Lately, I’ve been delving into the history of alcohol, especially whisky, thanks to my Prohibition tour. One of the most important laws in the history of whisky in Scotland that I’ve been dissecting all day is the Excise Act of 1823. This law is ostensibly the date when whisky became […]
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This Day in Whiskey History: Marking 105 Years Since the Start of Prohibition
Today marks 105 years since the onset of “Prohibition” in the United States—a period during which it was illegal to manufacture, transport, and sell alcohol. However, it was still legal to drink alcohol if, say, you were sick or happened to have a stockpile at home. This period continues to […]
Read MoreThis Day in Whiskey History: International Bootlegger Day!
If yesterday we marked the date when Prohibition was enforced, today we celebrate one of the key roles that played a part in resisting Prohibition—the bootleggers. Those of you who invested your best fortunes in stores like “The Third Ear” and “The Hole in the Black” are familiar with the […]
Read MoreAn Evening Honoring Robert Burns at the Burns Supper
This evening, I had the immense honor of participating in an annual Scottish ceremony that celebrates the life and poetry of the Scottish poet Robert Burns. Burns wrote extensively about the many women in his life, nature, and he is credited with bringing whisky to the forefront of Scottish culture […]
Read MoreThis Day in Whiskey History: Remembering George Garvin Brown
Today, we commemorate 107 years since the death of George Garvin Brown, the man behind Old Forester and the Brown-Forman Corporation. Brown, with Old Forester, brought about the standardization of quality at a time when whiskey was classified as ‘medicine’ and there was no regulation on what could be added […]
Read MoreThis Day in Whiskey History! Blantons
Today, on February 28th, we celebrate the 143rd birthday of Colonel Albert Blanton, after whom one of the most coveted bourbon bottles in the world is named—Blanton’s! What makes Blanton’s so special? First of all, the Blanton’s bottle was born in 1984 by Blanton’s apprentice, Elmer T. Lee, who also […]
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