NEWS

WIRES

OTHER

Introducing Prohibition Distillery: New York Spirits Company Captures the Spirit of the Roaring Twenties

NEW YORK, Jan. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, on the same date that Prohibition began in 1920 under the 18th Amendment, a new spirits company opens its doors. Prohibition Distillery recalls this era of youthful rebellion, a moment in American history enlivened by the human spirit as it challenged societal constraints and reveled in disobedience. Prohibition Distillery will be launching a portfolio of spirits ranging from premium to super premium, all of which channel this historic period of intoxicating defiance. The distillery will be launching its flagship product, a premium vodka, in March 2009.

The complexities of the 1920s are what make it the colorful and romantically revered era that it is today, characteristics echoed in our present social and economic conditions. Now is the time to be inspired by a parallel period in our history -- one where divergent opinions, social conflict, and financial woes were met with supreme optimism. The concept behind Prohibition Distillery makes it a perfect fit for today's consumer, and there is no more appropriate place to mirror America's past vivacity in the face of uncertainty than inNew York, where Prohibition was powerfully felt and vehemently disputed.

The Inspiration

Initially believing that Prohibition would protect families and improve quality of life, American society was forced to change its habits and imaginatively find ways to quench its overwhelming thirst. Saloons were replaced by speakeasies, the very name for which sprung from patrons being encouraged to order without raising suspicion, to talk quietly and "speak easy."

Entrances were protected by passwords, law enforcement was mollified by bribes, and the establishments were threatened by raids. The forbidden nature did not dissuade, but rather excited, and a new drinking culture was born. A culture that roared, flapped, and jazzed and that Prohibition Distillery aims to revive. Now is the time andNew York is the place; and Prohibition Distillery is the first spirits company able to call itself New York's own and truly be worthy of the accolade.

The "Wets"

Prohibition Distillery is the brainchild of John Fitzgerald Kennedy Walsh and his sister Dianne Walsh. John embarks on this endeavor after his work as a successful executive and entrepreneur, and Dianne's previous experience lies in real estate development and philanthropy, a passion to which she has been unwaveringly committed particularly in these trying times. Both John and Dianne have possessed an enduring interest in the 1920s and long discussed business ventures that would successfully breathe life back into their favored era.

John has always been intrigued by the prominent individual after whom he was named and has had a persistent interest in the Kennedy family, a revered American dynasty itself begun by one of the most prominent bootleggers of the Prohibition era. "As a young man, I always imagined that I would open a bar and name it 'JFK's,' after my initials and to honor a great man who brought hope and inspiration to our country. As I got older and more ambitious, starting a spirits company struck me as a far better use of my skills and seemed the perfect opportunity for my sister and I to work together, which we have long aspired to do. With all of the current social and economic changes, there has never been a more fitting time for this concept to resonate with consumers."

Both outlaw and hero, the sordid history of the 1920s bootlegger is one that Prohibition Distillery embraces. Its founders themselves resemble the boldly dichotomous characters of the time, and proudly tout a lineage that connects them to cousins who were bootleggers during Prohibition inSt. Louis. As modern day moonshiners, they understand that in order to "wow," they must also dare to defy.

The Hideout

All Prohibition Distillery products will be crafted inNew York on the North Fork ofLong Island, the very region where 1920s Rum Runners made bootlegging pit-stops. Looking as if it were borrowed from the period of its inspiration, the distillery makes visitors feel as if they can truly make out the silhouettes of contraband boats along the horizon. Prohibition Distillery is contributing to the development of a dynamicNew York State spirits industry on Long Island's North Fork, building upon the existing community of outstanding wineries. Prohibition Distillery reminds the area of what it once was -- raising the stakes, and the proof.

For more information please visit www.prohibitiondistillery.com.

For Images visit http://www.gettyimages.com/Editorial/Entertainment.aspx.

SOURCE Prohibition Distillery