By Richard Thomas Unsurprisingly, the American whiskey I am asked most often about whether I can help someone acquire is Pappy Van Winkle. The second-most asked after acquisition is the surprise, because it’s not George T. Stagg or W.L. Weller 12 Year Old, but Old Pogue. In a story that very much mirrors the renewal of the Bourbon industry, this ...

By Richard Thomas Whenever I consider what a tourist can expect from visiting a distillery, most fall into two broad categories. Some live up to the romantic notions of what a distillery should be, with wooden wash backs/fermenters, gleaming copper pot stills beautifully displayed, and barrels stacked in picturesque warehouses. Most, however, are whiskey-making factories, and they look like it ...

Twenty Years After The Fire, You Can Still See Some Scars By Richard Thomas On Monday I found myself between appointments at Willett and the Bardstown Bourbon Company, and nestled right between them is the property of the old Heaven Hill Distillery. Today, it still has active rickhouses, offices,  a major bottling plant, and a visitor center. What it does ...

Buffalo Trace Distillery has gone back to its early distilling days, literally, with the discovery of early foundations and fermenting vats dating back to 1873. This is a unique find as intact remains of early buildings and equipment on many distilleries are completely removed during development and expansion. The discovery happened when Buffalo Trace began renovating a very old building ...

By Richard Thomas Perhaps the defining characteristic of the U.S. 2016 Presidential Election has been Republican candidate Donald Trump’s immaturity and petulance. He lashes out at anyone who crosses him, whether it be Khizr Khan or Alicia Machado, no matter how ill-advised that eruption proves to be. If things aren’t going his way, Trump whines that the system is rigged ...