George T. Gambrill

George T. Gambrill (1842–1930), considered by some as a “Pre-Prohibition Whiskey Scoundrel”, has a storied past.  His successful production of Roxbury Rye is what makes him a Maryland Whiskey Founder.  His numerous dealings with the legal system lends itself to the seemingly well-earned “Scoundrel” nickname. 

Getting Started.  In 1888, George built a large distillery in Roxbury, Maryland, a village in Washington County about 75 miles from Baltimore.  He made rye whiskey distilled from local rye and corn crops.  His distillery included all the latest and most improved apparatus for distillation, thus producing Roxbury Rye.  Roxbury Distilling Company produced liquor from 1893-1910. 

Misbehaving.  George’s first encounter with the legal system was in 1864 when, in his late teens, was forced to declare bankruptcy, unable to pay his creditors.  He blamed his circumstances on his grain dealer relatives, and being young and naive, was made the fall guy.

Later, in 1870, found himself drawn to the grain business again.  And, given the natural relationship grain has to distilling, George was compelled to establish a distilling business.  Eventually George would claim he was not in the distilling business, the 1890 census recorded George as a distiller.

In 1893 George registered "Roxbury Rye" as a brand with the government.  To avoid taxes, George incorporated his company in West Virginia.  Roxbury Rye grew into a nationally recognized brand in relatively few years.  At its peak, George’s distillery was Maryland’s sixth largest in terms of capacity.  In 1900 Roxbury Rye was important enough to be among a handful of American distilleries exhibiting at the Paris Exposition. 

In 1910, George found himself being dragged into court again.  As a grain speculator, he bet the wrong way on wheat prices, lost his shirt, and was unable to pay creditors.  However, this time he was convicted of fraud for swindling his creditors.  He was tried, found guilty, and sentenced to four years in prison.  Although he appealed, his Roxbury Distillery was shut down and George exited the liquor business.  He sold the brand name to other Baltimore interests, so his most popular product, Roxbury Rye, continued to be sold until Prohibition began. 

Getting Away with it.  Meanwhile, George vigorously resisted going to jail.  He filed numerous motions, appealing his conviction repeatedly.  After more than a decade of deploying this strategy, he still had not served any time in jail.  Instead, according to U.S. Census records, he continued to live comfortably in his 4-story home in Baltimore with his wife.

While awaiting the outcome of his legal battles, George watched as Prohibition began in 1920.  The whiskey he created and brought into national prominence disappeared forever.  Finally in 1922, a judge reversed the fraud conviction citing George’s deteriorating health and advanced years.  He was 77 years old at the time.  However, it may have turned out to be George’s best con game of all.  Because, as it turns out, George managed to live another eight years, dying in 1930 at the age of 85.

Contributed by: Bill & Vicki Gallagher, Marriottsville, Maryland