Learn about one of the most impactful distilleries in American history in this comprehensive tale
Buffalo, Barrels, & Bourbon tells the fascinating tale of the Buffalo Trace Distillery, from the time of the earliest explorations of Kentucky to the present day. Author and award-winning spirits expert F. Paul Pacult takes readers on a journey through history that covers the American Revolutionary War, U.S Civil War, two World Wars, Prohibition, and the Great Depression.
Buffalo, Barrels, & Bourbon covers the pedigree and provenance of the Buffalo Trace Distillery:
- The larger-than-life personalities that over a century and a half made Buffalo Trace Distillery what it is today
- Detailed accounts on how many of the distillery’s award-winning and world-famous brands were created
- The impact of world events, including multiple depressions, weather-related events, and major conflicts, on the distillery
Belonging on the shelf of anyone with an interest in American spirits and history, Buffalo, Barrels, & Bourbon is a compelling must-read.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction xi
Glossary xv
1 “This River Runes North West and out of Ye Westerly Side . . .” 1
Sidebar: The Unforgivable Extermination of Tatanka 12
2 “This Map of Kentucke: Drawn from Actual Observations . . .” 15
3 “. . . As Crooked as a Dog’s Hind Leg . . .” 29
4 “. . . 10,530 bls. Flour; 1374 Whiskey; 1984 Beef and Pork . . .” 35
Sidebar: The Kentucky River’s Natural Wonders 41
5 “. . . The Machinery Is of the Best . . . for Making Copper Distilled Whisky.” 43
Sidebar: Kentucky Whiskey Production: Grain 49
6 “. . . Bourbon Production . . . Was at Best Crude and Unreliable . . .” 51
7 “. . . That in Consideration of Five Hundred Dollars . . .” 61
8 “Rev. Dr. McLeod Thanks God for Duffy’s Pure Malt Whiskey” 69
9 “The Most Valuable Assistance That We Got in St. Louis . . .” 75
10 “. . . An Early Nineteenth Century Residence Situated in the Middle of an Expansive Lawn . . .” 83
11 “. . . Raised the Daily Production from 400 to 600 Barrels . . .” 95
12 “Despite Many Salacious Rumors, He Is Mostly Remembered As . . .” 103
13 “Show Up Next Monday Morning . . .” 115
Sidebar: The Indelible Impact of American Whiskey’s Greatest Generation 127
14 Sazerac: The New Orleans Company and the Fabled Cocktail 131
Sidebar: The Sazerac Cocktail and Resurrection of Sazerac House 140
15 “Experimentation Is in Our DNA . . .” 143
16 “Resistance Is Futile” 153
Sidebar: Freddie Johnson’s Promise 167
17 “. . . Projecting Forecasts in 2020 for the Next 100, 120 Years . . .” 169
Appendix 181
Timeline 185
Notes 189
Bibliography 199
About the Author 203
Index 205
