Did you know that Mississippi did not ratify the 21st amendment (Repeal) until 1966? It wasn’t until January 1, 2021 that a new Mississippi law legalized the possession of alcohol […]
Mexican Bourbon History
Let’s look at two bourbon distilleries based in Juarez, Mexico. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that their roots are connected to Prohibition. But first, let’s address a new brand […]
Foust’s Fancy Flasks (& How They Were Shaped By Pennsylvania’s Booming Glass Industry)
The Fousts, a distilling family that had been making whiskey in York County, Pennsylvania since 1840, marketed their products in incredibly unique containers. William Foust had always used creative glass […]
“Sweet” Mash Rye Whiskey?
Generally speaking, Bourbon = sour mash and rye whiskey= sweet mash. Historically, I mean- I realize the distinction is all over the board today. Historic distilling texts reveal that the […]
Brumbaugh’s Distillery in Bedford County, Pennsylvania
S.S. Brumbaugh Near New Enterprise, South Woodbury Township Bedford County RD# 34 9th District “Brumbaugh whiskey, bottled expressly for medicinal use,” was so well known that people began to identify […]
The History of the Miller Pure Rye Distillery
The Wheatland Distillery Miller & Mooney Womelsdorf (Ryeland) Berks County, Pennsylvania RD# 75 1st District There were many large-scale distilleries in Pennsylvania before Prohibition, and though most were in the […]
Pennsylvania’s Highspire Distillery Company
Highspire Distillery The Wilson Distillery (1823-1893) Highspire, Pa Dauphin County RD# 1 9th District There is little doubt that Highspire Distillery would have flourished into the 20th century if […]
Is American Vodka Connected to the History of American Whiskey?
Vodka…In America? America before Prohibition was a nation of whiskey drinkers. I don’t mean to imply that it was alone in the alcohol industry- There were rums, gins, brandies, cordials, […]
A Little History on a Pennsylvania Classic: Rittenhouse Rye Whisky
Good ol’ Rittenhouse Rye Whisky. It’s been a standard sipper for the American rye drinker since it was launched by Continental Distilling Corporation as “Rittenhouse Square Straight Rye Whisky” in […]
What happened to Maryland’s Hunter Rye?
Once one of the most popular brands of rye whiskey in the country, if not the world, Hunter Rye Whiskey, was a product of Maryland. The brand was first introduced […]