History of American Whiskey

[Kirk's Raider's]

The first successful American Whiskey distillery in the US and still in business is Michter's which started production in 1753 in Pennsylvania and produced Rye Whiskey. A Rye whiskey must contain confidential at least 51% rye . Rye is a grain indigenous to Eastern Turkey but grows well in some states such has Maryland and Virginia.
The other uniquely American Whiskey is Bourbon which must be at least 51% corn. Arguably the first commercial distillery in the US was Evan Williams in 1783 in Kentucky. Evan Williams is still in business.
If a whiskey has a corn content of 90% or more it us a corn whiskey not a Bourbon.
George Washington about two years before his death produced an unaged rye whiskey that has been revived a few years ago based on the original recipe. Washington's Whiskey was actually popular and profitable.
In recent years there has been non rye and non corn whiskies produced in the US.
Kirk's Raider's

 

[Kirk's Raider's]

Per mountvernon.org in 1799 George Washington's distillery was producing 11,000 gallons of unaged rye. Recently George Washington unaged rye won the Silver Medal in the American Craft Distillery Award for white or unaged whiskies.
Kirk's Raider's

 

[Kirk's Raider's]

George Washington's mash bill was 60% rye 35% corn and 5% malted barley.
Today the Mt.Vernon distillery also produces apple and peach brandy and a two year old aged rye. Not sure if Washington produced anything other then unaged rye.
Kirk's Raider's

 

[Kirk's Raider's]

If one Google's the history of Bourbon Whiskey it does get hazy if Evan Williams actually was the first commercial bourbon distillery. Regardless there was commercial bourbon by the 1780s.
Another kind if American Whiskey is Tennessee Whiskey which uses the" Lincoln County process" in which whiskey is filtered through sugar maple charcoal. Jack Daniels and George Dickel distilleries are the largest distilleries in Tennessee.
George Dickel produces " sour mash Whiskey" which utilizes spent mash which has bacteria which aid in supporting the yeast from being contaminated by other bacteria during the distilling process.
Kirk's Raider's

 

[Kirk's Raider's]

If one Google's " the history of Bourbon there is a good article by Spruce Eats on the history of Bourbon and the Whiskey Rebellion which wasn't altogether violent but back in the day taxes on distilled alcohol was one of the few sources of federal income other then tariffs and land sales. The federal income tax would not be a major source of income until well into the 20th Century
Kirk's Raider's

 

[Kirk's Raider's]

Mitchers whiskey/legacy has a good brief history of America's first distillery. Mitchers was founded by a Swiss Mennonite immigrant in 1753. The original family lost control of the company a long time ago but it was recently revived.
Kirk's Raider's