Jim Beam Bourbon Decanter / Royal Porcelain. 1955

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This past March, I surprisingly acquired fine examples Jim Beam’s first three porcelain bourbon decanters. Granted they aren’t related to or in the same time period as my pre-1900 wood cameras but nevertheless they add some visual flair to the display.

In 1955 Jim Beam, established in 1795, starting making artistic and decorative ceramic decanters for their finest bourbons. The very first were “Executive” decanters released yearly around the holiday season and several are decorated with real 22k gold. Today, the Jim Beam Company still creates decorative and specialty decanters.

Shown here is the Beam’s earliest porcelain decanter issued to commemorate its 160th anniversary. It is a tall, gracefully shaped 4/5 quart Royal Porcelain bottle dated 1955. The bottle once held Beam’s finest Kentucky Straight Bourbon (aged 160 months) and, as a whiskey enthusiast myself, I would have enjoyed a dram.

The body is glossy black with two original gold trimmed foil labels topped by a tapered cylindrical white porcelain cork stopper. The softly angled spout flows seamlessly from the decanter’s body and ends in a slightly curved pouring lip.

All-in-all, this 1955 Jim Beam bourbon decanter is minimalistic and elegant.