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Bourbon Zeppelin
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Written for bourbon fans, by bourbon fans!
Steve Akley Presents...

This Month's Bourbon Zeppelin Feature Article:

 

Freddie Johnson Enters the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame

by Colonel Steve Akley


He Did It!
The Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame is the ultimate achievement in the world of bourbon. While this year once again featured an amazing class of individuals who have greatly contributed to the world of bourbon, fans of Bourbon Zeppelin were particularly enthused about one particular inductee: Freddie Johnson (also inducted were Matt Shattock of Beam Suntory, the late Pearse Lyons of Town Branch/Alltech Brewing and Max Shapira received the Parker Beam Heritage Award). He's the ultimate fan favorite, bringing passion, knowledge and fun to thousands of bourbon fans each year as a tour guide at Buffalo Trace Distillery.

Voting Freddie into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame means so much to so many people. For fans of bourbon, you can't but help feel Freddie is just one of us. He's not a distillery owner, member of senior management, or a master distiller. Instead, he's a tour guide; the person interacting with the public day-in and day-out. He's teaching people about bourbon, just like this third-generation Buffalo Trace employee was taught by his family almost since the day he was born. It's safe to say Freddie has brought tens of thousands of fans to bourbon with the enthusiasm he brings to his job every day.

As the first African-American in the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame, he plays a very special role in the history of bourbon. He represents inclusion to the African-American community and its growing legion of bourbon fans (an excellent article on this topic was written by our own Armond Davis at the end of this issue).

The greatest aspect of all of this, though, isn't what this means to us. It's what this means to Freddie. His induction into the Hall isn't just a reflection of what he's done, it also represents what his father, and grandfather, have contributed to the industry as well. Knowing that the Johnson family has now been recognized amongst the all-time greats from the history of bourbon, it's an honor that certainly isn't lost on him, but it honestly couldn't come to a better person. 

I was lucky enough to get invited to tag along with Freddie for his induction to the Hall of Fame at the luncheon held at the Frazier Museum in Louisville, Kentucky. I can tell you that the reaction to him is special... in fact, unlike anything I have ever witnessed. People revere Freddie Johnson... and when I say people, I mean everyone. EVERYONE!

I got to spend a significant amount of time chatting with Freddie's daughter and grandson and for them, he's simply a father and grandfather. As we chatted, person-after-person would approach to shake Freddie's hand, congratulate him, get their pictures takes and share a story. Freddie's reaction to each of these indviduals is always the same... he was in the moment with whomever he was talking to... he was warm and engaging and he seems to have an unbelievable knack for remembering everyone that he has ever met... and I'm talking people on tours even. 

This was well-deserved achievement for Freddie Johnson. It was a shining moment for the bourbon industry as well.

Congratulations Freddie Johnson. This couldn't have happened to a better person!
The 2018 Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame Induction (Clockwise from the top): 1). Colonel Jill Hawkins, Kentucky Bourbon Festival Executive Director, makes Freddie officially a member of the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame by bestowing him his Hall of Fame name badge  2). Freddie's daughter and grandson check out Freddie's induction trophy. 3). Legends meet as Freddie chats with Baker Beam.  4). Freddie, family and friends pose for a group photo.  5). That Freddie Johnson smile!
We have a lot to celebrate in this issue. Of course, there is our usual excellence from our amazing team of writers. We are expanding our team, though. 

First off, Abby H., who wrote Liquor and Liturgy for about a year is back with a brand new column called "Tippling Travel" where she documents the drinking travels she embarks on.

We also have two new editorial writers. Guest contributor Tony Freund is making the leap to regular with his column Tony Talks Bourbon. Armond Davis is also joining us where he will close out each issue sent out on the 15th with his column Armond's Take.

A fun note is Armond is partners with Samara Rivers both in the Black Bourbon Society (blackbourbonsociety.com) and life. Samara closes out the issues released on the 1st of the month with her column Samara's Take and now we have Armond doing the same on the issues later in the month. Very cool.

Welcome back to Abby and welcome to the team Tony and Armond.

Okay... enough with the formalities. Let's get to reading about bourbon!

Just like I always like to say... I hope you enjoy reading this as much as we had putting it together.


Editor-in-Chief of Bourbon Zeppelin, Owner of the ABV Network, Podcast Writer, Producer & On-Air Personality, Blogger, 30+ Years Bourbon Fan, Bourbon Staff Writer Food & Dining Magazine, Maker's Mark Ambassador (Ambassador #14,903/member since 2000), Four Roses Mellow Moments Club Member (2016), Author of the Best-Selling Cocktail Book Series Bourbon Mixology (Four Volumes, 2015-Present), Apprenticed at a Bourbon Distillery (2016), Completed the Bourbon Trail (2016), Executive Bourbon Steward (2017), Whiskey Warrior Award Winner (May '17), Founding Member Jefferson's Bourbon Ambassador Program (2017), Barrel Selection Committee Member for New Orleans Bourbon Festival (2018), New Orleans Bourbon Festival Hall of Fame Committee Member, Bourbons Bistro Barrel Selection Committee Member & Kentucky Colonel (2016).

2019 Yellowstone L.E. Ready to Hit Stores
Limestone Branch Distillery introduces the 2018 variety of Yellowstone® Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon, the third and final barrel finishing experiment by Limestone Branch Distillery, set to hit the market in October. This year’s final limited edition combines hand-selected, Kentucky Straight bourbons, ranging from four to 12 years in aging and finished in No. 3 char wine casks. Same as with the 2017edition, this year’s special edition also includes Limestone Branch Distillery’s own distillate, carefully made with their signature heirloom white corn.
 
“The Yellowstone Limited Edition variants have been an incredible outlet for my creativity and flair for experimenting,” says Steve Beam, president and distiller of Limestone Branch Distillery. “We started the process in 2016 and I am proud of the three limited editions we created – and how they arelinked to each other.”
 
Beam tells the story of the evolution of these three variants. “In 2016, we finished our Limited Edition bourbon in specially selected new wine barrels,which lent their special flavor to that year’s celebrated bourbon, but their journey had barely begun. Later that year, after the bourbon was dumped andbottled, the same 28 barrels were lightly charred and we filled them with our 2017 Limited Edition bourbon. This year, we took the very same barrels – nowrich with complexity – and deeply charred them before filling them with our 2018 Limited Edition.”
 
The barrel journey, and the hand-selected bourbon used in these products, created a rich flavor profile. Beam notes that the heavy char over bourbon-wetoak produced a rich palate of burnt sugar, deep caramel and a lingering essence of crème brulée.
 
Bottled at 101 proof and available in 750ml bottles signed by Steve Beam and nestled in commemorative tubes, the 2018 Yellowstone Limited Editionmarks the final piece of this award-winning trilogy.
 
Approximately 12,000 bottles of this bourbon are being produced this fall at Limestone Branch Distillery, and the suggested retail price is $99.99.
After partnering with filmmaker Bo Cumberland, The ABV Network, LLC has launched a film division called Bourbon Sasquatch Productions ("Bourbon Sasquatch" being a nickname given to ABV Network owner Steve Akley by none other than Bourbons Bistro owner Jason Brauner). Details haven't been shared as to what the first project is, but Bo Cumberland and Steve Akley were recently spotted filming at several distilleries in Kentucky.

When asked for a comment, Steve was tight-lipped on the details of the project, but did confirm a film was in the works and would be available for a premiere at the 2019 New Orleans Bourbon Festival.

Stay tuned for more details as they become available.

Get Involved!
Use the Hashtag #ToastTheTrees
To learn more, just click here!
2018 San Diego Spirits Festival
August 25-26: San Diego, California
by Della Fain
While looking for a place to my birthday, I decided on a short trip to San Diego. Once that decision was made, I began looking into what festivities were going on in, and around town, and in doing so, hit the jackpot with San Diego Spirits Festival. 

The second largest city in California hosts one of top 5 cocktail festivals in America. The festival, which is held each year at the end of summer, was celebrating its 10th year by featuring over 70 brands of premium spirits. 

A spokesperson for the event says their goal is to advance the industry and all that it encompasses via market launches, industry advancement, product innovation, education, exposure and, of course, a good time. 

When they say a good time... they mean it. The space where the festival is held is the picturesque Port Pavilion Broadway Pier, right on the water. The indoor/outdoor event was colorful and lively. As soon as I entered, I was greeted with a cocktail from Sespe Creek Distillery where science meets technology. Here they are using the skills of a PhD chemist, and a biotech whiz, to age whiskey and rum 10 years in mere months. 

The second stop was the rums of Puerto Rico where they’re making fresh hand shaken mojitos for your enjoyment. One of my favorite stops was Dano’s Dangerous Tequila. On the bar, they had a deliciously refreshing jalapeño tequila, but once someone let Dano, the man himself, know that I was with Bourbon Zeppelin, he pulled out the good stuff; a smooth Anejo tequilla that was as gratifying as the conversation I had with the founder. He’s proud of his double gold winning tequilla distilled in the 2nd oldest tequilla distillery in the world. 

There was so much to see and do, and with only a few short hours, I made my way through the event surrounded by local culinary cuisine, samba dancers, boy burlesque, body painting and so much more. It was like a celebration of decadence, and a little debauchery. 

I was familiar with like Old Elk and Don Julio, as well as some nostalgic brands, too. I ran into a Cavadeoro Tequila which was a place my husband and I visited on a tequila tour in Jalisco. While reminiscing, their spokesmen kept pouring and wanted to make sure I told everyone they had the best anejo around. (Consider it done!)

As you can imagine, by this time I could use a little air and food. I stepped outside to a snake charmer and a man on stilts. I enjoyed more spirits and some food created by some high profile members of the burgeoning culinary scene in San Diego. There was also a live band, a dance floor, the sun setting over the water and my friends who flew in to celebrate my birthday with me. We ate, oh boy did we drink and we danced and rode a rickshaw off into the sunset. This was a festival fit for the cocktail novice and aficionado. If you’re in San Diego during the last weekend in August, I’ll see you there next year.

Cheers! 
The sights of the 2018 San Diego Spirits Festival (Clockwise, starting at top left): 1. Della arrives in style  2. Don Julio Tequila  3. Old Elk Bourbon  4. Fun on the pier  5. J. Seeds Apple Cider Whiskey  6. Cocktail anyone?  7. Rums of Puerto Rico  8. Breaking out the good stuff for Della at Dano's Dangerous Tequila

About Della Fain a.k.a. Six Feet of Dynamite
Arizona resident. Chi-town girl. Avid craft brew drinker. Stout and porter lover. Getting to love all things craft... one brewery at a time. Like most of the BZ team, Dynamite is a regular member of the bourbon crew on Instagram and her Untappd account is not to be missed (@sixfeetofdynamite for either Instagram or Untappd).
The ABV Network is the fastest growing podcast network on the web. Here's the latest news with this exciting group of shows, many of which are helmed by Bourbon Zeppelin contributors.

Pamela Heilmann
Master Distiller for Michter's Distillery
Featured on The Bourbon Show - Today!
We have some great programming coming up on the ABV Network. Here's a sneak peek at some of the upcoming shows:
The Bourbon Show
September 20 - Old Crow Chessmen
October 1 - Paul Hletko, Distiller/Founder for FEW Spirits

The Bourbon Daily
September 17-21 - Insider's Week at Maker's Mark Distillery
September 25 - Rate My Bourbon Collection (Joe Ferrara) 
September 26 - Eureka Gold! - New from Two Bitch Bourbon

Bourbon Bettys
September 17 - The Bourbon Scene in Canada
September 24 - Four Roses Turns 130

ABV Network shows can be found on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Libsyn and more. Just search for the name of the show!
Bourbon Nuggets
Steve Akley, Justine Mays and David Weglarz have expanded their partnership to review StilL 630's Experimental Series beyond simply the 2018/2019 offerings. They are now going to go back and review the 2017/2018 first year experiments as well. Look for those podcasts beginning soon on The Bourbon Daily.

People so awesome they are inducted to the Bourbon Zeppelin Hall of Fame
by John Edwards
There are brands in bourbon that stick with you for a whole host of reasons. Part of the allure of the bourbon community have been the experiences that come along with it: the friendships, the bottles drank. Many of you have had your first bourbon experiences holding a 750 ml bottle with a white label. I remember my first time entering Rupp Arena in Lexington, I was drinking this same whiskey (although, it was from a flask taped to my leg and I may have had a few before going in). The name on that bottle, as you might have guessed, was Jim Beam. The Beam family is synonymous with bourbon, with family members stretched across multiple distilleries all across Kentucky.

However, you may not have guessed that Col. James Beauregard Beam, who we all know as Jim Beam, didn’t really make his mark in the business, the way we know of him now, until later in his life. 

Jim Beam was born in 1864 to David M. Beam who owned the “Old Tub Distillery." Prior to Prohibition, in 1892, David retired and gave ownership of the distillery to Jim and his brother Park. You’d probably not guess this, but Jim was focused more on the business and it was actually Park who was in charge of the distilling. They ran the distillery together until 1920, when Prohibition forced them to shut down. 

Beam tried his hand at farming and owning a quarry during Prohibition, but was unsuccessful in both his ventures. Like many Beams, Jim’s best business was whiskey. 

Thankfully, he was able to get back to his craft at the end of Prohibition in 1934, but at that time, he was 70-years-old. Jim enlisted his brother Park, Park’s sons Earl and Carl, and with the help of some investors, purchased the Murphy Barber Distillery in Clermont, KY. It only took them 120 days to get back up and running! Now under the “James B. Beam Distilling Co.," they resurrected “Old Tub," and added Pebble Ford and Jim Beam Bourbon. 

Eventually, they sold their stake to Harry Homel, Oliver Jacobson and Harry Blum. Jim passed in 1947, but his legacy lives on through every bottle of Jim Beam that we buy that is stamped “None Genuine Without my Signature” and through every Beam family member that continues to produce whiskey at distilleries spread across Kentucky. 
The following individuals have entered the Bourbon Zeppelin Hall of Fame:

2017
Elmer T. Lee -- George Garvin Brown -- Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr. --
Jimmy Russell -- Al Young -- Dixon Dedman -- Parker Beam -- George T. Stagg -- You 
2018
Julian "Pappy" Van Winkle -- Booker Noe -- James E. Pepper -- Marjorie Samuels -- Henry McKennan -- Solomon Charles "S.C." Herbst -- Elijah Craig -- Colonel James B. Beam

About John Edwards
John Edwards, otherwise known on Instagram as @subourbon_dad, is a former award winning sports broadcaster turned Client Engagement Manager and Project Manager for technology and healthcare companies. Although originally born in New England, it was his many years in Kentucky and eventually Nashville, Tennessee where he honed his appreciation for the finer things in life: horse racing, basketball, and bourbon. Most days he can be found spending time with his family, but you can find him most nights, after his wife and daughter go to bed, sipping bourbon, and talking to the good people of the bourbon community. You can find his bourbon reviews on dadsdrinkingbourbon.com and can also find him on his Instagram Live Show on Sunday nights at 9:30pm CST @dadsdrinkingbourbon
StilL 630 Experimental Series Reviews

X-15 Review
Type of Experiment: Bourbon
Barrel Char: 3
Age: 17 Months
Proof: 100 (50% ABV)
Expression: Rye, Wheat & Chocolate

Colonel Steve's Review
Nosing Notes: I love what's going on here on the nose. You get chocolate cake immediately. Upon further examination, I'm also picking up caramel, butter and pipe smoke.

Tasting Notes: As soon as this one hits the tip of your tongue, I got chocolate. As this one moved across my tongue, it was like a spray of black pepper. I also picked up oak and the taste of cream-filled caramel candies like my Grandma always had in a candy dish on her window sill when I was a kid.

Finishing Notes: Mid-tongue heats up really nicely with the rye kicking in. The bourbon leaves a nice warm finish.

Colonel Steve's Notes: I'm not a chocolate guy and I don't like any sort of flavoring to my bourbon. Let's be clear, David Weglarz, the owner of StilL 630 has not flavored this bourbon. Instead, it's roasted chocolate barley, but, the flavor is bold enough it comes out like a flavored bourbon.

Colonel Steve's Rating: Well, this one is not my personal thing, but I am going to officially rate this one Try Before You Buy. I do think there are several reasons this may make the perfect choice for an individual. I could easily see a chocolate fan loving this one. I would also imagine it goes great in certain cocktails that need a chocolate flavor profile. Additionally, I can't think of a better holiday or Valentine's gift for the chocolate-loving bourbon fan than this offering so I think I've just convinced myself to pick up a couple of bottles despite my personal rating.


Justine's Review 
Nosing Notes: On the nose, I get a little sweetness with this one. It smells like a graham cracker with chocolate frosting. I also get a little bit of caramel. 

Tasting Notes: The taste on this one is very different than the nose. I don't get any of the sweetness. It tastes like dark chocolate, barrel aged espresso with a spicy kick. 

Finishing Notes: The heat hits from mid-tongue to the back of my throat and you definitely get that warm Kentucky hug.

Justine's Notes: I really enjoyed this one. It's good neat, but I also think it would be great in a Boulevardier.

Justine's Rating:  I would have to rate this one at "Try Before You Buy" because of it's uniqueness.   

Colonel Steve and Justine's Rating System
  • Pass - This is going to need some work to enter into StilL 630's product lineup.
  • Try Before You Buy - The ones that are unique enough may be best suited for individual tastes.
  • Buy It Now - As stated... get your hands on that one immediately.

A Rose by any other name would still produce excellent whiskey: A Brief history of Four Roses Distillery

Part 4 of 6
If you go visit the beautiful Four Roses Distillery, and I recommend that you do, you can sign up for a $5 tour. For this, you will get a wonderful tour, learn the history behind the name Four Roses, learn how bourbon is made, get a lovely tumbler and have the chance to sample their three main products. All for just $5, amazing. Here’s something you won’t be told; the man who invented the Four Roses brand has no association with Four Roses Distillery. 

The story of today’s Four Roses Distillery begins in 1818 when it is said a man named Joe Peyton paddled a canoe up Gilbert’s Creek in Anderson County, Kentucky, pitched a tent and claimed the land as his own. He built his distillery along Gilbert’s Creek and named it, a bit narcissistically, the “Old Joe” Distillery. It was located about 9 miles southeast of today’s Four Roses Distillery. The distillery produced “Old Joe” Bourbon Whiskey, which has the distinction of being America's first known brand of bourbon whiskey and was a huge success.

In 1840 Joe Peyton sold the distillery to a Sheridan Hawkins. Like Joe Peyton the Hawkins family were early pioneers on Gilbert’s Creek and would go on to produce good whiskey at the Old Joe Distillery for 17 years, after which they sold to Medley S. Bond before being sold again to the original founder of the Wild Turkey Distillery, T.B. Ripy.

Are you lost yet? 

By the way, today’s Wild Turkey Distillery is only about 9 miles away from Four Roses.

This was not the end of the distillery changing hands. By 1886 the distillery had been sold again to a Captain Wiley Searcy, a war hero, who fought for the Union during the Civil War. Captain Wiley would expand the business, turning a small distillery consisting of just two wooden warehouses and a still house into a thriving business and taking the Old Joe brand to new heights. He added new structures and boasted two bonded warehouses and a third “free” (not under the Bottled-in-Bond Act) warehouse. Federal revenue records indicate his business was very active. He changed the name of the facility to the Zeno Distillery Company, but in 1898 changed again to the Wiley Searcy Distillery.

Unfortunately for the Captain, a fire destroyed the distillery in 1909. The loss of whiskey was considerable and at 66 years old that was enough, and he sold what was left of the distillery back to the Ripy brothers. The distillery changed ownership one more time to Gratz Hawkins, nephew of Sheridan. There is no indication Hawkins revived distilling at the Gilbert’s Creek facility. According to the National register of Historic Places, from 1910 to 1912 the Hawkins firm erected a new facility at the Montrose Estate on Bond's Mill Road, in a Spanish Mission style, which they called the Old Joe Distillery. This land was previously owned by JTS Brown, which later became Brown-Forman. The Old Prentice facility closed in 1917 with the onset of Prohibition. When Prohibition ended in 1933, Hawkins refurbished the plant, calling it the Old Prentice Distillery where "Old Joe" and “Old Prentice” Bourbon Whiskey was produced.

In 1941 the property was sold to the descendant of the infamous Whiskey trust, National Distillers Products Company, and finally in 1946 it was acquired by Samuel Bronfman of Seagram Incorporated, which continued to operate it as the Old Prentice Distillery. After Seagram was broken up Diageo owned the Four Roses brand, which it sold to the Kirin Brewing Company of Japan, who still own it today.

So how does the name Four Roses get associated with the Old Prentice Distillery? Well, Paul Jones, who founded Frankfort Distillery, created the brand Four Roses. After Prohibition Frankfort Distilleries Inc., which had started in Frankfort, moved to the Old Stitzel plant in Louisville, as well as building a new plant called Four Roses in Shivley. In 1943, Samuel Bronfman purchased Frankfort Distilleries Inc. for $42 million, including both distilleries and the rights to its two major brands, Four Roses and Paul Jones. As Seagram’s consolidated and closed its various distilleries, Four Roses was produced at the Old Prentice Distillery and in 1994 the name of the distillery was changed to Four Roses. Of Seagram’s five Kentucky distilleries, Four Roses is the only one still in operation. It still follows much of the same practices it inherited from Seagram’s, including using two mash bills and multiple yeast strains.

About Michael Williams
Michael J. Williams grew up near Napa Valley, so his love of all things spirit started early. Mike almost went to UC Davis because they have studies in vinification, but found that San Diego, and surfing, was more to his liking, where he graduated with a degree in Biology and Biochemistry. After receiving a PhD in Molecular Genetics from the University of Notre Dame, Mike moved to Sweden for a couple of years – 19 years ago. Other than a four year stay in Scotland, Sweden has been his home ever since. Currently, he’s an Associate Professor at the Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University and resides in Stockholm with his family. During all this time his love and knowledge of all things whiskey has grown. His current obsessions include researching the history of American whiskey and trying to build the first distillery in Sweden fully focused on producing American-style whiskeys.

The Art of Bourbon at the Speed Art Museum
The Speed Art Museum is launching its first annual online and live bourbon auction on September 21 featuring the 10th bottle of Pappy Van Winkle ever made, a bottle selected by the legendary Albert B. Blanton, and many other rare or hard-to-find bourbons. 

Offering some of the world’s most covetable whiskeys, “The Art of Bourbon” promises to become the premier, national nonprofit bourbon auction. Four exclusive bourbon bottles are up for bid for the online portion:

Pappy Van Winkle 23-year-old Bourbon, valued at $20,000
  • This is the #10 bottle of the Pappy Van Winkle 23-year-old
  • This bottle was given to the current owner by Julian Van Winkle, Pappy’s grandson and the bottler of this rare bottle.
  • Bottles #7, #8 and #9 bottles have been drunk, and the Van Winkle family owns #1-5, making this bottle exceptionally rare.
  • Distilled and bottled in Lawrenceburg, KY before Pappy Van Winkle moved to the Buffalo Trace Distillery. Bottled in 1998.
The impossible-to-find Albert B. Blanton, 100 proof, 7-year-old, valued at $10,000
  • Albert B. Blanton, considered the dean of the distillers, was the legendary distilling icon behind George T. Stagg Distillery - what is now known as Buffalo Trace.
  • Blanton hand-selected barrels and had them bottled for select customers and special occasions. Why the significance? Kentucky tax stamp suggests this bottle may have entered the retail market, possibly making this one of the first ever single barrel released to the public.
  • This bottle comes from the granddaughter of a former employee at the George T. Stagg Distillery. Selected personally by Blanton, it was bottled in 1952 for Blanton’s 55th anniversary. He died in 1959.
Exceptionally Rare Stitzel-Weller Original, 7-year-old, Barrel Proof, valued at $5,000 
  • This was developed for whiskey connoisseurs at 107 proof.
  • Distiller: Stitzel-Weller 
  • Bottled around 1965. This bottle is sealed with the government Series 112 red tax stamp and was specifically bottled for John Wellburn Brown, a prominent life insurance company executive. The Stitzel-Weller owners, which included the Van Winkles, frequently gifted bottles like this to friends and dignitaries.
  • King of Kentucky, 14-year-old, limited release, valued at $1,200
  • Only 960 bottles of the long-retired Brown-Forman brand have been released.
Other bottles and experiences, such as exclusive bourbon tours and single-barrel selections, also will be available for auction.

“Collectors have the opportunity to buy and taste history,” said renowned bourbon author Fred Minnick, who is serving as the auction curator. “We’ve secured an enviable inventory of rare and unique bourbons and bourbon-related experiences. I plan to bid on a few myself.”

With such hard-to-find lots, organizers expect the online event to draw interest from serious bourbon enthusiasts and connoisseurs from around the globe. 
The Speed Seeks its Angel’s Share 

While Louisville positions itself at the epicenter of American spirits, the Speed Art Museum - Kentucky’s largest museum - is tapping into the cultural renaissance of the bourbon boom. The nearby Kentucky Bourbon Trail, for example, attracts more than 1 million visitors annually.

“Not only is bourbon making an impact on our city, but we know this industry can have an even more powerful impact on our cultural institutions,” said Museum Director Stephen Reily. Event proceeds will support the art institution’s upcoming Kentucky-focused exhibitions, outreach, and education initiatives. Auctioneer Bill Menish will oversee the event. 

The evening auction will take place inside Louisville’s storied art museum and dinner tickets are limited. Event organizers are taking advantage of the museum’s proximity by partnering with Bourbon & Beyond, a Louisville bourbon, food, and music festival that coincides with the auction. Minnick also serves as the festival’s curator. Held during September’s Bourbon Heritage Month, the event draws more than 50,000 people. 

The “Art of Bourbon" tickets will include a cocktail hour, bourbon tastings, a seated dinner with a bourbon-inspired menu, and live music by bluegrass legend Bobby Osborne and his Rocky Top X-Press. For tickets, click here.
The 1952 Bourbon Hand Selected by Colonel Albert Blanton

Want to bid on this, or other items from The Art of Bourbon Auction? Click here!
James E. Pepper Distillery Pre-Opening Tour
by Abby H.

During my bourbon road trip last summer, craft bourbon fan @caskbourbon from IG offered to show me around some smaller distilleries in Lexington. Among them was an early look at the new James E. Pepper Distillery a week before it opened! Happy to oblige, I met him next door at Barrel House (worth a look as well!).  Next, we headed to a tour of the brand-spanking-new facility. The visitor center director, Marjorie, was our guide.
 


While it undoubtedly looks even better now, there is something magical about entering a place in its last stages of preparation before opening. What follows is a minimally narrated visual tour of the new digs.
 


First, Marjorie showed us the soon-to-be bar at the front, and the soon-to-be gift shop, then took us into the history room. It details the past of the place as well as a bit about the new owner, Amir Peay, a history buff with a passion for whiskey.
 


The distillery has taken pains to put together the fascinating history of the brand, and a look at their site is worth your time. Essentially, Elijah Pepper started the distillery in 1780, and his son Oscar took it over upon his death. They were doing well enough during the Whiskey Rebellion to pay the heavy taxes that put other distilleries out of business, which allowed Oscar to expand. When Oscar died in 1867, his son James inherited the distillery at only 15. Unfortunately, a decade or so later, they lost it to one E.H. Taylor, and James and his wife moved to New York.
 


The man himself


James was quite the partier, and the New York Times wrote more than 80 articles about him and his wife in their heyday in the late-1800’s. Reportedly, the Old Fashioned was created for Pepper at the Pendennis Club in Louisville, and he brought it to the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York. At the very least, it makes a good story.
 


The newer distillery, when they returned, on right.
 

Eventually, the Peppers returned for good to Kentucky and opened a new distillery, this time in Lexington. While James E. Pepper was the wild one, his wife evidently managed their horses and was the brains behind their award-willing thoroughbreds. At one point, Mrs. Ella O. Pepper was the richest woman in the country! On his death in 1906, the distillery and their horses were sold, but she kept one for herself (named Prince Pepper).
 


Back in 2008, the building we were in was totally abandoned, but in its heyday, including its original site where Woodford Reserve stands today, it was lovely.

Next, we entered the space that would eventually be the tasting room.
 

After that, we headed up to the platform where we got to see the magic starting to happen.
Just a couple of fermentation tasks were active that day.
Final stop was the rest of the warehouse, where an educational stop, bottling plant and barrels all share the same space. According to their site, they started filling barrels last December, although of course, their stuff is sourced MGP for now (as their distillate ages).

The following stone mill was found during excavations, according to Marjorie:
 

Of course, no distillery tour is complete without a shot of that Vendome magic in its entirety:
 

It’s a gorgeous restoration, and I can’t wait to visit one day for a complete tour with tastings. They’ve been open for two months now, since July 12, and are definitely worth a trip.

Thanks, Marjorie!

Further Reading:
From the distillery’s proud perspective: http://jamesepepper.com/pepper-history/

Fred Minnick’s Bourbon Curious, as well as Marjorie on the actual tour, both mentioned a bit about the scandals in the past of the Pepper family.

Abby H. aka @flaskandpen
Abby H., curiously handled @flaskandpen on Instagram, is an English teacher with a flair for the dramatic (who’da thunk?!). After teaching in Vegas for years, she has bounced around, and is now in Kuwait after time in Beijing, China and the more mundane-when-there’s-no-hurricane Jacksonville, FL, where the craft cocktail scene led to a new love for whiskey. Bourbon, in particular, with its smokey charred barrels, thrills her the most. 
All the information you need to know about a bourbon distillery
Distillery 291
Colorado Springs, Colorado
 
Name:  Distillery 291

Location: 1647 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, CO 80905

Tasting Room Hours:        
Wednesday-Friday 5-11 PM
Saturday 12-11 PM
Sunday 12-5 PM

Tours: You can book your tour at https://distillery291.com/tours/. They are limited to 10 people per tour and are available Thursdays at 6:30 and Saturdays at 1:30 and 3:00
   
Website: https://distillery291.com/

On social media you can find them at: 
Facebook: @distillery291
Twitter: @distillery291
Instagram: @distillery291
 
Product lineup: 
Barrel Proof Colorado Whiskey 127 Proof (approximately)
Single Barrel Colorado Rye Whiskey 101.7 Proof
Barrel Proof Colorado Bourbon Whiskey 127 Proof
Single Barrel Colorado Bourbon Whiskey 100 Proof
Small Batch American Whiskey  90 Proof
Fresh Colorado Whiskey  90 Proof
White Dog Colorado Rye Whiskey 101.7 Proof
Bad Guy Colorado Bourbon Whiskey 120 Proof (approximately)
HR Colorado Bourbon Whiskey (High Rye) 100 Proof
E Colorado Whiskey (Experimental small batch released at barrel proof at least once a year)
The Decc Citrus Clove Liqueur  70 Proof

About Justine Mays
Justine Mays is a resident of Lansing, Michigan. Justine can regularly be heard on The Bourbon Daily as an invited guest on the show. She is also part of the Instagram bourbon community where she can be found with the ID: @justine.mays. 
Bourbon Nuggets
Looking for something really special? Jeptha Creed has been making limited edition barreling of red, white and blue corn bourbons on holidays like Veteran's Day and Independence Day. When these become available (currently they are aging) they will make great gifts for the veterans/active duty military members in your life.
by Tony Freund
The Quest to Taste All the Bourbon
For the past year-and-a-half, or so, I have been taking in more info about bourbon in various mediums than I can consume. Listening to podcast-after-podcast, reading every article that I can find online, and attending as many bourbon events as possible. I season my food with bourbon smoked salt and pepper, cook with bourbon, and drink barrel-aged beer and coffee. I began to build a collection that started with buying one new bottle a week, which then turned into two to three. I scoured the internet finding websites that offered different, or cheaper, bottles that I had available to me. I checked multiple websites daily as I drank my morning coffee.
 
I am obsessed with bourbon.
 
Recently, I have realized that I may have gone overboard. In my bar I had well over a hundred open bottles. My cupboards were full of bourbon and my collection began finding its way into my bedroom closet. I saw that I had bottles that were over six months old that I still had not gotten to. They were not anything rare that I was saving for a special occasion or anything, so I thought to myself, ‘Will I ever open these bottles?’

Probably not.
 
Most of these bottles were ones that I had already opened, or tried, and I wasn’t too interested in consuming another. It’s not that they were awful or anything, ok maybe one was, but there are so many more bottles coming out, or recently purchased, that I am much more interested in. A lot of my extra bottles are not readily available in my market, so I decided to sell them at the price that I acquired them for, and only keep extras of the ‘daily drinkers.’
 
I am much more knowledgeable about bourbon now, and don’t usually fall for the marketing gimmicks like I had in the past. I have passed up many new bottles in the store as of late. I wait until I try a new product, or get a review from a trustworthy friend, before buying. One of the bourbons that really got me interested in expanding my bar past Maker’s Mark was Eagle Rare, and I find myself reaching for a bottle of that more often than not. I’m happy to pass up a bottle in the store knowing that I have that at home. It’s a profile that I enjoy, it’s readily available, and sometimes I can find privately selected single barrels, which can offer some variance from bottle-to-bottle.
 
With the booming market today, I try to educate myself as a consumer the best that I can, as well as pass this knowledge on to others interested in bourbon. I am now much more interested in the history and process, rather than trying everything that's out there. I am not going to be able to taste or buy them all, or even get close, and I’m ok with that.

There’s plenty of it to go around, with much more to come.

About Tony Freund
Tony Freund is a bourbon fan from Seattle Washington. He is an active member of the bourbon community on Instagram. Check him out on IG at: @glassofwhiskey86.
by Armond Davis

A Life of Commitment Leads to an Acknowledgement Well-Deserved
Much has been made recently about the diversity, or lack thereof, in the spirits industry. Minorities are underrepresented at all levels of the industry, from brand ambassadors, to C-suites, to distillery workers. Although it is not well known outside the industry, minorities have played a major role at distilleries for well over 100 years. Much has been made recently of the story of Nearest Green, a slave who was rented to Jack Daniel, and taught him the process of distilling whiskey. Fawn Weaver and her team at Uncle Nearest have done a great job of spreading the word about Nearest Green and his contributions to the industry. There are still more stories of minority contribution that need to be told.
 
One of those stories that will be told is that of Freddie Johnson. Yesterday, Mr. Johnson was inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame by the Kentucky Distillers Association, making him the first African-American to be inducted in the history of the Hall. This isn’t about the destination, though, it’s about the journey, one that has taken over 100 years for Mr. Johnson and his family.  Mr. Johnson is currently a tour guide for the Buffalo Trace distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. No one has published precise numbers, but suffice it to say that there aren’t many African-American tour guides working at distilleries these days, but Mr. Johnson’s story is even more incredible. Both his father and grandfather also worked for the distillery, so you could say that bourbon is in his blood. Mr. Johnson’s grandfather, Jimmy Johnson, Sr, was the first African-American warehouse foreman in Kentucky. His father, Jimmy Johnson, Jr, also worked for Buffalo Trace and took the progress a step further, rising to the position of warehouse supervisor, also as the first African-American to do so. Freddie Johnson came to work for the distillery through a more indirect path. He had left Frankfort and was working in corporate America when his father called and told him that he was ill. Years earlier Freddie had promised his father that he would take care of him if he ever got sick. It was this commitment to family that led Freddie back to Frankfort, and to continuing his family’s legacy at Buffalo Trace.
 
Decades after he started working at the distillery, Freddie is now synonymous with Buffalo Trace. He is the most requested tour guide, and his knowledge of the distillation process is second to none, but his knowledge is not the only thing that sets him apart. It’s his generosity, and his commitment to making sure that everyone who visits the distillery has the experience of a lifetime. His significance in the industry is undeniable, and is evidenced by his role as a go-to source for industry history and information.
 
I certainly want to acknowledge the Kentucky Distiller’s Association for bestowing the honor upon Freddie. It is a well deserved one. However, Freddie is but one of many minorities who have made indelible contributions to the industry. I challenge the industry not just to continue to acknowledge the contributions of the minorities who have been in the industry for years, but to also make a concerted effort to bring more minorities into the industry. These efforts should not just be on the distillery and brand representation side, but perhaps even more importantly, on the corporate side. We need more minority representation on the boards and in the C-suites, and it has been proven that if those steps are taken, a more diverse employee pool will follow. 

Let’s hope that in the next few years, an African-American being inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame isn’t a rare and unusual occurrence. Until then, Cheers to you, Freddie Johnson. 

About Armond Davis
Armond Davis is an editorial writer with Bourbon Zeppelin.  He drinks whiskey neat, but he won’t look down on you if you like it with ice or water. He also one of the two hosts of the Bonded in Bourbon podcast, which airs on the ABV Network. His co-host, Samara Rivers, is his life partner and is most definitely Bourbon Famous. 
Listen to This Issue of BZ
It's true, you can actually listen to this issue via Bourbon Zeppelin, the Podcast. The show is hosted by BZ's own Wes Hardin. He picks some of the top stories and reads/comments on them. He also adds in some bonus material.

You can listen to BZ on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, your favorite podcast provider or you can tune in on our website by clicking here!
Further Reading...
by Colonel Steve Akley
I have launched a blog on ABVNetwork.com under the "Cool Muses" section called, "Our Bourbon Journey. It's a combination of my personal bourbon journey, the journey of my team at the ABV Network, what's happening at the ABV Network and bourbon reviews.

If you love Bourbon Zeppelin, you are going to also love this blog. Check it out today!
by Jordan Grigsby and Team
The newest offering to abvnetwork.com is a blog run by Jordan Grigsby and a team of bloggers. It's called Whiskey Corner and it covers whiskey reviews, the whiskey lifestyle, events, product sampling and much more. You can check out this ABV Network exclusive offering by clicking here.
Items from Steve and the Bourbon Zeppelin team
Bourbon Mixology is author Steve Akley's best selling book of all-time. The premise is simple: have 50 iconic bars share their signature bourbon cocktail. The bars selected do not fail to impress with their unique takes on some classic drinks and well as some very original creations.

The book literally becomes a travel companion piece as you will want to see out these bars on your next business trip or vacation. Get your copy right now!
Buy Now
Bourbon Mixology Volume 4 is author Steve Akley's newest bourbon cocktail book. In this edition, 50 craft distilleries share signature bourbon cocktails made with their bourbon. 

Grab your copy today!
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Mules and More takes a look at beer cocktails which have increased in popularity with the resurgence of the Moscow Mule. In this book, 40 craft breweries share their signature beer cocktail. 

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Bourbon Zeppelin - The Team
In addition to the guest contributors, Bourbon Zeppelin has an incredible staff in addition to editor and publisher Steve Akley. Steve's daughter Cat runs the BZ Facebook page. The writing team includes Deputy Editor Jordan Grigsby, Assignment/Feature/Editorial Writer Monica Caron, Editorial Writers Samara Rivers, Tony Freund and Armond Davis and the following Columnists: Abby H., Six Feet of Dynamite, Andrea Holak, Wes Hardin, Greg Schneider, John Edwards, Zac Smith, Joy "CigarFoxy" Larkins, Justine Mays and Mike Williams.

Interested in joining the B.Z. team as a contributor? If so, just email Steve Akley to talk about it!
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