Jacob Kiper
Nancy Fraley first conceived Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend in March 2016, with the first public release arriving later that year. In the years since, a wave of American whiskey producers have introduced their own interpretations of the cigar blend concept, many bearing a striking resemblance to Fraley’s original vision. The category has filled out with…
In the spring of 2026, Buffalo Trace introduced the second release in its Daniel Weller experimental series: Daniel Weller Spelt Wheat Bourbon. Daniel Weller, grandfather of William Larue Weller, settled in Kentucky in 1794 and entered the whiskey trade in 1849. Over time, the Weller name became closely tied to wheated bourbon as a style.…
Terroir is one of whiskey’s most fascinating ideas, and one of the toughest to pin down in any meaningful way. In wine, it’s easy to picture. A grape grown in a specific place can carry the imprint of its surroundings, shaped by soil, climate, elevation, and everything in between. Whiskey rarely offers that kind of…
Light whiskey stepped into the American playbook in 1968, when federal regulators created a new category. The move was less about tradition and more about survival. Vodka and other lighter imports were pulling drinkers away from bourbon, and distillers needed something that could hold its own in that shifting landscape. Despite the name, light whiskey…
April 20, often called 4/20, has carried an association with cannabis since the early 1970s. The origin traces back to a group of California teenagers known as the Waldos, who used “4:20” as a code to meet after school and search for an abandoned cannabis crop. What began as a private signal gradually evolved into…
Resting on the banks of the Roanoke River in Weldon, North Carolina, Weldon Mills Distillery occupies a space where industrial history meets modern craftsmanship. Established in 2018 by Bruce Tyler and Michael Hinderliter, the operation faced an immediate hurdle when it secured its distilling permit in November 2019, only to see global events stall production.…
The American craft distilling movement has surged over the past decade, with standout producers like Virginia Distillery Company helping define its character. Since 2015, the distillery has focused on producing quality American single malt whisky, contributing to a rapidly expanding marketplace of craft spirits. Alongside many other independent makers, it has broadened the range of…
In the mid-nineteenth century, the cultural layout of Columbus, Ohio, underwent a profound transformation. Between 1830-1850, a massive wave of immigrants established Germans as the largest ancestral group in the state. By 1865, a remarkable one-third of the city’s population was either German-born or of German descent, settling in what are now the historic Brewery…
In 2021, Jackson Purchase Distillery established its roots in Hickman, Kentucky, moving away from the traditional distilling hubs of Central Kentucky to the quiet landscapes of Fulton County. Though the distillery was founded by Lloyd Jones, David Salmon, and Van Carlisle, the physical facility actually dates back to 2008. Originally built as Jamieson Distillery, the…
When settlers pushed into central Tennessee during the late 18th century, they required a powerhouse capable of conquering rocky soil and hauling heavy timber across punishing ridges. The mule, a cross between a male donkey and a female horse, became the backbone of this expansion. These animals offered more strength per pound than horses, remained…