Boston-based M.S. Walker acquired rights to the brand from Georgetown Trading Co., and is rolling out the whiskey nationwide. Terms weren’t disclosed.
John L. Sullivan is a triple-distilled in copper pot stills, preserving the storied traditions of whiskey production. The blended Irish whiskey exhibits subtle notes of spice and vanilla, making for a smooth drinking experience.
“John L. Sullivan is a sports icon in in our hometown, so it was an easy decision to bring the brand into our growing national portfolio,” says Brett Allen, Director of National Business Development. “Boston has deep Irish roots, and John L. embodied a lot of the things that make our city so great: toughness, class, and appreciation for a good drink.”
Born to Irish immigrant parents in Boston, MA in 1858, John L. Sullivan – also known as ‘The Boston Strong Boy’ – earned his reputation as a brawler from an early age. As a teenager, he gained notoriety for entering Boston’s toughest barrooms and proclaiming that he could “lick any man in the house.” And often times, he did. This tough persona translated well as he made the leap into professional fighting.
With a career record of 40-1-2 with 24 knockouts, Sullivan was the last heavyweight bare-knuckle boxing champion of the world and the first heavyweight gloved boxing champion of the world. In perhaps his most famous fight, he made headlines by defeating Jake Kilrain in an illegal fight that last a whopping 76 rounds.