In August, 1933, Charles J. Elchel started in the whisky business in Henderson as the Continental Importing Company. In November the name was changed to the Valley Distilleries Corporation.
Whisky was purchased from the Brown-Forman Company and bottled under various labels, including “Old Judge Eichel” A total of 2300 cases were sold.
“The Dells, a Waterworks Road dance hall, was our only customer, and high water was about to close this place up.” Eichel explained.
From then until July 1934, when the corporation “went broke and quit business,” all expenses were charged to Eichel, with the corportion handling the funds.
“In July 1934. I quit the whisky business. In December, two Indianapolis men invested $5000 and formed a new company, Valley Distilleries, Inc. I had the liquor permits and was hired as rectifier.” The bottling machinory remained in Henderson and was used by the new company.
Other known products include Black Jack Straight Whiskey, Bourbon Prince, and Valley Mill Apple Brandy.
