Merry Christmas Flasks, a Holiday Tradition

Merry Christmas flasks

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These interesting little flasks typically held rye whiskey or similar distilled spirits, and were utilized as gifts or premiums by saloons, distillers, hotels and druggists alike. In addition to serving as popular giveaways, they were sometimes offered as incentives for customers to order other products, such as a case of whiskey or cigars.

The flasks were prevalent from the mid1890s to shortly after the turn of the previous century. Most were embossed or labeled with the standard greeting, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. However, for the purpose of this article, we thought we would feature a few examples that are a little more unusual, either in terms of their embossing, or what is depicted on their label.

Together, these little flasks represent a unique time period and a holiday tradition from more than a century ago that has given today’s collector one more reason to cheer.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from your friends at AB&GC!

Note: If you have an unusual Christmas flask, we would love to learn about it. Send us a note, or a photo, and perhaps we can include it in next year’s installment of holiday flasks.

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From bartenders, to soldiers, and plum trees:

FIGURE 1: A colorful label-under-glass piece, depicts a smiling soldier, likely from the SpanishAmerican War, c.1898, that with a black eye, missing front tooth, tattered ear and bandages on his forehead, with the caption below, “But you ought to see the other fellow.” Below the caption is an image of what appears to be Old Man Winter with two pipes in his mouth.

FIGURE 2: Another colorful and unusual scene is shown on this label-under-glass flask, with a jolly old bartender holding a bottle marked, “1891 RYE,” and the message below, “CORKING GOOD STUFF.” This particular example also has a small proprietor label below the scroll, “Compliments of / M.J. MILLER’S SONS / Wholesale and Retail / Liquor Dealers, / Westernport, Md.” These flasks can be found with and without the private proprietor labels.

FIGURE 3: A paper label flask with a most unusual Christmas scene with an image of a bearded Santa looking back over his shoulder at a large, twomasted sailing ship sinking in the ocean. Below the scene, in a frame: “A / Merry Christmas / And / A Happy / New Year”, and the proprietor, “JOS. HORTER, ZANESVILLE, O.” It is hard to imagine why this would be depicted as a Christmas scene. The only guesses that we have had is that it somehow pertains to the Spanish-American War.

FIGURE 4: Someone had a sense of humor creating this label, which shows a young boy, a dog by his side, peeing the words in cursive, “A Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year.” Below, is printed the proprietor’s name and city, “DAN LONGBRAKE, LAKE VIEW, OHIO.”

FIGURE 5: A clear pumpkinseed flask embossed “MERRY CHRISTMAS” / (image of a plum tree) / “SHAKE THE PLUM TREE.” Apparently, “Shake the Plum Tree” was a slang term in reference to taking advantage of, especially as it relates to political favors. It would seem to have a hidden meaning on a Christmas flask.

FIGURE 6: Another fun little flask, this one is embossed “MERRY CHRISTMAS / EVERY DRINK / MAKES THINGS / LOOK DIFFERENT.” Probably no truer words have been said. At least you cannot accuse them of false advertising.

FIGURE 7: A cousin of the Christmas flask, the little stoneware mini-jugs stenciled “Merry Christmas And Happy New Year” were also very popular giveaways. As with the glass flasks, the vast majority of these mini-jugs, as one would suspect, held whiskey or other spirits. However, this one is unusual as it contained “TOILET CREAM.” Not something that you would expect, either in this type of container or as a Christmas giveaway.