Kentucky Bourbon: The Early Years of Whiskeymaking

191 Pages·15.973 MB·English

by  Henry G. Crowgey

Kentucky Bourbon
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l(entucky
Bourbon
The Early Years of
Whiskeymaking
Henry G. Crowgey
Copyright© 2008 by The University Press of Kentucky
Scholarly publisher for the Commonwealth,
serving Bellarminc University, Berea College, Centre College of Kentucky,
Eastern Kentucky University, The Filson Historical Society, Georgetown
College, Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky State University, Morehead
State University, Murray State University, Northern Kentucky University,
Transylvania University, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville,
and Western Kentucky University.
All rights reserved.
Editorial and Sales Offices: The University Press of Kentucky
663 South Limestone Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40508-4008
www.kentuckypress.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Crowgey, Henry G.
Kentucky bourbon : the early years of whiskcymaking /Henry G. Crowgey.
p.cm.
Originally published: Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1971.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8131-9183-6 (pbk.: alk. paper)
1. Whiskey-Kentucky-History. 2. Distilling industries-Kentucky-History.
I. Title.
TP605.C76 2007
663'.5209769-dc22 2007045738
This book is printed on acid-free recycled paper meeting the requirements of the
American National Standard for Permanence in Paper for Printed Library Materials.
9€ ®
Manufactured in the United States of America.
~A• A , I~ Member of the Association of
~~ - American University Presses
To My Mother
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Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction xi
1. Thirsty Colonists 1
2. Distillers Move to Kentucky 21
S. The Product Improves 40
4. As Useful as Money 62
5. A Hateful Tax 83
6. Whiskey of Distinction 105
7. Bourbon Whiskey: Miracle 8t Myth 124
Bibliography 145
Index 165
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Acknowledgments
Since a substantial portion of this study first saw the light of day
a number of years ago, a good many of the obligations to institu
tions and individuals have already been acknowledged. Neverthe
less, there remains to this day a personal sense of indebtedness for
innumerable favors which I am once more privileged to recognize,
at least partially.
First of all, I am exceedingly grateful to the personnel of the
Filson Club Library and the Special Collections Division of the
University of Kentucky Library. In both cases the ass:stance and
cooperation rendered invariably exceeded the bounds of routine
duty. Once again, I would like to recognize those distilleries of
Kentucky whose personnel have been uniformly cooperative in
supplying factual information, both current and historical. In
particular I am indebted to individuals from the following firms:
Barton, Brown-Forman, Canada Dry, Medley, Old Taylor, Star
Hill, Stitzel-Weiler, and Willett. Several individuals who have
been unusually generous with assistance and information are Paul
Beasley, Jacqueline Bull, B. C. Campbell, Jr., Thomas T. Gray,
Tommy Hamilton, 0. M. Hawkins, Don Hynes, Jack Lancaster,
John Medley, Marge Plamp, Frank Rankin, Julian VanWinkle,
Jr., and Thompson Willett. Last, but by no means least, I shall
always be indebted to Dr. Thomas D. Clark, former chairman of
the History Department, University of Kentucky, for his invalu
able advice and encouragement on all occasions.
ix