We tend to see the newest bourbon boom as being this unique phenomenon, and that all the experts and notable critics of whiskey are a modern invention. I assure you, […]
Whiskey as a Political Football in 1888.
It is always interesting to read about the heavy influence that whiskey has had on politics throughout history. Whether it was the forces of temperance or the owners of distilleries, […]
Carrot Whiskey?
The ingenuity of pre-prohibition distillers never ceases to amaze me. Carrot spirits? I’ve seen potato whiskey, but carrot whiskey? Who knew? The idea of supplementing your mash with a sweet […]
The Chemists That Changed American Whiskey
We tend to think of distillers as chemists or scientists, even if Pappy Van Winkle adamantly refused to acknowledge the value of chemistry in his distillery. There’s no denying that […]
Origins of Wheated Whiskey.
Where did “wheated bourbon” come from? To be clear, “wheated bourbon” is a marketing term. The term has no historic precedent before the late 1990s. It is simply a modern […]
Stitzel-Weller in 1972: Notes on a Slideshow
1972 Stitzel-Weller Slideshow (click on title to view slideshow) The following notes were written in addition to the original, 1972 Stitzel-Weller-provided script. The exact words from the original script are […]
The Stitzel Distilleries: From 1872 to Stitzel-Weller…in 9 parts.
The following blog contains a study of the Stitzel distilleries and the men behind them. Each of the 9 separate parts copied below were written in May and June of […]
Steam Heated Warehouses…and Eggs?
One of the glossed over elements necessary in the production of traditional Pennsylvania rye was the nearly universal use of heated warehouses. The steam-heating of warehouses is mentioned occasionally, but […]
Is Whiskey Medicinal?
I don’t doubt that you’ve seen articles in every whiskey publication about whether whiskey is medicinal or not. There are videos and blogs and podcasts on the topic. Many new […]
Steamboats on the Ohio River
It’s great to come across articles like this that give credit to the steamboat crews. More importantly, it points out something we don’t often consider. That steamboats and showboats were […]