W.A. Gaines and Company
Encyclopedia
W.A. Gaines and Company was a liquor (distilled beverage
) company owned by Edson Bradley
that specialized in American made whiskeys.
and Old Hermitage. W.A. Gaines erected the Hermitage distillery in 1868, and were the largest producers of fine "sour mash
" whiskeys in the world.
The involvement of W.A. Gaines and Co. in the whiskey industry ended with Prohibition
. National Distillers, which owned the distillery and brand
from the end of Prohibition until 1987, continued to use the W.A. Gaines and Company name. Jim Beam
bought National in 1987.
Distilled beverage
A distilled beverage, liquor, or spirit is an alcoholic beverage containing ethanol that is produced by distilling ethanol produced by means of fermenting grain, fruit, or vegetables...
) company owned by Edson Bradley
Edson Bradley
Edson Bradley, Jr. was president of W.A. Gaines and Company of Frankfort, Kentucky.-Biography:He was born on May 9, 1852 in New Canaan, Connecticut....
that specialized in American made whiskeys.
History
This was also known as the "Whiskey Trust". Brands included Old CrowOld Crow
Old Crow is a low-priced brand of Kentucky-made straight bourbon whiskey, along with the slightly higher quality, but still inexpensive Old Crow Reserve brand. It is distilled by Beam Inc., which also produces Jim Beam and several other brands of bourbon whiskey...
and Old Hermitage. W.A. Gaines erected the Hermitage distillery in 1868, and were the largest producers of fine "sour mash
Sour mash
Sour mash is a process in the distilling industry that uses material from an older batch of mash to start fermentation in the batch currently being made, analogous to the making of sourdough bread. The term sour mash can also be used as the name of the type of mash used in that process, and a...
" whiskeys in the world.
The involvement of W.A. Gaines and Co. in the whiskey industry ended with Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
. National Distillers, which owned the distillery and brand
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
from the end of Prohibition until 1987, continued to use the W.A. Gaines and Company name. Jim Beam
Jim Beam
Jim Beam is a brand of bourbon whiskey produced in Clermont, Kentucky. It is currently one of the best selling brands of bourbon in the world. Since 1795 , seven generations of the Beam family have been involved in whiskey production for the company that produces the brand, which was given the name...
bought National in 1987.