Sazerac Names New Whiskey After Founder Of Seagram

Sam Bronfman, or “Mister Sam,” as he was sometimes known, was one of the key authors of the modern day distilled spirits industry. Despite his humble origins as an immigrant to Canada from Imperial Russia in the late 1800s, Bronfman would go on to propel Seagram into what was once the largest and most successful distilled spirits company in the world. Bronfman passed in 1971, decades before his company faltered and was broken up, starting in the 1990s.

Montreal, Canada served as the headquarters of the legendary Seagram Company and its patriarch Sam Bronfman. The tie between the Seagram and Sazerac Companies was formed in the 1940s, when Sazerac’s owners became one of the first distributors of Seagram brands in the United States, forging a long lasting relationship between the two companies. Today, Sazerac owns 15 former Seagram’s brands including the iconic Seagram’s V.O., Seagram’s Five Star, and Seagram’s ’83, along with the former Seagram distillery in Montreal.

As a tribute to “Mister Sam” and the vast contribution he made to the industry, the Sazerac Company has developed a highly limited blended whiskey expression made with some of Sazerac’s finest American and Canadian Whiskeys. The “Mister Sam” blend was created by Sazerac’s Master Blender Drew Mayville whose career included a 22 year stint at Seagram’s where he was the fourth and last Master Blender under the Seagram dynasty. Mayville had the vast array of Sazerac’s American and Canadian Whiskey stocks at his disposal while developing the final blend. This project holds a special place in Mayville’s heart, a native Canadian now living in Kentucky.

“I was thrilled to be able to work on the blend for this exciting tribute whiskey.  Mister Sam was known to say ‘Distilling is a science; Blending is an art,’ and he’s right.  Creating the elusive perfect blend is every bit about experimentation and precision.  We’re very proud of the whiskey we’ve created.”

Bottled at Sazerac’s Old Montreal Distillery in Montreal, Quebec, this installment of “Mister Sam” is 133.8 Proof, and the new brand will be released once a year.  The recently bottled 2019 release features just 1,200 750ml bottles and will be sold only in the United States and Canada.  Suggested Retail Price is $249.99.