Home

Welcome to Sipping History

History, myths, legends, traditions, tales and heritage all surround the bourbon industry. Sipping History uncovers them so that you know the story behind what you are sipping on.

Latest from the Blog

George Thomas Stagg Biography

George Thomas Stagg was born on Saturday December 19, 1835 in Garrard County, Kentucky to Samuel Stagg and Margaret Goodknight Stagg. Samuel was born in 1803 to Daniel and Maria Stagg. Margaret was born in 1806. George’s parents married on Monday October 15, 1827 and together had two other children besides George, Daniel (born 1828)…

History of Stitzel-Weller Distillery

The Stitzel-Weller Distillery opened up on Derby Day in May 1935 in Shively, Kentucky. The distillery was a result of a merger between W.L. Weller & Sons and A. Ph. Stitzel Distillery. W.L. Weller & Sons was first started as W.L. Weller & Brothers by William Larue Weller and his brother Charles Weller. William Larue…

History of Castle & Key Distillery

Castle and Key Distillery brought back life to the once abandoned Old Taylor Distillery that was once heavily used by infamous bourbon legend, Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. The distillery that the Colonel once walked in and distilled some of the highest quality whiskies at the time was left unused and deteriorating. Distillate is now once…

Belle Meade Bourbon Is Being Discontinued From National Markets

Belle Meade, a brand once revived by Charles Nelson after a fire destroyed the original producers and lost to the start of Prohibition until Charlie and Andy Nelson revived the brand in 2012, is soon to be discontinued being distributed nationally. National distribution is soon to end and the product will only be available in…

History of Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery

The story of Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery is one of great ambition during the early years of the United States of America. It is also a great example of the damage of prohibition only to find itself resurrected once again. Carl Wilhelm Diedrich “Charles” Nelson was born in Hagenow, Germany on Saturday July 4, 1835…

History of Old Pepper Distillery

Bourbon history is not complete without the mention of the Pepper family and their contributions to the industry as a whole. Three generations of the Pepper family distilled whiskey on the forefronts of Kentucky, leaving behind not only a legacy but impacts that helped build the early days of the industry into what it is…

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Get bourbon history directly to your inbox!