Western Eye Opener's

Speaking of Henley's...........

So you thought Dr. Henley was the first merchant to capitalize on the well used phrase "Eye Opener" did you.... Then take a look at the October 1861 advertisement for "Oldner's Delta Eye Opener". Distilled from fruits in the island of Jamaica---Mmm.. Yummy!

Oldner's? Hmm.. where have I heard that name before? Was it on an 1860's square bottle? Never the less...

Oldner pretty much had the market covered with his Ladies Holland Gin Tonic, Old Miner's Protection Whiskey and the Old Virginia Mint Julep.

The first mentioned of Dr. Henley's Eye Opener, that I have found, is in a report on the 18th California State Fair in September of

1872. "Dr. Henley of San Francisco submits his Eye Opener and Wild Cherry Tonic". Wild Cherry Tonic? Where the heck is that embossed bottle, Henley embossed darn near everything he marketed. Didn't he?

Delta Eye Opener, Dr. Henley's Wild Cherry Tonic, Old Miner's Protection Whiskey and a Holland Gin Tonic....... If only they were in embossed bottles.

Ya Gotta Love the Name.

Just a fascinating name for a product! Curiosity alone should have helped sell this product! One of three Henley's products marketed in this cylinder shaped container. It is believed to be the third product marketed, behind the famous Dr. Henley's Wild Grape Root IXL Bitters first brought to the market in 1868, followed by the OK Bitters, which was a spiced wine bitters product marketed in late 1871, followed by this product Dr. Henley's Eye Opener some years later.

With a product name like this, one would think that the base vehicle ingredient used would be stronger than the wines, brandies, rum or wheat whiskies that were being used in other bitters type products.

Louis Gross & Co was the sole proprietor in San Francisco for Henley's Wild Grape Root Bitters in 1868, Henry Epstein & Co were the sole proprietors in S.F. when the OK Bitters was marketed. Most likely Isador Landsberger was promoting the Henley products when the Eye Opener was brought to market.

These bottles come in some beautiful colors, some examples in current collections are yellow-olive, light green and blue-aqua as seen here. Approximately 10 or so examples are in western collections.