The question is inevitably asked whenever a discussion about pre-Prohibition American whiskeys comes up: “We we romanticize pre-Prohibition whiskey?” Industry folks tend to be very skeptical about “the old methods.” […]
From 1925 to Repeal: How the Medicinal Whiskey Makers Changed Everything
We’ve discussed the early 1920s in the previous blog post, so let’s address what came next. We tend to think of Prohibition as the heyday of bootlegging and speakeasies…a vague, […]
The Early Years of Prohibition: The Volstead Act and the “Band-Aid Legislation” That Followed
What happened within the distilling industry during the early years of Prohibition? In short, massive upheaval and a lot of confusion. The temperance groups that pushed for National Prohibition did […]
The Social Dilemma of Prohibition
Prohibition usually conjures images of men dumping barrels or makes us think of bootleggers and gangsters with flapper girlfriends. Prohibition themed costume parties host ladies wearing fringe and sequins […]
The Legacy of the Vandegrift Distilling Company
Vandegrift Distilling Co. Vandegrift Landing & Allenport, Pa. Carroll Township Washington County RD# 49, RD #29 23rd District Founded with California gold rush profits, the Vandegrift Distillery in Washington […]
Another Historic Example of Pennsylvania’s Distilling Past: Fry & Mathias
J. Mathias Distillery Manor, Pa. Westmoreland County RD# 22 23rd District The small borough of Manor, Pennsylvania in Westmoreland County was once home to the incomparable Fry & Mathias […]
Interview with Whiskey Lore
Episode 1– When Pennsylvania Ruled American Whiskey Drew and I discuss Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey tradition and history. Episode 2– Breaking Pennsylvania Through Kentucky Bourbon’s Hold on American Whiskey History The […]
What is Rye Whiskey & Why Is It So Different Today?
Rye whiskey is very popular these days. We can clearly see the growth in market share. People talk about how unique it is, but then the occasional article surfaces that […]
Laura Fields, founder of the Dram Devotees, Interviewed by Drew Hannush of Whiskey Lore
Episode 67: When Pennsylvania Ruled American Whisky PRE-PROHIBITION // Laura Fields of the American Whiskey Convention helps us dig into Pennsylvania Pure Rye and the origins of American whiskey LISTEN […]
Why Was the Taft Decision Necessary?
(Hint: It’s Not Necessarily Why You’d Think…) Rectifiers VS. Straight Whiskey Interests To understand why the Taft Decision was so important to the whiskey industry, one must first understand why […]