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 […]
Salt and Whiskey.
During the late 1700’s, there was a trade imbalance between the East and the West; The west needed goods from the east more than the east needed goods from the […]
How Population Density Affected Whiskey Production in 1775
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 […]
Thoughts After the Passing of a Whiskey Legend.
Most people think of whiskey legends as having been distillers or distillery owners, but I would argue that America’s “whiskey historians” deserve some of that praise, as well. After all, […]
What Was “Cider Royale”?
I came across a letter to the editor from an old Philadelphia publication called the Aurora General Advertiser. This clipping is from September 11, 1799. Only 226 years ago… Aside […]
What is the “Correct Whiskey”?
A little excerpt from a discussion in British Parliament in 1909- debates over whether blends should be considered legitimate, “correct whiskies.” American blenders using Islay malts to blend out American […]
Where Did the Term “STRAIGHT” Come From When Describing Whiskey?
In March of 2022, while digging for information related to a theory on the origins of the term “straight,” I sought out the expertise of Justin Nathaniel Cherry, an incredible […]
Jenny Lind- “The Swedish Nightingale” Inspires Whiskey Makers
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.
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 […]
What Was the Gwynnbrook Distillery and Why Was It Important?
I’ve been wanting to write about Gwynnbrook for a long while. Unfortunately, Gwynnbrook isn’t a distillery name most whiskey enthusiasts are familiar with, but a distillery doesn’t have to be […]