Duffy Malt Whiskey
Title
Description
1880s-1926
Walter B. Duffy, born in Canada in 1840, was one of the most prominent businessmen and distillers in Rochester New York in the late 19th and 20th centuries; his Malt Whiskey was one of the most popular nationwide at the height of the patent cure craze. Duffy got into business when he inherited a distillery from his father in the 1870s; the business expanded quickly, and by 1881, it was listed as selling alcohol, brandy, malt, wheat, rye, and bourbon whiskeys. The 1880s were a popular time for “patent cures” and other tonics promising to cure all one’s ails. Duffy Malt Whiskey was advertised as a heart tonic that could also cure tuberculosis, bronchitis, indigestion, and even malaria. Duffy wanted to expand his promising regional business, so he set up shop in Baltimore in 1884. Despite an aggressive ad campaign, the Baltimore venture was a flop and Duffy sunk into bankruptcy. He fled to New York after his plant was repossessed in 1887. Three years later, however, Duffy expanded again, purchasing a major interest in Stagg & OFC (later renamed OFC & Carlisle Distillery) in Frankfort, Kentucky. With this steady stream of Kentucky whiskey, Duffy began expanding his brands into other regional types; Duffy Malt Whiskey remained the national flagship. Some Temperance advocates even accepted Duffy because of its supposed medicinal qualities; Duffy was so committed to this image that he gave out glass medicinal spoons rather than shot glasses. In 1898 Congress passed a tax on patent medicines that was applied to Duffy Malt Whiskey; this gave the whiskey an air of legitimacy as a patent medicine, and Duffy advertised extensively as the only whiskey sanctioned by the government as medicine. The 1905 ad below is an excellent example of the testimonials Duffy ads often featured, usually from extremely old people attesting to the impact Duffy’s had on their longevity and health. After Duffy’s death in 1911, the company rolled back advertisements emphasizing medicinal properties of the whiskey. Prohibition forced the company to rename its flagship product Duffy Malt Tonic. The company moved to Los Angeles, rebranding as Duffy’s Laboratory, Ltd., but by 1926, the company was out of business.
RRH
Walter B. Duffy, born in Canada in 1840, was one of the most prominent businessmen and distillers in Rochester New York in the late 19th and 20th centuries; his Malt Whiskey was one of the most popular nationwide at the height of the patent cure craze. Duffy got into business when he inherited a distillery from his father in the 1870s; the business expanded quickly, and by 1881, it was listed as selling alcohol, brandy, malt, wheat, rye, and bourbon whiskeys. The 1880s were a popular time for “patent cures” and other tonics promising to cure all one’s ails. Duffy Malt Whiskey was advertised as a heart tonic that could also cure tuberculosis, bronchitis, indigestion, and even malaria. Duffy wanted to expand his promising regional business, so he set up shop in Baltimore in 1884. Despite an aggressive ad campaign, the Baltimore venture was a flop and Duffy sunk into bankruptcy. He fled to New York after his plant was repossessed in 1887. Three years later, however, Duffy expanded again, purchasing a major interest in Stagg & OFC (later renamed OFC & Carlisle Distillery) in Frankfort, Kentucky. With this steady stream of Kentucky whiskey, Duffy began expanding his brands into other regional types; Duffy Malt Whiskey remained the national flagship. Some Temperance advocates even accepted Duffy because of its supposed medicinal qualities; Duffy was so committed to this image that he gave out glass medicinal spoons rather than shot glasses. In 1898 Congress passed a tax on patent medicines that was applied to Duffy Malt Whiskey; this gave the whiskey an air of legitimacy as a patent medicine, and Duffy advertised extensively as the only whiskey sanctioned by the government as medicine. The 1905 ad below is an excellent example of the testimonials Duffy ads often featured, usually from extremely old people attesting to the impact Duffy’s had on their longevity and health. After Duffy’s death in 1911, the company rolled back advertisements emphasizing medicinal properties of the whiskey. Prohibition forced the company to rename its flagship product Duffy Malt Tonic. The company moved to Los Angeles, rebranding as Duffy’s Laboratory, Ltd., but by 1926, the company was out of business.
RRH
Rights
Public Domain
Source
http://www.startribune.com/march-8-1905-the-life-prolonging-powers-of-duffy-s-pure-malt-whiskey/307262501/