Reference – Dram Devotees

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 […]

Stitzel-Weller in 1972: Notes on a Slideshow

Posted on: February 6, 2026February 17, 2026advertising , American whiskey , Barrel entry proof , Barrels , Bourbon , Distillation , Distilleries , famous whiskey brand , History , Influential men in whiskey , Master Distiller , Post-Prohibition , Production , Reference , slide show , slideshow , Wheat , Whiskey Facts

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.

Posted on: February 1, 2026February 2, 2026American whiskey , Bourbon , Distilleries , famous whiskey brand , History , Influential men in whiskey , Master Distiller , Pre-Prohibition , Prohibition , Reference , Whiskey Facts

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 […]

Steamboats on the Ohio River

Posted on: January 4, 2026American whiskey , History , Reference , steamboats , transportation , whiskey and culture

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 […]

The Truth Behind the “Bottled-In-Bond Act” of 1897.

Posted on: September 17, 2025September 24, 2025American whiskey , Bottled in Bond , History , Reference , Whiskey laws and regulations

Let’s clear up a few things about the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897. I know the “BIB Act” has been written about an ENDLESS number of times, but there […]

Who was George T. Stagg?

Posted on: September 9, 2025October 7, 2025American whiskey , Distilleries , History , Influential men in whiskey , Master Distiller , Pre-Prohibition , Prohibition , Reference

Part 1. I have always wanted to know more about the man behind the marketing myth. George T. Stagg’s name has had quite an impact on the bourbon industry- and […]

How Population Density Affected Whiskey Production in 1775

Posted on: September 8, 2025American whiskey , History , maps , Pennsylvania , Pennsylvania rye whiskey , Reference

The map below roughly estimates our nation’s population density in 1775. It also gives insight into where those populations were centered. Larger populations consumed more beer and liquor, so brewers […]

Pennsylvania: A State Split in Half by Historic Conflict.

Posted on: September 5, 2025American whiskey , Pennsylvania , Reference , Uncategorized , Whiskey Rebellion

Here’s a great little snippet of how Philadelphians have always been clueless about the rest of the state. The Whiskey Rebellion is a tough topic of discussion for any American […]

Jenny Lind- “The Swedish Nightingale” Inspires Whiskey Makers

Posted on: September 5, 2025September 5, 2025American whiskey , Article link , History , Reference , women in whiskey

THERE IS NOTHING NEW ABOUT CELEBRITY WHISKEYS, folks! (Sorry to shout with all caps, but if there’s one thing that an #AmericanWhiskeyHistory page should do, it should be to remind […]

The Schreiners. A Distilling Dynasty.

Posted on: July 20, 2025October 14, 2025American whiskey , Bourbon , Canadian Whisky , Distilleries , History , Influential men in whiskey , Master Distiller , Mexican bourbon , Pre-Prohibition , Prohibition , Reference , Uncategorized , yeast

American whiskey history tends to focus its spotlight on company presidents and brand owners. Whiskey barons like E.H. Taylor, Albert Blanton, and George Garvin Brown have been lionized by the […]