The Salzburger’s Brandy

The Salzburger’s Brandy Georgia’s first distillers In 1734 Salzburger Emigrants, a group of German-speaking Protestant refugees from the Catholic Archbishopric of Salzburg, sailed from England to Charleston, South Carolina, and thereafter to  Savannah,...

Georgia’s Brandy from Corn Stalks

Georgia’s Brandy from Corn Stalks The Salzburgers in Georgia In 1734, a group of Protestant Salzburgers, fleeing religious persecution in their home countries of Germany and Austria, sought refuge by establishing a settlement in the newly formed Colony of...

Livingston Distillery

Livingston Distillery The Distilling Legacy of a Founding Father Philip Livingston (1716–1778) is widely recognized for his crucial role in signing the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Born into the esteemed Livingston family, known as “patroons,” they...

The Drinker’s Dictionary

The Drinker’s Dictionary The Drinker’s Dictionary: Franklin’s Stance on Moderate Drinking Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) is recognized as one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, displaying versatility that spanned science, literature, diplomacy,...

The Thicket

The Thicket Gin & Ingenious Invention in 18th Century London In 1816, Scottish immigrant William Carnochan constructed the Thicket Rum Distillery near Darien, Georgia, inspired by the myrtle-laden vegetation of the 400-acre Colonial Plantation. Darien, established...

The Midnight Ride

The Midnight Ride Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride and his Distillery Stop  Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride, a crucial event before the Revolutionary War, is commonly associated with his urgent alert to the colonial militia. However, beyond this familiar tale,...

The Children’s Hour

The Children’s Hour Franklin D. Roosevelt won the hearts of booze-loving Americans and is mostly known for his promise to end nationwide Prohibition with the 21st Amendment. When Roosevelt came into office he first signed the Cullen–Harrison Act legalizing the...

Heinold’s First and Last Chance Saloon

Heinold’s First and Last Chance Saloon Heinold’s First and Last Chance in Oakland, California opened in 1883. Johnny Heinold was born in Germany and bought the building located near the ferry between Oakland and Alameda for $100. He converted the small...

JELL-O Shots

JELL-O Shots JELL-O is known today as “America’s Most Famous Dessert.” It was invented by a cparenter named Pearle Bixby and his wife. Both lived in Rochester, New York, in the small town of Leroy, where they run a local cough syrup manufacturing,...

The Whiskey Ring

The Whiskey Ring The Whiskey Ring was a political scandal in 1875. The scheme started with distilleries bribing government officials, and these officials helped distillers to avoid federal taxes. After the Civil War whiskey tax increased to 70 cents a gallon. The...