Glenmore Distillery Company
Encyclopedia
Glenmore Distillery Company
Originally the R.Monarch Distillery founded in 1849 in Owensboro, Kentucky
, the company entered bankruptcy
proceedings in 1898. Monarch had long been producing brands that included Kentucky Tavern
and Glenmore at the plant in Owensboro. In 1901 the company was acquired by James Thompson and his brother Francis P. Thompson for $30,000 and renamed the company Glenmore Distillery Company.
In 1903, the Kentucky Tavern
trademark first registered.
In 1904, the Old Thompson
brand was introduced under the guidance of the Thompson brothers.
When James Thompson died in 1924, his sons, Col. Frank B. and James P. Thompson, assumed leadership, with Frank becoming chairman and president. The Thompsons maintained the Glenmore as a concentration warehouse, bottling and distributing medicinal whiskey during Prohibition
.
Glenmore proved a successful and durable company, its main brand being Kentucky Tavern. In 1944 the firm purchased the Yellowstone Bourbon
brand from the Taylor & Williams Distillery of Louisville
. Glenmore has followed the lead of the large firms and marketed imported whiskies and cordials through its subsidiaries, Mr. Boston, Foreign Vintages and Viking Distillery.
In 1955 Glenmore barreled its 2,000,000th barrel of bourbon
whiskey and Glenmore Vodka
was introduced.
Glenmore introduced Glenmore Gin in 1959 and also became the first distillery to break the self-imposed ban on using women to sell distilled spirits.
In 1988 - Glenmore purchases Medley Distillery also of Owensboro, KY famous for its Ezra Brooks
brand of Bourbon
. In 2004, Medley Distillery was acquired by Angostura.
In 1989 - Ezra Brooks
wins Gold Medal at the International Spirits Competition in London. Kentucky Tavern wins the Silver Medal. That same year Glenmore acquired Fleischmann's Distilling Company also of Owensboro, KY.
The Thompson family maintained control of the company until 1991, at which time it was acquired by Guinness who merged it with Schenely, and named the new entity United Distillers
., which sold it in 1995 to Barton Brands
. In March 2009, the Sazerac Company
of New Orleans purchased the Tom Moore distillery and many brands owned by Constellation Spirits (formerly Barton Brands
)as part of a $334 million transaction.,
Originally the R.Monarch Distillery founded in 1849 in Owensboro, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, the company entered bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
proceedings in 1898. Monarch had long been producing brands that included Kentucky Tavern
Kentucky Tavern
Kentucky Tavern is a brand of straight bourbon whiskey produced by the Sazerac Company at the Barton Distillery located in Bardstown, Kentucky, who acquired the brand from United Distillers in 1995. The brand was originally produced and owned by the R...
and Glenmore at the plant in Owensboro. In 1901 the company was acquired by James Thompson and his brother Francis P. Thompson for $30,000 and renamed the company Glenmore Distillery Company.
In 1903, the Kentucky Tavern
Kentucky Tavern
Kentucky Tavern is a brand of straight bourbon whiskey produced by the Sazerac Company at the Barton Distillery located in Bardstown, Kentucky, who acquired the brand from United Distillers in 1995. The brand was originally produced and owned by the R...
trademark first registered.
In 1904, the Old Thompson
Old Thompson
Old Thompson is a brand of blended American whiskey produced by Barton Brands, which is now owned by the Sazerac Company. It is known for its low price among brands of American whiskey. The company refers to it as "an excellent value"...
brand was introduced under the guidance of the Thompson brothers.
When James Thompson died in 1924, his sons, Col. Frank B. and James P. Thompson, assumed leadership, with Frank becoming chairman and president. The Thompsons maintained the Glenmore as a concentration warehouse, bottling and distributing medicinal whiskey during 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...
.
Glenmore proved a successful and durable company, its main brand being Kentucky Tavern. In 1944 the firm purchased the Yellowstone Bourbon
Yellowstone Bourbon
In 1872, Yellowstone was the name given to a 1854 brand of Kentucky Bourbon produced by the J B Dant Distillery to honor the first national park....
brand from the Taylor & Williams Distillery of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
. Glenmore has followed the lead of the large firms and marketed imported whiskies and cordials through its subsidiaries, Mr. Boston, Foreign Vintages and Viking Distillery.
In 1955 Glenmore barreled its 2,000,000th barrel of bourbon
Bourbon whiskey
Bourbon is a type of American whiskey – a barrel-aged distilled spirit made primarily from corn. The name of the spirit derives from its historical association with an area known as Old Bourbon, around what is now Bourbon County, Kentucky . It has been produced since the 18th century...
whiskey and Glenmore Vodka
Vodka
Vodka , is a distilled beverage. It is composed primarily of water and ethanol with traces of impurities and flavorings. Vodka is made by the distillation of fermented substances such as grains, potatoes, or sometimes fruits....
was introduced.
Glenmore introduced Glenmore Gin in 1959 and also became the first distillery to break the self-imposed ban on using women to sell distilled spirits.
In 1988 - Glenmore purchases Medley Distillery also of Owensboro, KY famous for its Ezra Brooks
Ezra Brooks
Ezra Brooks is a brand of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. It is charcoal filtered and typically bottled at 45% abv .The Ezra Brooks brand is owned by Luxco of St. Louis, Missouri ; which doesn't own a distillery...
brand of Bourbon
Bourbon whiskey
Bourbon is a type of American whiskey – a barrel-aged distilled spirit made primarily from corn. The name of the spirit derives from its historical association with an area known as Old Bourbon, around what is now Bourbon County, Kentucky . It has been produced since the 18th century...
. In 2004, Medley Distillery was acquired by Angostura.
In 1989 - Ezra Brooks
Ezra Brooks
Ezra Brooks is a brand of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. It is charcoal filtered and typically bottled at 45% abv .The Ezra Brooks brand is owned by Luxco of St. Louis, Missouri ; which doesn't own a distillery...
wins Gold Medal at the International Spirits Competition in London. Kentucky Tavern wins the Silver Medal. That same year Glenmore acquired Fleischmann's Distilling Company also of Owensboro, KY.
The Thompson family maintained control of the company until 1991, at which time it was acquired by Guinness who merged it with Schenely, and named the new entity United Distillers
United Distillers
United Distillers was a Scottish company formed in 1987 from combining the businesses of Distillers Company and Arthur Bell & Sons, both owned by Guinness. The company owned six Scotch whisky brands, which were relaunched as the Classic Malts range...
., which sold it in 1995 to Barton Brands
Barton Brands
Barton Brands, Ltd. was a company that produced many distilled spirits and liquors. In 2009, it became part of the Sazerac Company of New Orleans....
. In March 2009, the Sazerac Company
Sazerac Company
The Sazerac Company is a large privately held and family-operated alcoholic beverages company with headquarters in Metairie, Louisiana.It owns and produces a large and diversified portfolio of beverage brands, and it owns and operates a number of distilling companies...
of New Orleans purchased the Tom Moore distillery and many brands owned by Constellation Spirits (formerly Barton Brands
Barton Brands
Barton Brands, Ltd. was a company that produced many distilled spirits and liquors. In 2009, it became part of the Sazerac Company of New Orleans....
)as part of a $334 million transaction.,