THE AMERICAN WHISKEY TRAIL

The American Whiskey Trail begins in New York, travels to Tennessee by way of Pennsylvania, Virginia and Kentucky.

This is a circuitous route; however, once you know the history behind the origins you will understand the order of the states involved.

The American Whiskey Trail was established by Distilled Spirits council to promote the cultural and historical impact whiskey has had in America.

The development of American whiskey has ties to George Washington among other well known distillers, i.e. Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, George Dickel, Makers Mark and others.

The American Whiskey Trail allows the traveller to visit 7 historical sites and six operating distilleries in 5 states.

Take a trip with me as we visit these fascinating places.

Recently I was reviewing information on the American Whiskey Trail to give readers an update. It has been awhile since I traveld to Kentucky or to East Tennessee personally, the two main places for making American whiskey, so I thought I would see if anyone else had come across new information.

I was pleased to find that The Distilled Spirits Council has placed a photo gallery of one person's pictures from the trail. It is an exhibit of photographs taken of distilleries and a few artifacts. I have viewed them and the photographs are well developed.

The exhibit can be found on The Whiskey Trail link of the Distilled Spirits Council website.Ian Gray's Views from the American Whiskey Trail virtual art exhibit

The The Distilled Spirits Council websites also has upcoming events and other interests to American Whiskey Trail enthusiasts. As of July 2010, tourists can now taste and purchase whiskey from George Washington's Mount Vernon Distillery. The press release noted that the distillery opened on July 1 with about 500 people attending the opening.

I found this website to be interesting to the whiskey enthusiast. It keeps us up to date on the happenings regarding whiskey, the whiskey trail and news and press releases regarding whiskey. I suggest that you review that website for up to date information. One disturbing press release on legislation to change the way Kentucky Bourbon is made was released in May. While I am more fond of Tennessee whiskey, during my trip to Louisville this past February I had the opportunity to try several bourbons at a fundraiser I attended. Bourbon has a complex distinct flavor from each region along the trail, but one thing is common is the bite at the end of each taste. Changing the way bourbon is made after hundreds of year of perfection would be a shame. discus.org

Fruances Tavern, located in Manhatten is famous for the place where George Washington gave his farewell speech to his trops in 1783.

The tavern was originally a residence built in 1719. Samuel Fraunces bought it in 1762 and turned it into one of the most popular taverns of the day. After Washington's farewell speech, the tavern became a centerpiece of New York's cultural history.

Today it is known as Fraunces Tavern and Museum. It showcases historical facts of the revolutionary war and New York's role in history from the 1700's to the freedom trail during the civil war.

The meuseum was restored by the Sons of the Revolution in 1907. It holds several collections and projects and houses a restaurant.

More information on this site can be found at
FrauncesTavern and Museum

Woodville Plantation, home of John and Presley Neville seems an unlikely place on our American Whiskey tour. However, This lovely farm house was originally owned by collectors of the hated whiskey tax.

John Neville was a general in the revolutionary war, a commandant at Fort Pitt and he and his family were known for their hospitality to friends and strangers alike.

His contribution to The American Whiskey trail is that of tax collector. Taxes on whiskey were established by the continental congress in 1791. It touched off a rebellion by whiskey makers, the majority being Scotch-Irish immigrants. Many distillers refused to pay, thus making John Neville a major target in the whiskey rebellion that took place in 1794.

President George Washington had to send in troops to stop the uprising. Once again, establishing our founding father's presence in the history of American whiskey.

The Woodville Plantation is located in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania. There are self-guided tours and guided tours available.

For more information visit
Woodville Plantation

Gadsby's Tavern, located in Alexandria VA was one of the most prominent social places for some of our founding fathers; George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams to name a few.

Gadsby's Tavern Museum consists of two buildings; the tavern, built in 1785 and the hotel, built in 1792.

George Washington most likely not only entertained at the tavern, but whiskey from his distillery possibly could have been sold for public consumption in Gadsby's Tavern.

George Washington's distillery began making whiskey in 1797. Scroll down for more information in the George Washington's Connection section. However, this preface demonstrates the historical value of this tavern and the link to the American Whiskey Trail.

The Tavern has guided tours and can be rented for special occasions.

Visit their website for more information.
Gadsby's Tavern Museum

To book your vacation visit
Vacations

The Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History is not an unlikely place to discuss the American Whiskey Trail. While it was not part of history itself, it does house information on whiskey making, dating from pre-colonial days to post prohibition days.

Why stop here? Since Kentucky has 5 distilleries open to the public for tours, consumption and purchase it is a logical starting point of information before touring one of your favorite breweries.

Whiskey making came to Kentucky in the late 1790's during the height of the whiskey tax rebellion. Most distillers were concentrated in southwestern PA at the time. President George Washington and Gov. Thomas Jefferson decided to offer these resisters 60 acres in KY as an incentive to leave PA, thus breaking up the rebellion (1).

Those who took the bait found corn as a good crop to grow, but they could not eat 60 acres of corn, thus the whiskey making business in KY began (1).

1. See Dowd's Spirits Notebook for more information.

Scroll down for information on Kentucky's breweries.

The Oscar Getz Museum hours and location can be found at the website below.
Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History

Tennessee's ties to The American Whiskey Trail belong to the two distilleries within this state.

Jack Daniel brought whiskey making to Tennessee in 1866. Four short years later, 1870, George Dickel moved in up the road and set up his own distillery.

The limestone in Tennesee, and Kentucky as well, gives our drinking water a natural sweet taste that makes a smoother whiskey (1).

Jack Daniels sells about 90 million cases a year, world-wide. Jack Daniel's whiskey is the most popular distillery in the state.

However, don't count George Dickel out. His whiskey is smooth and mellow and is preferred over Jack Daniel's by many. At this time, I could not find the average sales of cases, but since the distillery has been around since 1870, it can be safely said Dickel Distilleries has high volumes of sales around the world.

The Cave Spring and Cascade Hollow area produces a rich mellow whiskey whether it is Jack Daniel's or George Dickel.

George Dickel Distillery is located in Tullahoma, TN and Jack Daniel's is located in Lynchburg, TN. However, these two cities are just a few short minutes from each other. Thus the whiskey produced by both ditilleries, come from connecting springs. But make no mistake, each have their own ditinct flavor.

The distilleries are open for tours. See hours of operation at their websites.

Jack Daniels
George Dickel

1. Dowd's Spirits Notebook

The united states of America has had a reputation of being a nation founded by teatotallers (Puritan stigma). However, that is far from the truth.

Our founding fathers not only imbibed in liquor, but grew and distilled liquors, beers and wines. Our first president, George Washington was one such man. Most think of our fearless leader as only being the first president and nothing more. However, once the revolutionary war was over, George Washington went home to Mount Vernon, Virginia where he produced grain, distilled it and sold it to taverns throughout the east.

George Washington Distillery Museum has been restored to its former glory. Today, the reconstructed distillery is the only site in North America that can demonstrate 18th-century distilling from seed to barrel (1).

When looking at the official distilled spirits site you will notice that they boast that George Washington's Distillery Museum is the gateway of the American Whiskey Trail. However, do not be fooled. It wasn't until 1797 that George Washington's farm began distilling grain produced on his farm. The American Whiskey Trail's roots begin years sooner.

Thus, his farm's production is the culmination of the American Whiskey Trail and George Washington's involvement.

HONORABLE MENTIONS ON THE WHISKEY TRAIL
West Overton Museum in Scottsdale PA and Olliver Miller Homestead in South Park PA are part of The American Whiskey Trail. They did not get their on paragraphs because their official websites are no longer available.

West Overton Museum is in Overton PA, the only pre-Civil War town in PA still intact and a former distillery center (2).

Miller Homestead was a focal point for one of the main disputes during the whiskey rebellion and President George Washington had to send troops into that area to dispel the uprising (2).

For more information about George Washington and his involvement in the whiskey trail visit the website.
GeorgeWashington Distillery Museum

1. www.discus.org/trail
2. Dowd's Spirits Notebook

To book your vacation visit
Vacations

BY NOW I HAVE WHET YOUR PALATE FOR A LITTLE WHISKEY. At the beginning of this article I wrote that you could visit 5 states and 7 operating distilleries along the trail. Well here is the information you have been waiting for, the dstillieries.

FIRST A LITTLE BACKGROUND
Kentucky makes bourbon whiskey. All bourbons are whiskies, but not all whiskies are bourbons. Bourbons are made up of 51% corn and are aged in charred new oak barrels and must be at least 80 proof. By defintion, whiskey is just a mash of fermented grains. So the distilliries in KY make bourbon whiskey.

KENTUCKY
Kentucky has its own bourbon trail and distilleries. Buffalo Trace | Four Roses | Heaven Hill Jim Beam | Maker's Mark | Woodford Reserve Wild Turkey make up Kentucky's bourbon trail.

Those on The American Whiskey Trail include, Jim Beam, Woodford Reserve, Wild Turkey Buffalo Trace and Maker's Mark.

I have traveled I-65 north to Louisville regularly and these distilleries are like stepping stones, one after another along the interstate. From the south the trail begins at Bardstown, KY and ends in Frankfort, KY.

To learn more visit the following websites
Kentucky Bourbon Trail
www.discus.org

TENNESSEE DISTILLERIES CAN BE FOUND UNDER THE TENNESSEE SECTION.

HONORABLE MENTIONS ON THE TRAIL. The Distilled Spirits Council of North America has added two rum distillieries to the trail.

Bicardi in Puerto Rico and Cruzan in St. Croix, VI.

Check them out at www.discus.org