James Anderson finally is getting his due. In 1796, George Washington hired the Scotsman as a plantation manager. Anderson quickly convinced the outgoing president to build a distillery. By 1798, the five still facility was gurgling forth 10,000 gallons of whiskey and other distilled spirits, which sold like crazy.

This week, distillers from Scotland’s Glenmorangie, Cardhu, and Laphroaig came to Mount Vernon to make a single malt whiskey. It has not been easy. The Scots are making whiskey (or whisky, as they prefer it) using the same type of equipment used in Anderson’s day. In the gristmill, a 16-foot waterwheel powers the mill that grinds the grains and separates to distillable from the castoff. It makes a fantastic racket.