Champagne Wishes: DH Krahn Gin Recommended by Whom You Know
When the waiter asks,” And what would you like to drink” or the bartender queries, “What’ll you have?”, no self–respecting Whom You Know reader would ever answer, “Gin”. No, that particular spirit was the bland beverage of choice, for film noir private eyes and the crooks and molls they tangled with, or the typical libation of dear old England’s doddering aristocracy. Whom You Know readers are sophisticated and they will say: "DH Krahn, please!"
Two young men of that non-gin generation decided not only to answer that question but to make a wager that gin would once again be fashionable amongst their own“demographic”, (their friends, class- mates and business associates.) We are all about fashion and great alcohol so the combination is a welcome one!
Scott Krahn, from Western Canada, and David Hughes, from Long Island, started as teammates on the Cornell University hockey team, then became classmates, friends, and finally, business partners. The business partner- ship evolved from the project they were working on in their third year entrepreneurship class at Cornell. They earned college credits and top grades for their ”theoretical” creation and marketing of a world class American gin that would appeal to their peers, in taste and image. After graduation, Scott and David determined to make the “theory” a reality in the highly competitive American liquor market. After two years of passionate commitment to their vision, two years of meticulous research and development, two years of hard work, setbacks, and recoveries, they introduced DH Krahn Gin to the world. And how did the world react? They have made Champagne Wishes! Whom You Know recommends DH Krahn Gin!
***
Scott Krahn
The youngest of three siblings, Scott was raised in western Canada by two entrepreneurial parents. He recalls that, even when very young, winning was something on which he placed great value.
He channeled that competitive spirit into sports. At 16, after winning three consecutive provincial titles in youth hockey, he left home to play in the junior ranks. Success followed him as his team captured the national title in 1999. After completing high school, he moved to Ithaca, N.Y., entering Cornell University where he continued competing, now with his school's Division 1 hockey team.
But competing wasn’t everything to Scott. By volunteering for Big Brothers of NYC and coaching youth hockey at Chelsea Piers, Scott reaches out to children who lack the support system necessary for personal growth and development of a wholesome lifestyle. He founded "DH Krahn Cares," a 501c corporation that donates a percentage of sales on every case of DH Krahn to the Court Appointed Special Advocates. CASA is a network of trained volunteers appointed by Family Court judges who advocate for abused and neglected children. "Many of these cases are linked in one way or another to alcohol," said Krahn. "We want to help the children adversely affected and in the process, raise awareness."
Scott describes himself as " a perfectionist to the point of annoyance," but at the same time, credits his business team's attention to detail as the biggest contributing factor to the creation of a world class product.
David Hughes
The emphasis on excellence pushed David both athletically and academically. Ranking fourth in his graduating class at St. Mary’s, he earned membership into the National Honors Society each year and played on the school's hockey team which captured three state championships in four years. He went on to study at Cornell University where he not only played for his school’s nationally ranked Division 1 hockey team, but was a linebacker on the football team. He graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Economics and Management. After earning his degree, David shifted his competitive efforts into the business arena, entering a partnership with fellow Cornellian, Scott Krahn. He believes that the company benefits most from his patience, suggesting that chances of success were increased significantly by not rushing to the market with a marginal product.
David Hughes
A native New Yorker and the second of six children, David was born into a family that valued excellence in both athletics and academics. The bar was set by Hughes’ father who captained the 1970 Cornell hockey team, a team that not only won a national championship, but remains the only team in NCAA history to have had an undefeated season. His sisters, Sarah and Emily, followed their father onto the ice and into competition. The two competed in the figure skating competition at the Olympic Games, the highlight of their ventures being Sarah’s Gold Medal win at the 2002 games in Salt Lake City.
The emphasis on excellence pushed David both athletically and academically. Ranking fourth in his graduating class at St. Mary’s, he earned membership into the National Honors Society each year and played on the school's hockey team which captured three state championships in four years. He went on to study at Cornell University where he not only played for his school’s nationally ranked Division 1 hockey team, but was a linebacker on the football team. He graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Economics and Management. After earning his degree, David shifted his competitive efforts into the business arena, entering a partnership with fellow Cornellian, Scott Krahn. He believes that the company benefits most from his patience, suggesting that chances of success were increased significantly by not rushing to the market with a marginal product.
