Whisky Water Pitchers...a Brief History
Water
pitchers have been used for advertising purposes for a great many years;
and more commonly used to promote the sales of beers, wines and liquors.
Over the years, these pitchers became known as "Pub Jugs". As early
as the 1840's distilleries began offering free water pitchers to tavern
owners to promote their products. Although widely used in Europe,
the use of whisky water pitchers for advertising purposes in the United
States did not become popular until after World War II. Laws in some
areas now prohibit the giveaway of such items to promote a liquor product.
Since
the very beginning, assorted materials have been used in the production
of these pub jugs. China, glass, tin, enameled metal and aluminum
have all been used; but the china or porcelain water pitcher is by far
the most popular. A great many manufacturers have been enlisted to produce
these jugs from around the world. Royal Doulton, Wade Regicor,
Euroceramics, Seton Pottery, James Green & Nephew, Elischer and Shelly
to mention just a few. Many of the larger, well known distilleries
have designed their own shape and style of jug which easily identifies
their company and product.
The
collecting of these water pitchers or pub jugs is a relatively new hobby
which really started to grow in the 1980's. Older jugs are most popular
with collectors and are difficult to find in mint condition. Visual
appeal is an important factor in determining a jug's value. The rarity
and condition of a jug is also a factor to be considered. As this
hobby has grown and the availability of older pitchers has decreased, the
collection of newer pitchers has grown as has their value. The assortment
of shapes, bright colors, and advertising slogans available make for a
most interesting and decorative collection. Whisky water pitchers
may be found almost anywhere including antique shops, auctions, flea markets
and yard sales. Prices for jugs can range from as little as $2.00
to thousands of dollars, making this an affordable hobby for any budget.
As
you dig deeper into the collection of whisky water pitchers, you may be
wondering about the spelling of "whisky", or is that "Whiskey"? Well,
the spelling of "whisky" has it's origins in Scotland and is the spelling
adopted by the British Empire and much of the world. On the other
hand, the spelling of "whiskey" has it's origins in Ireland; and it is
this spelling that is most widely used here in the United States.
No
matter what you call them, whisky pitchers, water pitchers, whisky advertising
pitchers or simply pub jugs, the collection of these beautiful pitchers
is rapidly growing. Organizations such as the Whisky Pitcher Collectors
Association of America have been formed to promote fellowship and communication
amongst the collecting community.
