Whiskey bills, also known as liquor bills, are promissory notes issued by American distilleries during the 18th and 19th centuries. These notes were used to finance the production and aging of whiskey, and they were often used as a form of currency in frontier regions.
Whiskey bills were typically issued in denominations of one to five dollars, and they were often backed by the distillery’s inventory of whiskey. They were a popular form of investment, as they offered a high rate of return. However, they were also risky, as the value of the notes could fluctuate depending on the success of the distillery.