Interview with Jimmy Russell, Bill Samuels, Jr., Chris Morris, Craig Beam, Jim Rutledge, Mark Coffman, December 5, 2013

Interview Summary

Five master distillers and one distillery's Chairman Emeritus discuss the business of bourbon. They talk about how they each got started in the industry and their personal mentors. They talk about the growth of the bourbon industry and the importance of bourbon tourism for Kentucky. They talk about how distilling and the bourbon industry as a whole have changed over the years and talk about the future of the bourbon industry. They talk about drinking bourbon and their own favorite products. They tell stories about friendship and camaraderie in the bourbon industry and talk about helping each other during hard times, like when a fire occurred at Heaven Hill.

Interview Keyword

Alcohol--Taxation--United States. Bourbon Industry Brown-Foreman Distilleries--Kentucky Distillers. Family-owned business enterprises. Four Roses Heaven Hill Makers Mark Master Distiller Town Branch Distillery Wild Turkey whisky whiskey

Interview LC Subject

Bourbon whiskey Families. Whiskey industry--Kentucky Whiskey--Anecdotes

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.