(This is a post from my Facebook page, @AmericanWhiskeyHistory, December 9, 2022. But my thoughts have not changed on the subject!) I need to say this because I’m SOOOO tired […]
The Distilleries of Somerset County, Pennsylvania
So much of Pennsylvania’s distilling history has been lost to time. One glaring example of forgotten history has been Somerset County’s distilleries, once well-known in the whiskey trade for their […]
An Ode to Pennsylvania’s Meadville Distillery.
There are so many distilleries in Pennsylvania that had a huge impact on American whiskey that we just don’t know enough about! One Pennsylvania rye whiskey distillery that doesn’t get […]
Rye Malt or Barley Malt? Which Was Being Used in PA Rye?
In historic Pennsylvania rye whiskey mashbills, when a rye whiskey was described as being made of “rye and malt”, the assumption has always been that the “malt” in question always […]
An Argument for Heritage Rye in PA Rye Whiskeys
Pennsylvania’s historically heavy bodied and aromatic pure rye whiskeys started with the grain. The rye grain grown today does not compare to the ryes that were used for distilling whiskey […]
Rye Whiskey is America’s Native Spirit.
I know we love to love bourbon, but rye is bourbon’s wise old grandsire, and we should respect our elders😊 Rye whiskey was also unique to the the United States […]
What is Maryland Rye?
Let me just start by saying that the definition we’ve assigned to Maryland rye whiskey…is flawed. I know, it’s not great to start off a post with such a contrarian […]
Mount Vernon Rye Whiskeys- An Historic Tasting (1902-1947)
On November 23, 2024, at George Washington’s Mount Vernon Distillery in Alexandria, Virginia, an incredible lineup of historic bottlings of rye whiskeys were sampled. The focus was on antique expressions […]
Who was William E. Kricker?
William E. Kricker was the master distiller for Baltimore Pure Rye Distilling Company after Prohibition. He was the man behind B.P.R. rye whiskey and Old Ruxton rye…but why was he […]
Who was John E. Fitzgerald?
Who was JOHN E. FITZGERALD- the namesake for Old Fitzgerald Whiskey? SPOILER ALERT! He couldn’t be the guy we’ve been told he was! I’ve never understood why a successful businessman […]