Heublein facts for kids

Heublein Inc. was an American company that made and sold drinks and food for almost 100 years. It was also known as Heublein Spirits. In the 1960s and 1970s, many people thought investing in Heublein was a very safe choice. It was even part of a special group of companies called the Nifty Fifty.

A Taste of History: How Heublein Began

Heublein Tower in Simsbury, Connecticut

Heublein started as a restaurant in 1862 in Hartford, Connecticut. It was founded by Andrew Heublein, who was a German American businessman. His two sons, Gilbert F. and Louis, soon joined him in the business.

In 1875, the family got a big order. They were asked to make many pre-mixed drinks, like martinis and Manhattans. These were for a picnic for a group called the Governor's Foot Guard. But then it rained, and the picnic was canceled!

The brothers told an employee to throw away the drinks. But a few days later, the employee found that the drinks were still good. This gave the Heublein family an idea! They started selling these pre-mixed drinks from their restaurant.

The ready-made drinks became so popular that Heublein had to build a special factory just to make them. In 1890, Andrew Heublein gave the business to his sons. It was then called Gilbert F. Heublein and Bro.

From Cocktails to Condiments: A.1. Sauce

In 1906, the company got the rights to sell and later make A1 Steak Sauce in the United States. They got this right from a company in London, UK. Heublein started selling it as "Brand's A.1. Sauce."

At first, selling A.1. Sauce was just a small part of their business. Their main focus was still on their popular pre-mixed drinks. Heublein even delivered these drinks to hotels and people's homes. By 1915, Heublein had offices in New York and Hartford.

Surviving Tough Times: The Prohibition Era

Then came a big challenge: Prohibition in 1920. This law made it illegal to make, move, or sell most alcoholic drinks in the US. This meant Heublein could no longer sell its main products for 13 years! Luckily, their "side business" of A.1. Sauce saved the company during this time.

New Drinks and Popular Brands

In 1938, Heublein bought the rights to Smirnoff Vodka. This vodka had been made in Russia before the October Revolution. Heublein helped make vodka very popular in the United States. They advertised Smirnoff as "White Whiskey" with the catchy phrase "leaves you breathless." Smirnoff became one of Heublein's most successful brands.

Heublein also got the rights to sell many other international drinks in the US. These included Irish Mist liqueur, Harvey's Bristol Cream, Don Q Rum, Jose Cuervo, Black & White whisky, Bell's whisky, Lancer's wines, Guinness Stout, and Bass Ale. They even sold non-alcoholic drinks like Perrier mineral water and Rose's Lime Juice.

Heublein's own line of pre-mixed drinks included classic ones like Manhattans and martinis. They also made trendy drinks like the Brass Monkey and fun Tiki drinks like the Mai Tai. In 1969, Heublein even started selling some of these drinks in small cans.

In the 1970s, Heublein introduced a new drink called "Malcolm Hereford's Cow." It was a flavored milk drink with a small amount of alcohol. It was popular for a short time, especially with women and college students, before it disappeared.

Expanding Beyond Drinks

Heublein also bought other companies that were not related to drinks. In 1936, they bought Grey Poupon, a mustard company. In 1971, they bought Kentucky Fried Chicken, a famous fast-food chain. They also bought Hart's Bakeries in 1972.

In 1969, Heublein bought a large part of United Vintners, which owned Inglenook. That same year, they also bought Beaulieu Vineyards. These purchases made Heublein one of the biggest winemakers in the United States.

Changes and New Owners

In 1982, a big company called the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company bought Heublein Inc. for a lot of money. After this, R.J. Reynolds joined with another company called Nabisco. The new company, RJR Nabisco, started selling off many of Heublein's businesses.

In 1986, RJR Nabisco sold Kentucky Fried Chicken to PepsiCo. Then, in 1987, they sold the Heublein division and all its alcoholic drink brands to a company called Grand Metropolitan.

Later, in 1994, Heublein sold some of its wine and brandy businesses to another company. By 1996, Grand Metropolitan stopped using the Heublein name. The business became part of International Distillers & Vintners.