Life — March 1935 — page 7: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Crab Orchard Whiskey Advertisement This is a **whiskey advertisement**, not political satire. It uses a romanticized illustration of Kentucky frontier life—hunters with rifles in a forest—to market Crab Orchard Whiskey as an authentically American product with historical roots. The text narrates how the whiskey gained reputation among Kentucky gentry and travelers, eventually becoming famous nationwide. Notably, it addresses the **Prohibition era aftermath**: the ad acknowledges people wanted "a straightforward whiskey—made the good old-fashioned way" at "a low price," positioning Crab Orchard as satisfying post-Prohibition demand for accessible quality spirits. The slogan calls it "America's fastest-selling straight whiskey," suggesting market dominance during alcohol's legal return.