Episode 114: Jeppson's Malört

Liquor and Liqueur Connoisseur

Feb 17 2023 • 19 mins

Episode 114 features Jeppson's Malört. Bottled in 750ml at 35% ABV, or 70 proof and it retails for about $22.

Enjoy this episode with a shot of Jeppson's Malört straight.

Jeppson's Malört official website: https://www.jeppsonsmalort.com/

Brief Historical Timeline:

  • 1880s - Carl Jeppson immigrates to Chicago, Illinois, USA from Sweden
  • 1920s - Carl Jeppson begins making and selling door to door his own bask brännvin, later to be named Malört
  • 1933 - Carl Jeppson sells Malört to Bielzoff Products
  • 1945 - George Brode buys Bielzoff Products, eventually renaming the company Red Horse Liquors
  • 1953 - George Brode sells Red Horse Liquors, except for Malört
  • 1986 - Mar-Salle Distillery in Chicago, who had been making Malört since 1953, closes so production moves to Kentucky
  • 1999 - George Brode dies, leaving Jeppson's Malört to his friend and long-time secretary Patricia Gabelick
  • 2007 - The hastag #malortface catches on in Chicago with photos shared online
  • 2011 - Chicago comedian Sam Mechling begins promoting Malört on Twitter and Facebook, eventually raising the ire of Patricia Gabelick
  • 2012 - Sam Mechling officially joins the Carl Jeppson Company
  • 2018 - CH Distillery in Chicago buys the Carl Jeppson Company and Jeppson's Malört bringing production back to Chicago
  • 2020 - The brand was selling about 20,000 9-liter equivalent cases annually

Key Cocktails:

Don't mess around, you just take shots of Jeppson's Malört.

References:

Chicago Tribune Article on the History of Jeppson's

Thrillist Facts List

Food and Wine Article

Serious Eats Article

YouTube Video Featuring Production at CH Distillery

YouTube Video Featuring an Interview with Sam Mechling

YouTube Video: "Chicago's Grossest Drink, Explained"

YouTube Video: "The Worst Liquor Ever"

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