At our museum we are attempting to figure out what to do with 193 bottles of liquor from the early 20^th century in our collection. The alcohol was purchased by the creator of our historic house museum in and around 1915 and they have been in storage ever since. The bottles and labels are not historic to the liquor and come from a re-bottling conducted by the estate’s heirs in the 1930’s. Because of this we are loath to present them as original to the house as in reality it is only the liquid inside of them that is. We currently have one bottle on display in an interpretive exhibit and the rest are quietly stored in the “not sure what do with this” closet. We do not have the room or the desire to display all 193 bottles nor do we currently have adequate storage to preserve these. Though the bottles were relabeled the new labels clearly identify them as belonging to the owner of the house and therefore there is reason to keep them at the museum. With their current condition we are worried that the contents of the bottles will be or may already be spoiled unless action is taken soon.

 

Have any of your institutions had to deal with a similar issue? Is there interpretive or historic value in keeping the contents of the bottles intact? Fundraising ideas have been circulating with the possibility of sampling the liquor but we fear public reaction to such an event. Are there any resources for conservation of historic spirits?

Thanks, 

Alexander Privee, Archivist
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
Miami-Dade County

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