Daniel Davis
Setting the Stage
When it comes to the world of whisky, few names hold as much historical weight as Peerless. Yet for nearly a century, this storied brand remained silent, patiently waiting for the day when it might once again stake its claim amongst the bourbon elites. That time finally came in 2015 when the revival of Peerless as a distillery began.
Rebirth of a Legend
Peerless, originally established back in the late 1800s, was well-known for their top-notch sprits. In its golden years, Peerless was a titan of the industry, producing somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 barrels of whisky a day. However, the effects of Prohibition, and later the Great Depression, forced the distillery into an extended period of silence.
But even the darkest night gives way to dawn, and in 2014, a full century after their doors had shut, the new resurgence for Kentucky Peerless Distilling Company began. Much of the energy for this revival came from Corky Taylor, the great-grandson of founder Henry Kraver. Corky used the original distillation process, ensuring the bourbon, like Phoenix rose from its ashes, sticking to its roots.
The Path of Most Resistance
A revival in the whisky industry isn’t exactly a novel concept. In fact, over the past several years we’ve seen many old names return to the business. Most take the easy route, slapping their names on bottles filled with spirit distilled elsewhere. But Peerless had a different vision for their comeback – one that was, shall we say, a little more challenging.
The Sweet Mash Method
Peerless took a significant risk by employing the sweet mash method instead of the more commonly used sour mash method. A small difference like this could easily go unnoticed by the average bourbon drinker, but for the distillers, it means added difficulty and expense.
With a fresh batch of ingredients every single time, the sweet mash method demands a high level of control over the fermentation process and opens up the door for potential errors. By venturing down this path, Peerless represented the true spirits of craft distilling.
No Automation, All Hands-on
Not only did Peerless decide to use sweet mash, they also committed to being a completely manual distillery. Nowadays, automation has found its way into almost every corner of many industries, including distilling. But Peerless has pushed back against this trend, instead choosing to do more work and put in more effort manually. Because every step is done by hand, even small tweaks or mistakes can drastically alter the final flavor profile.
The Final Product
All of the effort, all of the challenges faced, they were all worth it when Peerless Bourbon finally hit the shelves in June 2019. The revival of Peerless Distilling has led to a bourbon that is rich and uniquely flavorful with a character all its own, thanks to the sweet mash method and manual distilling process.
Looking Forward
The bourbon community has given high praise to Peerless. Most importantly, it stands proud for its commitment to the traditional distilling process, even when those methods represent the path of most resistance. As Peerless continues to establish its place in the bourbon landscape, one thing is for sure – we can expect more champion spirits that bear the heart and soul of traditional craft distilling processes.
