Father of our whiskey
Some of the top whiskey distillers in America made a pilgrimage to the newly reconstructed distillery at Mount Vernon last week to try their hands at making whiskey, using George Washington’s actual recipe.
Washington’s 2,250-square-foot distillery was among the largest in early America. After archaeologists studied the site, Mount Vernon brass began to reconstruct the facility. It opened to the public this spring.
Dave Pickerell of Maker’s Mark, Jimmy Russell of Wild Turkey, Joe Dangler of Virginia Gentleman, Gerry Webb of I.W. Harper and Ken Pierce of Barton Brands manned the copper stills last week.
So, how’d it turn out? Not bad, according to representatives of the distilled spirits industry who were on hand, although it could use time in the barrel to mellow.
After proper aging, the whiskey will be sold at the distillery under a special law passed by the Virginia legislature this year.
