rum runners

January 17th is celebrated as Bootlegger's Day in the United States. The day commemorates the anniversary of the start of Prohibition in 1920, which drove the production and sale of alcohol underground and gave rise to a network of illegal bootleggers.

Bootleggers were individuals who produced, transported, and sold illegal alcohol during Prohibition. They often operated in secret, using clandestine methods to avoid detection by law enforcement.

Bootlegger's Day is an opportunity to reflect on the history of Prohibition and its impact on American society. It is also a chance to appreciate the ingenuity and resourcefulness of bootleggers, who were able to thrive in a challenging and dangerous environment.

To celebrate Bootlegger's Day, people may participate in activities such as visiting a museum or exhibition that explores the history of Prohibition, watching movies or documentaries about the era, or learning more about the techniques and methods used by bootleggers to produce and distribute illegal alcohol.

Overall, Bootlegger's Day is a reminder of the complex and fascinating history of Prohibition and the enduring legacy of bootlegging in American culture. It is a chance to appreciate the ingenuity and determination of those who defied the law to satisfy a demand for alcohol, and to reflect on the lessons that can be learned from this period in American history.

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From 1928 to the early 2000s, the Seagram corporation was one of the giants in Canadian industry. Its primary business was making and selling alcoholic beverages – it owned such distinguished product lines as Crown Royal, Chivas Regal Scotch, Captain Morgan rum and many more, including the distribution rights to Absolut vodka.

But that wasn’t the whole story, or the full extent of Seagram’s business assets, which spanned the globe and included investments in oil, fruit juice, entertainment and more. 

Not bad for a company that had its roots in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, specifically in the Balmoral Hotel on Livingstone Street, where the Cornerstone Credit Union parking lot is now located. 

Not bad for a young man whose father bought the hotel in 1905 for Harry and his older brother Abe, who did not stay here.

This week on In the Drink, host Joe Campanale is joined in the studio by Bailey Pryor, the Founder and CEO of The Real McCoy rum.

Bailey has worked in the film and television industry for over 28 years as a writer, producer and director. During his career, Bailey has been nominated for 10 Emmy® Awards, winning 6 awards. He has produced seven feature films and over 150 television programs for ABC, PBS, Outdoor Life Network, Versus, Fox Sports Net, ESPN, Discovery Channel, Spike TV, Animal Planet, Tennis Channel and Travel Channel. Bailey has previously held the positions of President & CEO of Telemark Films and President & CEO of Warren Miller Entertainment in Boulder, Colorado.

Bailey is also the Founder and CEO of The Real McCoy rum, which is based on a film he produced for PBS, of the same name. The Real McCoy rum has won over 65 major spirits industry awards worldwide and is currently being distributed in 16 states in the US, as well as 11 countries in Europe. The Real McCoy is a dry style rum produced in Barbados.