VODKA over Bourbon

02/09/2024

Spoke with Shannon at The Reserve on 1863. There are currently 19 spots remaining for the BTAC Pairing on 5 April. Those DO NOT include the companion ticket, so still room for 19 couples. Let's get a solid VO show of support to this Veteran owned business!

07/20/2023

It's officially OFFICIAL! Kevin Joyce WAAAY ahead of the power curve!

The results are in and Buffalo Trace distillery has dominated the annual whisky judging.

06/18/2023

Legends of Bourbon-

George T. Stagg (1835-1913)

George T. Stagg played a significant role in the development of the bourbon industry. Stagg worked in the distillery business in the mid-1800s and was associated with various distilleries in Kentucky.

Stagg purchased the distillery previously owned by Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. in 1870. He acquired the O.F.C. (Old Fashioned Copper) Distillery from Colonel Taylor, and renamed it the George T. Stagg Distillery. Stagg took over the operation and continued to produce bourbon whiskey at the distillery. He is credited with modernizing the distillery and introducing innovative techniques to improve the production of bourbon.

06/17/2023

Legends of Bourbon-

Bill Samuels Sr.: Bill Samuels Sr. is the founder of Maker's Mark bourbon. In the 1950s, he developed a new recipe for bourbon, focusing on using red winter wheat instead of rye in the mash bill. This resulted in a smoother and milder bourbon that became the hallmark of Maker's Mark.

06/17/2023

Legends of Bourbon-

Julian "Pappy" Van Winkle Sr.: Pappy Van Winkle was a distiller and businessman who played a significant role in the bourbon industry. He was involved with the Stitzel-Weller Distillery and later founded the Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery. Today, the Van Winkle bourbons are highly sought after and considered some of the finest expressions of bourbon.

06/17/2023

Legends of Bourbon-

Jacob Beam(1760-1834): Jacob Beam, a German immigrant, began distilling whiskey in Kentucky in the late 18th century. His family's distillery, which eventually became known as Jim Beam, has become one of the most recognizable bourbon brands in the world.

06/17/2023

Legends of Bourbon-

Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr.: Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. was a prominent figure in the bourbon industry during the late 19th century. He was known for his innovations in bourbon production, including the introduction of climate-controlled aging warehouses and the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, which helped ensure the quality and authenticity of bourbon.

06/17/2023

Legends of Bourbon-

Elijah Craig (November 15, 1738 – May 18, 1808): Reverend Elijah Craig is often credited with being the inventor of bourbon. While the exact origins of bourbon are disputed, Craig is known for establishing a distillery in Kentucky in the late 18th century and experimenting with aging whiskey in charred oak barrels.

06/15/2023

Welcome to VODKA over Bourbon! No better day than today to introduce this page to our community. The purpose is to share in the beauty and enrichment that a fine Bourbon brings to any interaction, discuss Bourbon history, and provide local leads for our members.

We'll start with a bit of history:

The Stitzel-Weller Distillery was founded in 1935 by Julian "Pappy" Van Winkle and Alex Farnsley,who jointly purchased a distillery in Louisville, Kentucky. Pappy Van Winkle had previously worked in the whiskey business and had gained a reputation for creating high-quality bourbon. The Stitzel-Weller Distillery was named after its founders: Julian Pappy Van Winkle's middle name was "Percy" but he went by "Pappy," and Alex Farnsley's mother's maiden name was "Stitzel."

The distillery quickly gained a reputation for producing some of the best bourbon in the country, with Pappy Van Winkle's signature smooth and mellow flavor. The distillery also became known for its unique set of warehouses, which were built with vented sides to take advantage of the natural cooling breezes from the Ohio River.

Over the years, the Stitzel-Weller Distillery produced several popular bourbon brands, including Old Fitzgerald, Rebel Yell, and W.L. Weller. In the 1950s and 1960s, the distillery also became a popular tourist destination, with visitors coming from all over the world to taste and learn about bourbon.

In 1972, the distillery was sold to Norton Simon Inc., a conglomerate that had little interest in the bourbon business. The quality of the bourbon began to decline, and the distillery was eventually closed in 1992.

In 2014, the Stitzel-Weller Distillery was reopened as a tourist attraction, offering tours and tastings of its bourbon. The distillery is now owned by the spirits company Diageo, but it still honors the legacy of Pappy Van Winkle and the other founders who helped make it one of the most celebrated bourbon distilleries in the world.