Bottle

Object/Artifact

Vermont Historical Society

Name/Title

Bottle

Entry/Object ID

1981.10.2

Description

Clear glass drink bottle with the molded inscription, "Wm. MILLER/ MONTPELIER/VT."

Context

William Miller bottled beer and "panther breath" during Prohibition.

Acquisition

Accession

1981.10

Acquisition Method

Purchase

Made/Created

Manufacturer

William Miller

Place

City

Montpelier

County

Washington County

State/Province

Vermont

Country

United States of America

Continent

North America

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Bottle

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Vessel

Nomenclature Class

Containers

Nomenclature Category

Category 07: Distribution & Transportation Objects

Dimensions

Height

8-1/4 in

Diameter

3-1/4 in

Material

Glass

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

William Miller

Interpretative Labels

Label

Panther Breath Bottle, c. 1885 Made by William Miller Montpelier, VT Glass William Miller of Montpelier started his bottling business in 1886 and produced ginger ale, birch beer, and tonic beer. He frequently skirted Vermont’s prohibition laws by brewing beer and distilling a moonshine nicknamed “panther breath.” His bottling business, inn, and saloon were raided frequently. He made several appearances in court, earning fines but never any other serious consequences.