Stitzel-Weller produced legendary bourbon. The Shively, Kentucky, distillery is the birthplace of W.L. Weller, Old Fitzgerald, Rebel Yell, and Cabin Still, among others. The common thread of all those iconic brands? Using wheat instead of rye in the mashbill for a sweeter, easy-drinking bourbon. This move bucked the normal trend of whiskey making, as did Stitzel-Weller’s beliefs in aging products for protracted periods, more than a decade in many instances.
Founded on Kentucky Derby Day (May 5th) in 1935, the company was a merger of two industry titans: W.L. Weller & Sons, a distributor, and A. Ph. Stitzel Distillery, which managed to procure a medicinal license to continue operations during Prohibition. At the company’s helm were Julian Van Winkle Sr. (whom you now know as Pappy), Arthur Philip Stitzel, and Alex T. Farnsley, a trio whose prowess encompassed marketing, distribution, and production.
Now owned by Diageo, the facility underwent a multi-million-dollar refresh in 2014, allowing visitors to enjoy tours of the campus and rickhouses, rare and allocated pours within the Garden & Gun Club, and more. The progressive walking tour and tasting is a 90-minute trip back in time that’ll sate your palate with several pours of Diageo whiskies (namely Blade and Bow, I.W. Harper, and Orphan Barrel). And your knowledgeable docent will fill your head with fascinating facts. The below six stuck out from our trip there.
1 - Pappy Van Winkle Shot Birds From His Office Window
Walking up to the first administrative building, there are two rooms on either side of the front door. The one to the right was Pappy Van Winkle’s office. Rumor has it that Pappy kept a rifle with birdshot loaded, and would take aim through the open windows at any fowl that happened to pass by. When Pappy would hit the mark, which happened a decent amount, his dogs would run out the front door to retrieve the kill, which was then handed over to the on-site kitchen to be cooked for the distillery staff. This tidbit comes from the book “But Always Fine Bourbon,” by Sally Van Winkle Campbell (which you can find on sale within the Stitzel-Weller gift shop).
2 - Anyone Could’ve Walked Into the Distillery
When it opened in 1935, five keys were hung on the front door. These keys, which represent the five components in the production of whiskey (grain, yeast, fermentation, distillation, and maturation), were also the actual physical keys to the building. Hung on the door as a symbol of hospitality and trust within the community, it meant locals were welcome to wander in whenever they wished, and deliveries could be made anytime. The front gate that allowed vehicles in was locked at a certain time, though a walking path to the front door was never restricted. In the 1940s, there wasn’t a romantic connection to how whiskey was made, so the only people who strolled in were neighbors or workers.
3 - Original Worker Notes Are Everywhere
There’s a bit of a Walking Dead vibe to some of the dormant buildings that you’re allowed to enter on the tour. They look like they’re frozen in time, but kudos to Diageo for not redoing them; bits of history would’ve been erased. Including ample chalk notes on the wooden walls of the various ricks and still rooms. These missives are gems, humanizing the facility, and chronicling the workers. Of particular note is one worker named Bob Bush, whose name appears on several walls, as does his wife, Paula Bush, who is noted for breaking her leg. (No further explanation is given, making the chalk memorial even more humorous.)
4 - Whiskey Is Still Made There
Though it's more of a research and development lab for Diageo, there’s still an active still (a hybridization of pot and column) and it’s capable of producing up to two barrels of whiskey per week. The bourbon produced heads into Blade and Bow bottles and other experimental products.
5 - You Can Try Blade and Bow 22 Here
Blade and Bow, a blend of two different whiskeys, also has a limited-edition release 22 year old expression, which veers from the blend concept. That 22 year old liquid is absolutely delicious, and you can buy a tasting of it at the Garden & Gun Club for $150. For that fee, you get one ounce of the bourbon, a branded Glencairn glass, a branded Blade and Bow tartan bag, lapel pin, and tasting card. You can also ask the gift shop staff if they have any bottles for sale. You may get lucky and they’ll produce one from the back, at its $900 retail price.
6 - Blade and Bow Bottle Keys Get You Special Club Access
Each Blade and Bow bottle comes with a numbered key, with digits ranging from one to five, in honor of the five keys on the front door. Numbers are randomly distributed on bottles, but if you collect all five keys, you can send in proof to Stitzel-Weller, and it will engrave your name on a Julep cup and store it in the Five Keys room (once Alex T. Farnsley’s office). You can visit the room any time after. And there is a special Blade and Bow 22 Five Keys club, which only has six members.
