Mr. Boston facts for kids
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Mr. Boston, once known as Old Mr. Boston, was a company that made drinks. It was located in Boston, Massachusetts, from 1933 to 1986. The company created its own types of gin, bourbon, rum, and brandies. They also made some sweet cordials and liqueurs.
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History of Mr. Boston
The company started in the Roxbury area of Boston in 1933. It was founded by Irwin "Red" Benjamin and Hyman C. Berkowitz. Old Mister Boston became famous for its special collectible bottles. One example was the 1953 Presidential Inaugural Bottle.
Over time, the company changed owners several times. The name also changed, dropping "Old" and "Mr." until it was simply called "Boston."
The Mr. Boston company was a big employer in the Boston area. Many people worked there from the 1930s until it closed around 1986. The parent company, Glenmore Distillers, stopped its operations. The Mr. Boston brand was then no longer sold. The building where Mr. Boston used to operate is now owned by the City of Boston. It is used for city offices, like the City Inspectional Services headquarters.
The Famous Bartender's Guide
The "Mr. Boston" name is well-known not just for its drinks. It is also famous for a special reference book called Mr. Boston Official Bartender's Guide. This guide is used by people who make drinks at home and by professionals.
The first edition of the Guide was published in 1935. This was soon after Repeal of Prohibition, when companies could legally make and sell drinks again. New versions of the guide were still being printed as late as 2012. In July 2016, Mr. Boston launched a new website, mrbostondrinks.com. On this site, you can find thirteen of the Official Bartender's Guides in digital form. The website has more than 10,500 different drink recipes!
Who Owns Mr. Boston Now?
In 1995, a company called Barton Brands bought the Mr. Boston brand name. They started making Mr. Boston liqueurs and cordials again. Later, in 2009, Constellation Spirits sold the Mr. Boston brand to the Sazerac Company. This company is based in New Orleans. Since then, Sazerac has released light and dark rums under the Mr. Boston name. These rums are imported from the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Sazerac Company bought the Mr. Boston brand in 2009. They began putting many editions of the Bartender's Guide online. They have found 58 out of the 75 guides ever published.
Mark Brown, who is the president of the Sazerac Company, said that the Mr. Boston books show how drinks have changed in America since Prohibition. He felt it was important to bring them all together online. He said it was a good fit for his company because of their history with drinks in New Orleans. He believes this will help the brand continue for at least another 80 years. It will be the main place for anyone who wants to learn about making drinks.
Besides the Bartender's Guides, the Mr. Boston Company currently makes 47 different liqueurs, liquors, and ready-mixed drinks.
Popular Mr. Boston Drinks
- Rock & Rye
- Mint & Gin
- 100 proof Vodka
