Ash Tonic Bitters – John C. Horting, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

15 October 2015 (R•090719)

The Ash Tonic Bitters was a surprise in the Conestoga Auction Company event last Saturday when the Nolt Collection of Whiskey Memorabilia was auctioned off in a live and web event. This was all Lancaster, Pennsylvania material so this bottle fit right in as it was from John C. Horting, a well-known local liquor merchant.

Read: Jeremiah Rohrer – Nolt Collection of Whiskey Memorabilia

Read: Dr. Stoever’s Bitters – Lancaster & Philadelphia

Read: Mishler’s Herb Bitters and The Mishler Family

This puppy went for $5,000 plus an auction house premium of 21%. Hoochie Mama. What is interesting here is that the bottle is not embossed bitters and is labeled rather nicely on the front and back. It also appears to be an unlisted bitters that will need to be picked up in the forthcoming Bitters Bottles Supplement 2.

A 100 L . . . Ash Tonic Bitters, Trade Mark ancient Greek male and female serving drink. Directions, A Wine Glass Full Before Each Meal. John C. Horting, 124 N. Queen St., Lancaster, Pa. Reverse label: Directions and ingredients in English and German.
Square, Yellowish green, LTC, Swirled fluting on neck and shoulder, 2 sp, Tooled lip, Extremely rare.
WAT L10. A 100 in Bitters Bottles incorrect description.

Reverse side of labeled Ash Tonic Bitters in an apple green, with swirled fluting on neck and shoulder. John C. Horting, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Nolt Collection. – Conestoga Auctions

Labeled Ash Tonic Bitters in an apple green, with swirled fluting on neck and shoulder. John C. Horting, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Nolt Collection. – Conestoga Auctions

From label detail of an Ash Tonic Bitters. John C. Horting, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Nolt Collection. – Conestoga Auctions

Reverse label detail of an Ash Tonic Bitters. John C. Horting, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Nolt Collection. – Conestoga Auctions

Base detail of an Ash Tonic Bitters. John C. Horting, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Nolt Collection. – Conestoga Auctions

Most bitters collectors will immediately recognize that the bottle shape and color is the same as the Dr. Lowe’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters & Nerve Tonic (see below) from Cleveland, Ohio. It is also the same bottle as the extremely rare, Uncle Sams Bitters (also see further below). Obviously John C. Horting and probably many other liquor and bitters merchants, used the unembossed bottle to carry their brands and labels.

Dr. Loew’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters & Nerve Tonic, The Loew’s & Sons Co., Cleveland, O. – Meyer Collection

Uncle Sam’s Wild Cherry Bitters – Meyer Collection