Mr. Boston, previously Old Mr. Boston, was a

distillery Distillation, also classical distillation, is the process of separating the component substances of a liquid mixture of two or more chemically discrete substances; the separation process is realized by way of the selective boiling of the mixt ...

located at 1010 Massachusetts Avenue in

Boston, Massachusetts Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

, from 1933 to 1986. It produced its own label of

gin Gin () is a distilled alcoholic drink flavoured with juniper berries and other botanical ingredients. Gin originated as a medicinal liquor made by monks and alchemists across Europe. The modern gin was modified in Flanders and the Netherlands ...

bourbon Bourbon may refer to: Food and drink * Bourbon whiskey, an American whiskey made using a corn-based mash * Bourbon, a beer produced by Brasseries de Bourbon * Bourbon biscuit, a chocolate sandwich biscuit * Bourbon coffee, a type of coffee ma ...

rum Rum is a liquor made by fermenting and then distilling sugarcane molasses or sugarcane juice. The distillate, a clear liquid, is often aged in barrels of oak. Rum originated in the Caribbean in the 17th century, but today it is produced i ...

, and

brandies Brandy is a liquor produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35–60% alcohol by volume (70–120 US proof) and is typically consumed as an after-dinner digestif. Some brandies are aged in wooden casks. Others are coloured with ...

, as well as a few cordials and

liqueur A liqueur ( , ; ) is an alcoholic drink composed of Liquor, spirits (often rectified spirit) and additional flavorings such as sugar, fruits, herbs, and spices. Often served with or after dessert, they are typically heavily sweetened and un-age ...

History

The distillery was founded in the

Roxbury, Massachusetts Roxbury () is a Neighborhoods in Boston, neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Roxbury is a Municipal annexation in the United States, dissolved municipality and one of 23 official neighborhoods of Boston used by the city for ne ...

, neighborhood of Boston in 1933 by Irwin "Red" Benjamin and Hyman C. Berkowitz. Old Mister Boston was known for its collectible bottles such as the ''1953 Presidential Inaugural Bottle.'' 11 110778 Marlenes Restaurant Cermak Rd Chicago

11 110778 Marlenes Restaurant Cermak Rd Chicago

Over time, through a series of changes of ownership, the words "Old" and "Mr." were dropped from the name until it was known simply as "Boston". The distillery was a major employer in the Boston area from the 1930s until its closing circa 1986 when the parent company, Glenmore Distillers, shut down operations and the brand was withdrawn from the market. The building that housed Old Mr. Boston's operations is owned by the City of Boston and is in use as a City Inspectional Services headquarters as well as housing other city agencies such as the

Boston Public Health Commission The Boston Public Health Commission, the oldest health department in the United States, is an independent public agency providing a wide range of health services and programs. It is governed by a seven-member board of health appointed by the May ...

and the Department of Transitional Assistance.

Famous "Bartender's Guide"

The "Mr. Boston" name is known not only for its brands of distilled spirits, but also for its unique reference book, ''Mr. Boston Official Bartender's Guide'', used by both professional and home

bartender A bartender (also known as a barkeep or barman or barmaid or a mixologist) is a person who formulates and serves alcoholic or soft drink beverages behind the Bar (establishment), bar, usually in a licensed bar (establishment), establishment as ...

s as the "Bible of Booze". The Guide was first published 1935, according to the first date published in the Guide's publisher information page, the early days after the

Repeal of Prohibition In the United States, the nationwide ban on alcoholic beverages was repealed by the passage of the Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution on December 5, 1933. Background In 1919, the requisite number of state legislatures ratif ...

, when the distillery started up business again. As late as 2012 new editions were printed.Anthony Giglio, Ben Fink: ''Mr. Boston Official Bartender's Guide''. John Wiley and Sons 2009, , p. 89 () In July 2016, Mr. Boston launched its new website, mrbostondrinks.com, where thirteen of the Official Bartender's Guides are available in digital form. It contains over 10,500 cocktail recipes.

1995 acquisition

The

Barton Brands Barton Brands, Ltd. was a company that produced a variety of distilled beverages and liqueurs and is now part of the Sazerac Company, which is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has its principal offices in Louisville, Kentucky. The Bart ...

liquor unit of New York's Canandaigua Wine Co. (now

Constellation Brands Constellation Brands, Inc. is an American producer and marketer of beer, wine, and spirits. A ''Fortune'' 500 company, Constellation is the largest beer import company in the US, measured by sales, and has the third-largest market share (7.4 pe ...

) acquired the brand name in 1995 and resumed production. Barton uses the brand for a line of liqueurs and cordials. In 2009 Constellation Spirits, including the Mr. Boston brand, was sold to the

Sazerac Company Sazerac Company, Inc. is a privately held American alcoholic beverage company headquartered in Metairie in the metropolitan area of New Orleans, Louisiana, but with its principal office in Louisville, Kentucky. The company is owned by William ...

of New Orleans, which has subsequently released light and dark rums imported from the

U.S. Virgin Islands The United States Virgin Islands, officially the Virgin Islands of the United States, are a group of Caribbean islands and a territory of the United States. The islands are geographically part of the Virgin Islands archipelago and are located ...

under the Mr. Boston name.

2009 acquisition

The

bought the Mr. Boston brand in 2009 and began putting many of the editions of the Bartender's Guide as the company could find on a website, which was at last count 58 out of the 75 guides published.

In addition to the Bartender's Guides, the Mr. Boston Company currently produces 47 liqueurs, liquors, and ready-mixed cocktails.

Famous Mr. Boston Brands

* Rock & Rye * Mint & Gin * 100 proof Vodka

References

External links

"Ten Greatest Alcohol Icons of All Time - The Story Behind the Face on the Bottle" by Frank Kelly Rich, ''Modern Drunkard Magazine.com''

"Mr. Boston Must Not Die" by Wayne Curtis, PUNCHdrink.com

"Mr. Boston Official Bartender's Guide Joins the Digital Era" by Nino Marchetti, The Whiskey Wash.com

{{Alcoholic drinks Whiskies of the United States Food and drink companies disestablished in 1986 Mr. Boston Food and drink companies established in 1933 1933 establishments in Massachusetts 1986 disestablishments in Massachusetts