Olivia Taylor
Unveiling the History of the Stitzel-Weller Distillery
When it comes to the pantheon of American distilleries, there’s one name that carries a rich and storied past. You guessed it right: The Stitzel-Weller Distillery. To many bourbon enthusiasts, this name brings back a wave of nostalgia and evokes a sense of respect.
Nestled in the south of Louisville, Kentucky, the Stitzel-Weller Distillery is renowned for being home to some of the most legendary bourbon brands such as Pappy Van Winkle and W.L. Weller.
Stitzel-Weller: A Distillery Cemented in History
Established on Derby Day in 1935, the Stitzel-Weller Distillery has a past steeped in the golden age of bourbon. It saw its beginning during Prohibition’s end and grew into an establishment intertwined with the resurgence of American bourbon growth.
Founded by the Van Winkle’s family, the distillery quickly earned a reputation for producing fine bourbons consisting of ‘wheated’ recipes. This connotes that wheat was used as a secondary grain in the mashbill instead of the standard rey, leading to softer and smoother bourbon flavours.
Farewell to an Era and Embracing a New Beginning
The Stitzel-Weller Distillery stopped its operations in 1991, sticking a pause to its bourbon production. Nonetheless, its legacy continued. Quite similar to a phoenix, the distillery rose back from its hiatus in 2014, armed with a new purpose but consistent dedication. It functions as an added tourism stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
Welcome Home, Blade and Bow Bourbon
The rebirth of the distillery wasn’t all about tourism. It was also about making bourbon again. It welcomed home its new tenant and bourbon label, Blade and Bow. This bourbon celebrates the distillery’s rich heritage whilst carving out its chapter in the Stitzel-Weller story.
Blade and Bow: A Salute to Craftsmanship
Blade and Bow’s name is inspired by the two parts of a skeleton key: the blade shaft and the bow handle end. It’s a fitting tribute to the five keys representing the five steps of making bourbon – grains, yeast, fermentation, distillation, and aging.
The production process of Blade and Bow bourbon carries on Stitzel Weller’s signature style. It cleverly includes the ‘Solera System’ or the fractional blending system. Here, older bourbons are mingled with younger whiskies to maintain a consistent taste profile.
Blade and Bow’s Taste: A Legacy Bottled
Blade and Bow bourbon acts as a testament to the rich palette of history that the Stitzel-Weller Distillery embodies. Notes of dried apricot and ripe pear blend beautifully with tastes of cinnamon and clove. The result is a complex and balanced bourbon, echoing the richness of the past with every sip.
Stitzel-Weller Distillery: More than a Distillery
The Stitzel-Weller Distillery is more than just a site of bourbon production – it’s an embodied spirit of perseverance, craftsmanship, and tradition. It’s a spot where every grain of barley, every barrel, every bottle, is a part of the ongoing narrative.
So, here’s to the Stitzel-Weller Distillery, to the journey it has traversed, and to the incomparable bourbon it has gifted us with. It provides both the seasoned and novice bourbon drinkers with a complex and heirloom flavour that they are unlikely to forget.
Experience not just the taste, but the history they’ve shaped, the quality they’ve curated, and the passion they’ve poured into each bottle. After all, every drop tells a story.
