Dram Devotees

Origins of Wheated Whiskey.

Where did “wheated bourbon” come from? To be clear, “wheated bourbon” is a marketing term. The term has no historic precedent before the late 1990s. It is simply a modern […]

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 […]

Steam Heated Warehouses…and Eggs?

Posted on: January 18, 2026Aging Techniques , American whiskey , funny whiskey story , History , maturation , Production , steam heat , warehouses

One of the glossed over elements necessary in the production of traditional Pennsylvania rye was the nearly universal use of heated warehouses. The steam-heating of warehouses is mentioned occasionally, but […]

Whiskey Award Scandals.

Posted on: January 5, 2026January 5, 2026awards , History

There are lots of whiskey awards that go out around this time of year. Lots of “BEST WHISKEYS” lists encouraging consumers to buy one whiskey over another. And, of course, […]

Christmas Whiskey.

Posted on: January 5, 2026advertising , Christmas

A long-standing tradition for whiskey at Christmas-time was carried over to America by the immigrants that settled here. Whether it was mulled with spices, poured over cakes, baked into foods, […]

Is Whiskey Medicinal?

Posted on: January 5, 2026American whiskey , History , medicinal whiskey , Prohibition

I don’t doubt that you’ve seen articles in every whiskey publication about whether whiskey is medicinal or not. There are videos and blogs and podcasts on the topic. Many new […]

Women Behind the Bar in the 1930s.

Posted on: January 4, 2026January 4, 2026Article link , cocktails , History , Post-Prohibition , women in whiskey

One of the more interesting shifts in culture caused by the Repeal of Prohibition in 1933 is that women (at least in Pennsylvania) were finally given the right to serve […]

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 […]

Were There Distilleries in Pennsylvania’s Northern Tier?

Posted on: November 25, 2025November 26, 2025Distilleries , early distillers , History , Pennsylvania , Pennsylvania rye whiskey

I was asked an interesting question recently. “Why weren’t there more distilleries in the north central part of Pennsylvania?” My first thought was- How wonderful that Pennsylvania is beginning to […]