On This Day: August 4

Every now and then, we like to go back through our JWK archives and check out what happened on specific days. Today, we’re focused on sharing a few advertisements.

1900

Notice that this advertisement for Deep Spring Tennessee Whiskey is credited to “J.W. Kelly, Distiller.”

The company had not yet incorporated to become “J.W. Kelly & Co.” This happens later this year.

1905

Not only could you use whiskey for a beverage, but also as a medicine.

Not a headache in a barrel . . .

Kelly was extremely clever in his advertising, having grown up with a business education. He also watched his father, Henry, with his auction house and the many advertisements he would run. Kelly’s creative advertisements ran right up until his passing.

1906

“The Whiskey Without an Unkind Thought.” For sale at all leading Saloons, hotels, Clubs and Cafes.

These “leading” places were more than likely owned (at least in part) by Kelly.

J.W. Kelly owned a lot of real estate in Chattanooga and the surrounding areas, as well as in other parts of Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and other states. At his death, his heirs had more than 150 vacant properties to sell - and that didn’t count all of the clubs, bars and saloons that Kelly owned.

1907

So this Whiskey Without an Unkind Thought was the most popular and healthiest whiskey made.

This special Deep Spring was available for a limited time.

By August 4, 1907, Kelly had been gone for 4 1/2 months. He passed in March from a brain aneurysm. JWK & Co carried on distilling in Tennessee until 1911, when operations moved to Kentucky.