Brand History – Old Elk – bourbonveachdotcom

Old Elk is a historical brand that was revived in 2013 by Curt Richardson, who founded a distillery in Fort Collins, Colorado. The brand, however, started in Lexington, Kentucky. Back in 1880, Richard P. Stoll and Henry C. Clay opened a distillery just north of Lexington under the name Stoll, Clay & Co. with a capacity of 5,370 barrels the first year. It had three warehouses holding 13,500 barrels. In 1885, Clay left the company and the name was changed to Commonwealth Distilling Co.. The following year, 1886, the distillery expanded to a 300 bushels per day capacity and the distillery became known as Stoll, Vanatta & Co.

In 1888, the brands Old Elk Bourbon and Rye Whiskeys were registered in Mida’s Criteria. In 1890, the distillery again expanded to 400 bushels per day and warehouse capacity expanded to 26,000 barrels. In 1891, Stoll took on two new partners, Charles W. and John C. Wright of Edinburgh, Scotland and widened their sales to Chicago, Illinois. In 1893, the distillery once again expanded to 600 bushels per day and the distillery became known as the Edge Cliff Distillery. In 1896, they added more warehousing to a capacity of 40,000 barrels.

The company, then known as Stoll & Co., was well-established and also owned the Old Tarr Distillery. Mida’s Financial Directory for 1908 listed them as an “A” rating with a value of $500,000 to $600,000. Unfortunately, Stoll died that year and the distillery was sold to the Whiskey Trust. The Trust operated the distillery until Prohibition forced the distillery out of business and the property was sold to Hillenmeyer Nursery, who still owns the property today. There are still warehouses on the property today.

During Prohibition, the brand and stocks of whiskey were acquired by A. Ph. Stitzel Distillery, who sold it as medicinal spirits. Stitzel-Weller continued to make and sell the brand up to 1972. After that the brand went idle until the trademark was purchased in 2013 by Curt Richardson.