Kessler Whiskey
Encyclopedia
Kessler Whiskey is an American
brand of blended whiskey
started by Julius Kessler
in 1888. It is known for the slogan, "Smooth as Silk". The brand is currently owned and produced by Beam Inc.
Beam claims it is the #2 selling American blended whiskey.
Kessler started selling whiskey in Leadville, Colorado
in the late 1870s. In the early days, Julius Kessler went from saloon to saloon selling the whiskey. Kessler's company quickly became profitable, in part due to the higher prices the whiskey commanded in remote areas.
Kessler retired from the business in 1921 at the age of 65.
Around 1935, Kessler Whiskey was acquired by The Seagram Company
. They planned to market the Kessler brand as one priced below their 'Crown' line, for example Crown Royal
. Eventually, the brand somehow became owned by Beam Inc.
American whiskey
American whiskey is a distilled beverage produced in the United States from a fermented mash of cereal grain.The production and labeling of American whiskey are governed by Title 27 of the U.S...
brand of blended whiskey
Blended whiskey
A blended whisky is the product of blending different types of whiskies and often also neutral and near-neutral spirits, coloring, and flavorings...
started by Julius Kessler
Julius Kessler
Julius Kessler was the founder of Kessler Whiskey.Kessler was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1855. He came to America to make his fortune. He founded Kessler Whisky in the 1870s in Leadville, Colorado. In the early days, to get his product out, Kessler went from saloon to saloon selling the whiskey...
in 1888. It is known for the slogan, "Smooth as Silk". The brand is currently owned and produced by Beam Inc.
Beam Inc.
Beam Inc. is a spirits company established on October 4, 2011 from the remainder of the Fortune Brands holding company after it sold and spun off various other product lines to form a business focused exclusively on spirits and directly related products...
Beam claims it is the #2 selling American blended whiskey.
Kessler started selling whiskey in Leadville, Colorado
Leadville, Colorado
Leadville is a Statutory City that is the county seat of, and the only municipality in, Lake County, Colorado, United States. Situated at an elevation of , Leadville is the highest incorporated city and the second highest incorporated municipality in the United States...
in the late 1870s. In the early days, Julius Kessler went from saloon to saloon selling the whiskey. Kessler's company quickly became profitable, in part due to the higher prices the whiskey commanded in remote areas.
Kessler retired from the business in 1921 at the age of 65.
Around 1935, Kessler Whiskey was acquired by The Seagram Company
Seagram
The Seagram Company Ltd. was a large corporation headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Canada that was the largest distiller of alcoholic beverages in the world. Toward the end of its independent existence it also controlled various entertainment and other business ventures...
. They planned to market the Kessler brand as one priced below their 'Crown' line, for example Crown Royal
Crown Royal
Crown Royal is a blended Canadian whisky, 40% alcohol by volume, 80 proof. The brand is currently owned by Diageo, who purchased it when the Seagram portfolio was dissolved in the year 2000. It is the top-selling Canadian whisky in the United States....
. Eventually, the brand somehow became owned by Beam Inc.