Behind the Booze Brands
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Jim Cole, AP
Behind the Labels
When it comes to booze branding, the stakes are high and getting higher. Global liquor sales tally to $300 billion annually and are growing rapidly. In order to stand out in the marketplace, clever booze brands are relying on historic names and colorful characters. Here's a look behind the labels of some of the world's most popular spirits.
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Next: Captain Morgan -
Cassandra Shie, AOL
Captain Morgan
The real Captain Morgan never made a drop of rum--the brand was launched in the U.S. in 1983--but he did drink himself to death after a depraved life of piracy. Captain Henry Morgan razed cities, tortured locals into giving up their gold, and sexually assaulted women during the 1671 sacking of Panama City. Today, the rum named in his honor is the world's third-best seller, behind Bacardi and Tanduay.
More on Captain Morgan from Forbes
Next: Jack Daniel's -
Charlie Riedel, AP
Jack Daniel's
This is the drink of a man, Jack Daniel, born in either 1846 or 1850 in Lynchburg, Tenn. Jack Daniel started distilling whiskey at the age of nine--and got very good at it. Word spread, and in 1904 he won the gold medal for whiskey at the World's Fair in St. Louis. Today, Jack is marketed as a slice of Americana in Russia and as a sophisticated drop of urbane refinement in India.
More on Jack Daniel's from Forbes
Next: Johnnie Walker -
Mat Szwajkos, Getty Images
Johnnie Walker
At the beginning of the 18th century, the Brits wanted to tax Scottish whiskey. As a result, local producers started making small batches of the stuff in hiding. Quality suffered. Enter John Walker, a grocery store owner from Kilmarnock. He was skilled at blending tea leaves; why not try mixing a variety of the single-malts he carried in his store? The resulting first blended whiskey brand proved popular. Today, Johnnie Walker is the best-selling whiskey in the world.
More on Johnnie Walker from Forbes
Next: Jose Cuervo -
Karen Elshout, St. Louis Post-Dispatch | MCT
Jose Cuervo
José Antonio de Cuervo's namesake liquor began its life after he bagged a land grant from the king of Spain in 1758. When Mexicans fought for independence in the early 1800s, tequila's fortifying effects proved helpful. Today, Mexican heritage is key to Jose Cuervo. In January, the brand launched a new campaign rooted in Mexican pride. It remains the drink of the people: Cuervo is the world's best-selling tequila.
More on Jose Cuervo from Forbes
Next: Smirnoff -
Cesar L. Laure, AP
Smirnoff
Nicolai and Vladimir Smirnov made vodka for czars, so the Bolsheviks took over their business, executed Nicolai and tortured Vlad. Vlad escaped, changed his name and began to make vodka again. John Martin bought the company in 1939 and cases of his vodka were marked, "White Whiskey--No Smell, No Taste." Today, flavored vodkas trade on the drink's inherent mixability.
More on Smirnoff from Forbes
See the Rest of the Gallery at Forbes
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Dunkin' Donuts / AP
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Next: Top-Earning Country Stars -
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Recent Comments
JMencel 12:23:44 AM Jul 12 2008
slivovitz plum brandy,i think slivovitz meaans turpentine in slovak !
VaclavOf Prague 10:27:11 AM Jul 11 2008
I say THUDELAH ! ...I drink Slivovitz ot hIRAM Walker's DELUXE Bourbon ... Plain and Simple ...WALKER'S DELUXE BOURBON is the best whiskey on the planet !THUDELAH ! ... THUDELAH ! ...THUDELAH ! ...To all the rest !I'M VACLAV T. BOOKTAPRRKAPRAHA (Prague0 CZWCH REPUBLIKand AriZOOna CACTUS PATCK
Montypython1975 11:51:02 AM Jul 10 2008
This poll simply shows how stupid people really are. Aren't you aware of how many so-called US brands are actually owned by foreign companies and that goes for banks, cellular providers, major corporations, sports teams etc. Do your homework if you've ever heard of Google.
Empress59 05:01:43 AM Jul 10 2008
Captain Morgan...Admiral Bacardi....I salute them both. CHEERS!!!!
Empress59 04:57:04 AM Jul 10 2008
Captain Morgan, Admiral Bacardi....I salute them all :-)))))))
HHESherfey1 04:39:34 AM Jul 10 2008
OK AOL WHAT'S WITH THE CENSORSHIP CRAP ON A SIMPLE RECIPE?
HHESherfey1 04:38:09 AM Jul 10 2008
Tennessee Sunrise: 1 mug filled 3/4 full strong black coffee, add 1/4 mug Jack Daniel's Black label and stir. Take mug to either back porch or front porch 30 min before sunrise and, sit, and sip. Watch the coming of a new day.
Blimparino 04:11:34 AM Jul 10 2008
Lol at some of theese comments..Funny people :}I think the idea of pirates is kinda facinating and cool.
BLR WIZ 03:51:58 AM Jul 10 2008
By the way..... The county where they make Jack Daniels is a Dry County. So thier Officail Taster has to swirrlel it in his mouth and then spit. He isn't allowed to swallow.
BLR WIZ 03:45:04 AM Jul 10 2008
A freind of min thinks that the CIvil War was fought betwen Jim Beam and Jack Daniels.
