Whiskey Hats
Description: Pronounced “poteen”, poitín is the Irish version of American moonshine or white lightning. Poitín was generally produced in remote rural areas, away from the interference of the law. Since it was the Irish and Scots-Irish who settled the American South, it stands to reason that they brought their traditions of distilling with them, making poitín the direct ancestor of American moonshine traditions!
Description: James C. Crow was born in Scotland, and trained in chemistry at Edinburgh in the 1820s. He spent years learning from Scotland's master distillers, before making his way to America in 1835. At Grier’s in Kentucky, Crow applied scientific methods to bourbon production. Using thermometers, hydrometers, specific gravity, and pH balance checks, he standardized the sour mash process, resulting in high quality whiskey. Crow moved on to Oscar Pepper Spirits in 1838, where his whiskey was sold as “Old Crow," and became the bourbon by which all others were judged. The brand remained in the hands of Oscar Pepper after Crow died in 1856, and thankfully, Crow had trained a distiller who continued to make it with his method.
