Here's a time line for our New England members.
Mr Boston Distillers Inc.
1921 - Ben-Burke formed a chain of retail outlets to handle
malt syrup and bottling supplies (Welcome to the World
of Mr Boston).
1927 - The company is founded by H C Berkowitz abd Irwin
Benjamin as Ben-Burk Incorperated. (Beverage Media Blue
Book, History of Mr Boston Distillers Inc.)
1932 - "Connoiseur Cordials" are introduced as fruit flavored
syrups for self mixing (Welcome to the World of Mr
Boston).
1933 - Mr Boston Dry Gin is introduced with the repeal of
prohibition. (Bev Med Blue Book, History).
o - It was decide to enter the liquor industry with Gin
because it would take the company four years to acquire
aged whiskey stocks (Samuel Berke, "Old Mr Boston": The
Story of a Trade-Mark).
o - The Boston Herald publishes an article about the
reopening of the Readville, Mass. distillery by Thomas
J Hughes. It is said to be the largest distillery in
the east (U D Archives, History File).
1935 - Mr Boston Bartenders Guide first published (Welcome to
the World of Mr Boston).
1939 - Paramount Distillery is opened in Albany, Georgia. It
is the first legal distillery in Georgia. There are
only two legal distilleries in the state at this time.
(Spirited Times, April/May, 1992).
1942 - Ben-Burk Incorperated and Mr Boston label sold to
American Distilling Co. (Bev Med Blue Book, History).
1945 - Trademark and business is purchased by H C Berkowitz
and other family members and Berke Brothers
Distilleries Inc. is formed. (Bev Med Blue Book,
History).
o - Samuel Berke becomes the President of Berke Brothers
(Who's Who in the Liquor Industry, 1966).
1953 - Company changes its name to Mr. Boston Distiller Inc.
(Bev Med Blue Book, History).
1954 - Corrado's Handbook of Liquor Marketing - 1954 list the
Readville, Mass. distillery as being owned by Mr.
Boston.
1957 - Paramount changes its name to Viking Distillery.
(Spirited Times, April/May, 1992).
1962 - Mr Boston purchases the Viking Distillery. (Spirited
Times, April/May 1992).
1966 - Mr Boston Distiller, Inc. is listed as having plants in
Boston Massachusetts, Readville, Massachusetts, and
Albany Georgia (1966 Red Book, p.41).
1969 - Glenmore purchases Old Mr. Boston. (Spirited Times,
April/May, 1992).
1971 - Mr Boston first introduces the "glass can" packaging
for their cocktail industry (1971 Glenmore Annual
Report).
1973 - Mr Boston introduces the "Snowshake" line of dairy
based cocktails (1974 Glenmore Annual Report).
1975 - Glenmore changes the name of the company to Mr Boston,
dropping the "Old" (Kovel's Bottles 9th Ed., Old Mr
Boston).
1985 - The 50th Anniversary edition of the Mr Boston's
Bartenders Guide includes both a video cassette version
and a computer disk version (1986 Glenmore Annual
Report).
1991 - United Distillers acquires Glenmore. (C Morris,
18/9/92).
1995 - United Distillers sells the Mr Boston labels and the
Viking Distillery to Barton Brands (M. Veach, 9/1995).
Mike Veach