Rosemary asked me to plan what I consider the perfect Fourth of July celebration and this is what I came up with. Of course, it starts and ends with Bourbon. It is America’s official beverage. Rye, vodka, gin and other... Continue Reading →
The Ripy Family and Anderson County, Kentucky distilling heritage are deeply entwined. The Ripy family was involved with many of the distilleries in Anderson County and owned a mansion on the Lawrenceburg “whiskey row” of houses that is now a... Continue Reading →
Many historians are saying that the term “Industrial Revolution” is an outdated term. Technology has continuously evolved since the middle ages with the introduction of machines such as the water mill and clocks so, the proper term should be “technological... Continue Reading →
Before Prohibition, there were no regulations for advertising whiskey. This led to many forms of advertising that people today would consider shocking. These advertising cards for H. McKenna Whisky, made by the firm that handled their whiskey in Boston, Mass.... Continue Reading →
Many 19th century distillers had herds of cattle, a pig lot and even a chicken coop. The spent mash, or “slop,” from distilling whiskey made good feed for these animals. In fact, if the distiller could prove that a certain... Continue Reading →
After the repeal of Prohibition, Louisville had a second growth of distillery construction. Most of the distilleries that were around prior to Prohibition were no longer in business and Prohibition caused many of them to be torn down and their... Continue Reading →
I was having a discussion the other day and was asked about where the distilleries in Louisville were located. There were many distilleries in the city through the years and many of them have been wiped from the wipe completely.... Continue Reading →
The Bourbon Ball candy was invented in 1938 by Rebecca Ruth and has been a Kentucky favorite ever since. This candy is a Bourbon enhanced center nougat with a chocolate covering. There are many recipes for this confection and Joy... Continue Reading →
The Filson Historical Society has the Taylor-Hay Family Papers. This collection includes the papers of Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr. that includes the letter books from the O.F.C. Distillery. These books are the 19th century equivalent of photocopies of his... Continue Reading →
