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J.W. Kelly

J.W. Kelly was a pioneer of famed bourbons and whiskeys, who crafted his unique blueprint for his whiskey revolution. After settling in Chattanooga, TN in 1866, Kelly created the best American whiskey of his era.

Kelly’s use of old-world pot distillation and custom mixture of corn, malted rye, and barley helped create Old Milford’s unique blend of five, six and eight-year-old barrels.

His brand set the standard of excellence and was very prosperous - not just throughout the South, but also around the world. Now, more than 100 years later, his dream lives on as a world-class spirit with Chattanooga soul.

A bottle of Silver Springs Sweet Rye whiskey in front of a waterfall with water cascading down rocks.
A bottle of Old Milford straight whiskey bourbon placed outdoors on a piece of wood, with a backdrop of trees and a partly cloudy sky during sunset or sunrise.
A blue wooden barrel with a white painted sign reading "J. W. Kelly & Co 1860 Chattanooga." In front of the barrel is a bottle of W. Kelly Melrose amber bourbon, with the label clearly visible.

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Historic black and white photo of a man with a mustache seated, dressed in 19th-century formal attire, with an ornate background.

James Watt (J.W.) Kelly was the founder of J.W. Kelly & Co and Deep Springs distillery, which were established in Chattanooga in 1866. His empire expanded to include: tobacco, domestic and international wine and spirit imports, and a vast amount of real estate ventures across several states.