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[[Image:Motlow Whisky ad.jpg|right|thumb|275px|Photograph taken March 2006 by Wally Argus]]
[[Image:Motlow Whisky ad.jpg|right|thumb|275px|Photograph taken March 2006 by Wally Argus]]
The '''Motlow Distilling Company''' was opened by [[Lem Motlow]] in [[Birmingham]] in [[1902]]. Motlow, the nephew of Lynchburg, Tennessee's Jack Daniel, was forced to close when [[Jefferson County]] enacted [[prohibition|local prohibition]] in [[1907]]. Some references locate this distillery at 2431 [[2nd Avenue South|Avenue B]], but it may have been in [[Pratt City]].
The '''Motlow Brothers Distilling Company''' was opened by a [[Spoon Motlow|John F. Motlow]] and [[Jesse Motlow|Jesse B. Motlow]] at 1215 [[2nd Avenue South|Avenue B]] in [[Birmingham]] in [[1904]] and was operated at various times under various names until [[Alabama]] enacted [[prohibition|statewide prohibition]] in [[1915]].


It reopened in [[1911]] as the '''Jack Daniel Distilling Company''', which had been forced to move its operations out of Tennessee when that state passed its own prohibition laws in [[1910]]. This plant was more certainly located in Pratt City. The distillery bottled both Jack Daniel's No. 7 Lincoln County Whisky and Motlow's own corn whisky, as well as Motlow's peach brandy. The business relocated to St Louis, Missouri before Alabama's statewide prohibition law went into effect in [[1915]]. National prohibition forced the company out of business in [[1918]]. Motlow eventually re-opened his uncle's Lynchburg distillery, where the company has been able to produce, but not sell, its liquor ever since.
A [[Thomas Motlow]], distiller, was boarding at 2212 [[3rd Avenue North]] in [[1902]], but at the time the only distillery operating in the city was the [[Birmingham Distilling Company]] at 1300 [[7th Avenue North]]. If this was Thomas Gregory Motlow (1877–1969), then he was a son of Felix "Stump" Motlow who had married Finetta Daniel, the sister of Jack Daniel of Lincoln County, Tennessee. Thomas was not known to have pursued distilling, and made his fame as a banker in Lynchburg.


Bottles embossed with either name and "Birmingham, Ala." are avidly collected by connoisseurs of Jack Daniel's memorabilia. Lem's cousin [[Spoon Motlow|Frank "Spoon" Motlow]] operated [[Motlow's Saloon]] in Birmingham. A painted advertisement for "Motlow's Corn and Jack Daniells' No. 7 Lincoln County Whiskies" can still be seen on the corner of [[2nd Avenue North]] and [[24th Street North|24th Street]].
Jesse Butler Motlow was another of Felix's sons, and if John F. was his brother, then it is likely he was Jasper Franklin Motlow, better known as "Spoon", who had operated a saloon in [[Gadsden]] since [[1890]]. In [[1903]] he sold 2/3 of the business to another brother, [[Lem Motlow]] and to a W. S. Boyd, forming the [[Gadsden Distilling Company]] which began to distill [[Coosa County Corn Whisky]] with water from Standifer Springs. Etowah County enacted their own prohibition law in [[1908]], putting the Gadsden Distillery out of business. Jesse and John both resided in Birmingham in 1904, sharing a house at 906 [[14th Avenue South]] with their wives, Alice and Bessie. Their distillery occupied the lots from 1215-25 Avenue B, opposite the [[Birmingham Rolling Mills]]. By [[1905]] the name of the company had changed to the '''Motlow Distilling Company''' and J. F. Motlow was president. His brother had returned to Lynchburg.
 
In the [[1907]] City Directory, the Motlow Distilling Company remained at the same address, but was classified as a saloon, while the Birmingham Distilling Company held the lone entry under the heading of "Distilleries". John F. was no longer shown as an officer of the company, and a Thomas B. Motlow of Lynchburg was listed as co-owner. That business closed in the wake of [[Jefferson County]]'s [[prohibition|local prohibition]], which went into effect on [[January 1]], [[1908]].
 
After Jefferson County's prohibition law was repealed in [[1911]], the company returned to business as the '''Jack Daniel Distilling Company''', owned by Lem Motlow, which produced the famous "No. 7 Lincoln County Whisky" from Birmingham during the period that Tennessee had enacted statewide prohibition. The plant also produced Lem's corn whisky, and likely his famed peach brandy as well. In the [[1915]] City Directory, there was also a '''Jack Daniel Distributing Company''' located at 2431 [[2nd Avenue North]].
 
Around the time the family also opened another distillery in St Louis, Missouri, which took over for the Birmingham plant when Alabama's statewide prohibition law took effect in [[1915]]. National prohibition forced the company out of business entirely in [[1918]]. Motlow eventually re-opened his uncle's old Lynchburg distillery, where the company has been able to produce, but not sell, its liquor ever since.
 
A painted advertisement for "Motlow's Corn and Jack Daniells' No. 7 Lincoln County Whiskies" can still be seen on the corner of [[2nd Avenue North]] and [[24th Street North|24th Street]], near their former distribution warehouse.


==References==
==References==
* Birmingham City Directories (1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1907, 1911, 1915). R. L. Polk and Co., at the Birmingham Public Library
* {{Atkins-1981}}
* {{Atkins-1981}}
* {{White-1981}}
* {{White-1981}}
* Parkes, John Franklin (n. d.) "[http://www.knology.net/~jparkes/genealogy/mooretn/jdaniel/web/daniel.htm Descendants of Calaway Daniel]" Moore County Genealogy - accessed August 1, 2010
* "[http://www.etowahhistory.com/JackDaniel.htm Famous Jack Daniel Distillery once located in Gadsden]" (n. d.) Etowah Historical Society - accessed August 1, 2010


[[Category:Distilleries]]
[[Category:Distilleries]]
[[Category:2nd Avenue North]]
[[Category:2nd Avenue North]]
[[Category:1902 establishments]]
[[Category:1904 establishments]]
[[Category:1907 disestablishments]]
[[Category:1907 disestablishments]]
[[Category:1911 establishments]]
[[Category:1911 establishments]]
[[Category:1915 disestablishments]]
[[Category:1915 disestablishments]]

Revision as of 19:28, 1 August 2010

Photograph taken March 2006 by Wally Argus

The Motlow Brothers Distilling Company was opened by a John F. Motlow and Jesse B. Motlow at 1215 Avenue B in Birmingham in 1904 and was operated at various times under various names until Alabama enacted statewide prohibition in 1915.

A Thomas Motlow, distiller, was boarding at 2212 3rd Avenue North in 1902, but at the time the only distillery operating in the city was the Birmingham Distilling Company at 1300 7th Avenue North. If this was Thomas Gregory Motlow (1877–1969), then he was a son of Felix "Stump" Motlow who had married Finetta Daniel, the sister of Jack Daniel of Lincoln County, Tennessee. Thomas was not known to have pursued distilling, and made his fame as a banker in Lynchburg.

Jesse Butler Motlow was another of Felix's sons, and if John F. was his brother, then it is likely he was Jasper Franklin Motlow, better known as "Spoon", who had operated a saloon in Gadsden since 1890. In 1903 he sold 2/3 of the business to another brother, Lem Motlow and to a W. S. Boyd, forming the Gadsden Distilling Company which began to distill Coosa County Corn Whisky with water from Standifer Springs. Etowah County enacted their own prohibition law in 1908, putting the Gadsden Distillery out of business. Jesse and John both resided in Birmingham in 1904, sharing a house at 906 14th Avenue South with their wives, Alice and Bessie. Their distillery occupied the lots from 1215-25 Avenue B, opposite the Birmingham Rolling Mills. By 1905 the name of the company had changed to the Motlow Distilling Company and J. F. Motlow was president. His brother had returned to Lynchburg.

In the 1907 City Directory, the Motlow Distilling Company remained at the same address, but was classified as a saloon, while the Birmingham Distilling Company held the lone entry under the heading of "Distilleries". John F. was no longer shown as an officer of the company, and a Thomas B. Motlow of Lynchburg was listed as co-owner. That business closed in the wake of Jefferson County's local prohibition, which went into effect on January 1, 1908.

After Jefferson County's prohibition law was repealed in 1911, the company returned to business as the Jack Daniel Distilling Company, owned by Lem Motlow, which produced the famous "No. 7 Lincoln County Whisky" from Birmingham during the period that Tennessee had enacted statewide prohibition. The plant also produced Lem's corn whisky, and likely his famed peach brandy as well. In the 1915 City Directory, there was also a Jack Daniel Distributing Company located at 2431 2nd Avenue North.

Around the time the family also opened another distillery in St Louis, Missouri, which took over for the Birmingham plant when Alabama's statewide prohibition law took effect in 1915. National prohibition forced the company out of business entirely in 1918. Motlow eventually re-opened his uncle's old Lynchburg distillery, where the company has been able to produce, but not sell, its liquor ever since.

A painted advertisement for "Motlow's Corn and Jack Daniells' No. 7 Lincoln County Whiskies" can still be seen on the corner of 2nd Avenue North and 24th Street, near their former distribution warehouse.

References

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