Bourbon Trail Day 3

 🎶It’s  all about the Bourbon, ‘bout the Bourbon, no vodka🎶

Well, have to hand it to Eddie’s Master Plan as Monday was so different to anything we had experienced in the previous tours.  When he got an “atta a boy” pat on the back for job well done (since I am Eddie this trip, those can be few and far between) he explained he tried to select distilleries that were both well reviewed, fit our travel schedule and provided different styled touring and tasting.  

Before I launch into the Whiskey Touring, I have to share a classic Eddie story.  Remembering that Eddie planned and booked everything with no input from either George or myself, let’s talk about Louisville accommodations.  He had prided himself that he had booked two adjoining rooms for the entire trip, with the sole exception being  the Bed and Breakfast as the options for a second room were not available.  I had an inkling that Louisville was only one room as I receive the “check in now” email about 12 hours out.  There were two emails for check in Arkansas, but only one in Louisville.  Hmmm.  When he went to check in while George and I handled car logistics (read unpacking and shifting items so they were covered under the black sheet we carry for such stealth operations in my Hyundai).  Eddie comes stomping back to the car displaying his “something is not right, someone (not him) has made a mistake” scowl.  He quickly mansplains there has been a corporate or internet mistake because he booked two rooms for two nights in Louisville and where is the hard copy of the two reservations.  They wanted another $400 for the two night for an additional room, which is almost a $1,000 for two nights which is ridiculous.  Please note after the tastings we have had, Eddie has not gone blind, but lost his ability to add 4+4.  I sweetly replayed my version of “not it”…but I could retrieve the one email I had received showing the confirmation number and number of people.  Yeah, Hilton 1-Eddie 0.  Since we were in a King Suite with foldout sofa, we would make do for another two nights in one room…snoring males, and one toilet, but breakfast for all.  This all occurred about the time George hoisted the 12 bottle reinforced carrier (Thanks, Amazon) holding about two nights at the Hilton (Eddie math style 4+4=10) worth of distillery only bourbon finds.  Yeah, we will make due for the cause.  

First up was Peerless Distillery.  The gentleman that led the tour was very good at presenting the history of the brand.  It is a smaller distillery based on output, but the backstory was wonderfully rich.  This distillery (Henderson Distillery) was started  in the 1890’s. The founder saw that Prohibition would ruin his his dream.  He knew that finding a way to bottle his product for “Medicinal Purposes” would secure the future to his product…Medicinal Purpose designation was hard to come by in those wild days before Prohibition.  Happen chance meeting of the Walgreens Brothers (yeah, those boys) made the Medicinal Purposes and the required doctor’s orders —a slam dunk. He survived Prohibition for his only child, a daughter and husband to take over.  Third generation was not interested in making whiskey…Military School with Allman Brothers (and expulsion), Patton’s adjunct, and  WWII were his jam.  The brand appeared to have died.    Enter Fourth and fifth generations…fourth was a WallStreet wiz (read money, early retirement), fifth open to change.  The Peerless Distillery was born, using the DSP-KY-50 (Distillers Still Permit) of the first generation…thanks, Ancestry.com.  You had to prove direct family roots to the founder..due to the involved process that is no longer an option.    We even saw fifth generation, Carson Taylor walking the floor of the still area.  While small, they are kosher (few are) and hold to the fashioned family operations, traditions and quality.  They have picking up several awards in past couple of years.  This is a brand to watch particularly in a corporate crowded field.  DSP-KY  numbers are currently in the 20,000+ range.  Whose number one and two….Heaven Hill, still family owned and operated.  Buffalo Trace is DSP-KY-113 several brands, but corporate owned.

Next up was the Evan Williams experience.  When the words “experience” is used on a Bourbon Tour, that means Disney or a slick Marketing Agency has been used to present the story.  Evan Williams does a good job on avoid hanging out by the Copper Still and Mash Tanks and discussing mash bill numbers.  To be able to purchase their distillery only bottles, you need a tour sticker and have made it to the second floor gift shop.  Our guide (as well as most of the front end employees) was/were retired school teachers.  They all appeared to be experienced bourbon drinkers…whether by location or by virtue of 4 decades in the classrooms of Louisville.  You pick.

The last one was an interesting selection…on so many levels.  We left Whiskey Row and headed to the other side of the tracks…yeah, the underbelly side of town…a tad on the sketchy side, but no obvious red danger warning flag.  The NULU neighborhood.  It is an area that has seemingly  abandoned Rick houses or distillery buildings, brick, metal or board turned black with the alcohol fungi that is ever present on most of the buildings.  But it is hard to tell, Louisville has had as many as 100 distillers…each had to someplace to make and age the bourbon in it American Oak barrels.  Prohibition Distillery is one part small craft distillery, one part speak-easy as you had to knock on the door and tell them why you where there, and one part a Netflix movie waiting to be made.  Our tasting hostess, Willow, is one of a small handful of original employees.  The original operation paired a master distiller, Harrison/Harry with his bff and  financial wizard, Brian, who set out to create a small batch craft bourbon.  Turns out Brian was a con man, stole all of the employees personal information, took out $2 million in loans in their names, never using the money to get the necessary DSP and Tax ID, all the while creating a paper trail that made Harry look like the guilty party.  By the time the web of deception was unraveled, Brian was in the wind.  The lawyers took pity on Harry.  Harry had also been charged with bootlegging and moonshining.  His product was destined to be destroyed.  The lawyers found enough investors, and clears his name, the fraud against its employees credit records, and reputation to be able to bottle the NULU bourbon and rye lines.    What happened to Brian?  Turns out he used his brother’s pictures and information for all of his accounts…his brother had to clear his name, too.   Brian stayed low until the status of limitations ran (7 years, for you non lawyer types).  Willow said distillery gossip has him in business with another sucker, I mean distiller.  It is a story that would make a great 90-115 minute movie.  Willow could play herself….she was an interesting character, for sure.  

As an observer on this Bourbon Tour, it reminds me of small boys in a toy store with money burning a hole in their respective pockets.  Ed and George have similar taste palettes, they typically like the same bourbons.  While almost none of the small batch stuff is available in Texas, the larger names are all there.  They have both focused on Single Barrel Bourbons…which are not sold anywhere except the distillery. Couldn’t they share.  Most have tasting glasses or jiggers for sale or give away.  Then there are tee shirts, christmas ornaments and let’s not forget a Cocktail or recipe book.  The boys come to the car loaded down. They have bottle bags and souvenir bags…and a goofy red cheek glow.   Boys and their toys…