History 10 - Dram Devotees

The Cullen Bill and the Post-Prohibition Glass Bottle Monopoly

“It was the keg, not the bottle that disappeared during prohibition, the heyday of the bootlegger.”– Hugh J. McMackin, Secretary of the National Wholesale Wine and Liquor Dealers’ Association (July […]

The Whiskey Trust

Posted on: May 15, 2022November 29, 2025American whiskey , Distillation , Distilleries , History , Pre-Prohibition , Production , Prohibition , Reference , Whiskey Facts , Whiskey laws and regulations , Whiskey Trust

When it comes to the history of American whiskey, there is no more important topic than that of the Whiskey Trust. In fact, American whiskey history should probably be divided […]

1917-1920. The Prelude to Prohibition

Posted on: May 6, 2022April 21, 2025American whiskey , History , Pre-Prohibition , Prohibition , Reference , Whiskey laws and regulations

There is no doubt that Prohibition altered the American liquor industry in innumerable ways. The 18th amendment may have gone into effect in 1920, but the passage of the National […]

Why Are the Insides of Whiskey Barrels Charred?

Posted on: October 31, 2021November 17, 2023Aging Techniques , American whiskey , Barrels , History , Pennsylvania rye whiskey , Production , Reference , Uncategorized , Whiskey Facts , Whiskey Science

Occum’s razor basically proposes that the simplest explanation is most likely the right one…That it’s best to avoid the more elaborate explanation when possible. While the principle doesn’t always hold […]

Pre-Prohibition Distillers of Pennsylvania

Posted on: February 18, 2021September 23, 2022American whiskey , Distillation , Distilleries , History , PA Local distilleries , Pennsylvania rye whiskey , Production , Prohibition , Reference , Rye , Stills , Uncategorized

I have spent the last few years researching and cataloging information on nearly 200 distilleries that produced rye whiskey across Pennsylvania before 1920. The information about Pennsylvania’s distilling history along […]

A GMO Argument

Posted on: September 30, 2017October 15, 2024Corn , farming , History

I’ve been seeing a lot of articles lately about the use of GMO and non-GMO corn. I believe the conversation around GMOs is usually a bit off the mark. (one […]

MGP Ingredients- The Distillery Prohibition Did Not Destroy

Posted on: June 11, 2017June 11, 2017American whiskey , Distilleries , History , Non Distiller Producers , Prohibition , Reference , Rye

If you’re tasting a lot of whiskeys and considering where they come from, you’ll have already become familiar with MGP (Midwest Grain Products) Ingredients. In most cases, you’ll have read […]

Potential in Pennsylvania

Posted on: February 28, 2017February 28, 2017Corn , craft whiskey , farming , History , Reference

Picture a seed in your mind. It’s small. Even sitting in the palm of your hand, it doesn’t seem like much. But for all its unassuming nature, make no mistake, […]

The Cost of Prohibition for Pennsylvania

Posted on: September 13, 2016September 13, 2016American whiskey , Distilleries , History , Prohibition , Reference

While it is slowly becoming common knowledge that Pennsylvania is the birthplace of American whiskey, I’m often asked, ”Why is Pennsylvania only now showing signs of distilling life again?” The […]

Summer 2016 PA Distillery Tour #10- Maggie’s Farm Rum Distillery, Pittsburgh, Pa

Posted on: July 27, 2016July 28, 2016craft whiskey , History , PA Local distilleries

Her Jamaican rum And when she did come, I asked her for some. -Bob Dylan, lyrics from 4th Time Around Usually, my interest lies in American whiskey. But before there […]