Domenico Canale
1843

Domenico Canale is born in San Pietro di Rovereto on the Italian Riviera. A year after his birth, three of his mother’s brothers leave for America, settling in Memphis, where they start a successful wholesale grocery business that includes liquor and wine.

Horse drawn cart with "Old Dominick Whiskey" on the side
1859

DOMENICO CANALE ARRIVES IN AMERICA

Sixteen-year-old Domenico Canale sails for America, landing in New Orleans after a 65 day-long voyage. From there, he travels up the Mississippi to Memphis, Tennessee where he worked for his uncle, Abraham Vaccaro, running a modest fruit cart up and down the streets of Memphis.

Canale distribution warehouse with workers
1866

Canale formally establishes food wholesaler D. Canale & Co., and sets up operations in a warehouse at 8 Madison St. near Front. Among its offering is a whiskey, sold in ceramic jars and bottles, that Canale names Old Dominick.

Vintage Dominick Toddy poster
1880

Canale develops the Dominick Toddy, a bourbon-based cordial with fruity overtones that must have spoken to the former fruit stand operator. It was described as the “one of which we are the proudest” and its label featured the now iconic Dominicker Rooster.

Domenico Canale
1919

Just three days before the ratification of the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution, better known as Prohibition, Domenico Canale passes away at the age of 75 in his Midtown home.

Canale warehouse
1921

During Prohibition, Domenico’s eldest son, John Dominick Canale, expanded D. Canale’s food and product operations. With distribution up and down the Mississippi from Chicago to the Gulf of Mexico, as far east as Atlanta, and west into Indian Territory, it was one of the largest grocery distributors in the region.

D. Canale building
1933

By the time Prohibition was repealed in 1933, D. Canale and Company was operating the largest refrigerated warehouses in Memphis, which caught the attention of Anheuser-Busch. Most beer at the time was unpasteurized and had to be refrigerated, as a result of their refrigeration and an established distribution footprint, D. Canale was awarded exclusive regional distribution rights for Anheuser-Busch beers.

John D. Canale, Jr.
1965

A young John D. Canale, Jr. becomes President of D. Canale following his father’s untimely death. A graduate of Yale and a Lieutenant in the Navy, John D., known by many as “The Bear”, led D. Canale into some of its most prosperous years by diversifying into institutional food and banking. He conceived of the company bywords, “Quality Products, Quality Service, by Quality People,” which we remember to this day.

Canale family
1982

John D. Canale Jr and his wife, Peggy, had two sons; John D. Canale III and Chris W. Canale. Planning for future generations, John D. Canale Jr. spun both the food business and the beer business out from under the parent company D. Canale and Company in 1982, thereby creating D. Canale Food Services, Inc., and D. Canale Beverages, Inc.

Canale family
1999

After 125 years of continuous operation, D. Canale Food Services is sold. At the 125th Anniversary celebration, a grateful John D. Canale Jr. reminded his friends, family, customers, and the company’s hundreds of employees that “Quality and Service are remembered long after the price is forgotten.” With the beverage industry trending towards craft beer, wine and spirits, the family sold D. Canale Beverages at its peak in 2010.

Whiskey barrels
2013

Following the surprise discovery of an unopened bottle of Old Dominick Toddy from the late 1800s, Chris and Alex Canale decide to reinstate the storied spirit brand started by their great great grandfather, Domenico. A world-class distillery is planned, to be located in the heart of Downtown Memphis on South Front Street.

Chris and Alex Canale posing with barrels
2017

With construction finished, and the distillery floor meticulously assembled according to the designs of Master Distiller Alex Castle, Old Dominick Distillery produces its very first batch of Tennessee Whiskey. This occasion marks the first time since prohibition that whiskey has been legally distilled in Memphis, TN.

Old Dominick Distillery
2021

RAISING A GLASS TO PURE MEMPHIS

Domenico Canale and Company’s story continues proudly through the Old Dominick Distillery. We can think of no better way to honor all of our partners, employees, friends, and the city we call home, than to raise a glass and invite the world to “Share a Sip of Pure Memphis.”

2022

INTRODUCING STRAIGHT TENNESSEE WHISKEY

Thanks to Tennessee's signature Lincoln County Process, this 85 proof whiskey takes on a mellow character without losing an ounce of its complexity. Old Dominick Distillery is proud to re-introduce you to Tennessee whiskey.

TASTE HISTORY WITH US TODAY

Find a Tour
Distillery Hours

Monday

12-7 PM

Tuesday

12-7 PM

Wednesday

12-7 PM

Thursday

12-9 PM

Friday

12-10 PM

Saturday

12-10 PM

Sunday

12-7 PM

Bar Hours

Monday

12-7 PM

Tuesday

12-7 PM

Wednesday

12-7 PM

Thursday

12-9 PM

Friday

12-10 PM

Saturday

12-10 PM

Sunday

12-7 PM

Gift Shop

Monday

12-7 PM

Tuesday

12-7 PM

Wednesday

12-7 PM

Thursday

12-7 PM

Friday

12-7 PM

Saturday

12-7 PM

Sunday

12-7 PM

305 S Front St. Memphis, TN 38103

Get Directions