Bourbon Baroness

24/06/2026

War changed what America drank. When the British blockade cut off molasses and rum, colonists turned to whiskey – and America’s native spirit was born. 🥃

Dive into the untold story of how conflict, rebellion, and ingenuity forged our bourbon heritage. My latest article, “Bourbon, War and the Price of Patriotism,” goes live this Sunday, July 28. Make sure to catch it!

14/06/2026

https://www.bourbonbaroness.com/blog-1/german-distillers

The history of American whiskey extends beyond Scotland and Ireland. Discover how German distillers, Pennsylvania rye traditions, and families like the Wellers helped influence the development of bourbon and early Kentucky whiskey.

08/06/2026

Some people bring coleslaw to a fish fry. My friend brought both. Tonight’s introduction to Old Charter Oak Finest Oak was a welcome one. 🥃🌳”

05/06/2026

Thank you YOUR Williamson. Y’all pick up their most recent publication.

Bourbon Baroness 🥃

In 2013, April Weller-Cantrell decided to make a career out of bourbon. Since that time, she has established her spot in the bourbon industry, known by the title of "Bourbon Baroness". With her name and immense knowledge of bourbon, April decided to start her own blog, In the Glass & Beyond.

To learn more about the Bourbon Baroness and her blog, grab a copy of our latest issue or click the link below.

https://www.yourwilliamson.com/post/the-bourbon-baroness

04/06/2026

While you can’t get bourbon at Laha’s — it is a great burger and one of my favorite places.

Burgers arrive at this tiny Kentucky spot that make every other burger you've eaten suddenly seem like practice and locals knew this secret long before anyone else caught on.

02/06/2026

🥃 Bourbon may be America’s native spirit, but its story didn’t begin in Kentucky.

Long before bourbon became bourbon, traditions, techniques, and knowledge crossed and ocean with the people who settled the frontier.

Sometimes the most interesting whiskey stories aren’t found in the bottle. They’re found in the people.

28/05/2026

Bourbon fact-check moment. 🥃

I recently made a post referencing bourbon aging in a charred oak “container,” which historically was language long associated with the regulations.

But over time, TTB interpretation and modern standards have become much more specific around the use of oak barrels.

Tiny wording change. Big difference in how people understand bourbon production today.

The deeper I dig into bourbon history, regulation, and barrel influence, the more I realize this industry is constantly evolving, even in ways many enthusiasts never notice.

And honestly… that’s part of what makes bourbon so fascinating.

If you enjoy these deeper conversations about oak, aging, and what the barrel truly contributes to whiskey, my latest blog from last Sunday dives even further into that story:

🥃 What the Barrel Made Possible… (When Wood Met Whiskey)

Because bourbon isn’t shaped by grain alone.
It’s transformed by the barrel. 🍂