origins of A. Keller Bourbon
Abraham Keller is one of Kentucky bourbon’s forgotten founding fathers. Born in 1809 in Pennsylvania and later settling near Cynthiana, Kentucky, Keller began distilling in 1840 after purchasing a flour mill along the South Fork of the Licking River. He converted the mill into a distillery and, in partnership with a member of the renowned Shawhan family, began producing bourbon under the brand “Old A. Keller.”
Keller’s whiskey quickly gained popularity for its quality, and for two decades he built a reputation across the region. By 1861, as Civil War tensions escalated, Keller sold the distillery and relocated. That same year, J.A. Cook purchased the operation, and in 1863, he brought on Thomas Ashbrook as a partner. The firm became known as Cook & Ashbrook, and later The A. Keller Company under Ashbrook’s sons.
By the 1880s, the distillery was mashing 160 bushels daily and aging over 3,000 barrels. The brand expanded nationally with a lineup that included:
- Old A. Keller
- Keller’s 67
- Keller’s Imperial
- Keller’s Superior
The Wine and Spirits Journal noted in 1891:
“Cynthiana is the birthplace of old ‘A. Keller,’ one of the most widely known and easiest-selling brands coming from Kentucky to New York and Boston and in the East.”
Eventually absorbed by the Kentucky Distilleries & Warehouse Company (also known as the Whiskey Trust), the brand continued to grow into the 1910s. Production reached 450 bushels a day, with storage for over 30,000 barrels. The brand finally disappeared with National Prohibition.
While the names of Elijah Craig and Evan Williams remain, Abraham Keller’s legacy lives on quietly, except in Cynthiana, where a commemorative “Old A. Keller” shot glass and keepsake card are still sold to honor this early whiskey trailblazer.
Bottled by Jacob Vanderpoel: Private Stock with Provenance
Jacob Vanderpoel was a 19th-century New York wine and spirits merchant known for sourcing exceptional barrels directly from Kentucky distillers. He bottled and sold high-end private label bourbons to elite clients along the East Coast.
The bottle offered here was distilled in 1856, likely purchased by Vanderpoel around 1860, and bottled in 1878 in New York after aging in wood for over 22 years. East Coast bottling was common practice for select private stock shipped from Kentucky to trusted dealers.
Vanderpoel’s credibility is reinforced by other historic bottles bearing his name—including a Madeira wine bottled in 1870 to celebrate a 50th anniversary. These artifacts show a family tradition of high-end bottling and legacy-worthy preservation.
A Rare Artifact of Bourbon Heritage
This bottle is not just collectible; it is a primary source in liquid form. It embodies:
- Pre-Prohibition Craftsmanship
- Kentucky Distilling Origins
- East Coast Distribution Networks
- Private Label Prestige
- 22-Year Barrel Aging
Unlike modern recreations, this bottle lived through the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the Gilded Age before being sealed—untouched—for more than a century. The wax is real. The aging is real. The story is real.
This is history in a bottle.
For More Research and References:
- “Those Pre-Pro Whiskey Men” archives: https://pre-prowhiskeymen.com
- Kentucky Distilleries & Warehouse Co. records: https://nkaa.uky.edu/nkaa/items/show/300003273
- Harrison County production and gauger logs
- NY spirits registries (1860–1880s)
Learn More or Inquire
If you’re a bourbon enthusiast, historian, museum curator, or private collector seeking a definitive example of early American whiskey history, this bottle represents an irreplaceable opportunity. It is available for private sale, and we welcome serious inquiries.
Contact me: easyreply@icloud.com
Other Bottles Discovered that were Bottled by Jacob Vanderpoel
1. Otard, Dupuy & Co. Brandy (Distilled 1852 / Bottled 1872)
Label reads: “Bottled by J. Vanderpoel after twenty years of aging in wood barrels, with the first Ten Years spent at London Dock.”
Link: https://www.rubylane.com/item/2185215-RL002317/1872-Otard-Dupuy-Co-Brandy-bottle
2. Romano Sherry (Late 1800s)
Label includes: “Bottled by J. Vanderpoel” with the characteristic orange label style.
Image link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/220021721493794/posts/1337742733055015/
3. Madeira Wine (1820 Vintage / Bottled 1870)
Featured in a list of historic bottles, citing Jacob Vanderpoel as the bottler.
Link: https://web.archive.org/web/20230328153318/https://www.intowine.com/reviews/1820-vanderpool-madeira-wine-portugal-wine-review