Kentucky Tavern, the Forgotten Wheater

[bobbyc]

I am rereading The Book of Bourbon, I came upon this . Kentucky Tavern is , according to Gary & Mardee, a wheater. I didn't know that. It was owned by United Distillers so it was made at Bernhiem Distillery. It is an inexpensive whiskey, 1.75ml for 14 or so, usually in a plastic bottle.

[Marvin]

Bobby - Let's just leave it that way---Forgotten----!

Cheers,

Marvin

[jeff]

Oh, I don't know. Being one of the few defenders of wheated bourbon around here, I might have to give it a try. It goes for what, $6.95 for 1.75L ? It might even be better than Weller

[bobbyc]

I think the price point and marketing is the same for Ky Tavern as any other industrial strength solvent!

[jeff]

If I could use it to strip my deck and fence this spring, then I could get double duty out of it.

[bobbyc]

Is it that bad , Marvin?

[hollywood]

Kentucky Tavarn...I've never tried it, but it can't be any worse than EC12! Talk about double duty....lets see....toilet bowl cleaner, grease remover,....No, I think you had it...paint stripper! See ya, H'wood

[Barrel_Proof]

All this ruckus about a 4 yo wheater sent me out to the bunker. Lo and behold if a liter of KT wasn't there-- parked rather shallow, though, attempting (unsuccessfully) to obstruct frequent forays into the rare chestnuts hidded deep in the bunker. Nothing to get excited about here, but nothing worthy of stripping the varnish off grandma's rocker on the porch, either. Just a simple, sweet, (did I mention simple?), unobtrusive whiskey. Nothing's screaming here, so h'wood can relax, his EC 12 bottle is way louder!

[avery]

I've never tried Kentucky Tavern, although I did see it on Friday when I went to my neighborhood liquor store. It was on the bottom shelf, of course, and I can't say that I was tempted to try it...

I'll agree with you on the EC12, hollywood. I'm not for sure what to do with my mostly full 750ml of it, but you've given me some ideas...

[jeff]

Bobby,

Your post made me curious so I picked up a half pint at the LB for $1.99 This one struck me as loud and harsh. This is the hardest wheater to drink that I have tried. Its only redeaming quality is it seems to lack the tannins that some other wheaters posses. Might make a decent mixer though

[Marvin]

yes

cheers

marvin

[ratcheer]

As the saying around here goes, send it to me for proper disposal.

Tim

[jeff]

After a second attempt last night at finding even the slightest redeaming quality, I think this one is best left forgotten

[bourbonv]

Bobby,

When the Regans wrote their book Kentucky Tavern was a wheated bourbon. Kentucky Tavern was the flagship brand for Glenmore Distilleries for many years. The problem was that when United Distillers acquired Glenmore and their two distilleries, neither of their distilleries had been in operation for several years. This meant that the whiskey for Kentucky Tavern was running short when U.D. took over. In 1993 it was decided that U.D. would put wheated bourbon from Stitzel-Weller in Kentucky Tavern because there was no more Glenmore bourbon to support the brand.

In 1996 the brand Kentucky Tavern was part of the sale to Barton that included the bottling facilities in Owenboro, Ky. Barton then started to put their own, rye recipe bourbon, in Kentucky Tavern.

Those people who bought Kentucky Tavern Bottled in Bond between 1993 and 1996 were getting the same whiskey that was going into Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond. It was a real bargin.

Mike Veach

[ratcheer]

Those people who bought Kentucky Tavern Bottled in Bond between 1993 and 1996 were getting the same whiskey that was going into Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond. It was a real bargin.

So, that is probably why KT had such a great reputation a few years ago.

Tim

[Barrel_Proof]

Thanks for the details, Mike. Good to see you back in the neighborhood!

[kitzg]

For those of you who do not know Mike Veach, he is likely one of the best bourbon historians in the world. It is very good to see your post, Mike.

In my humble opinion, with both Chuck and Mike posting we truly have Bourbonia's elite. That is among those not employed currently in the industry.

[bobbyc]

Good to see you , Mike.

[Dave_in_Canada]

Mike, I will add to the spirit of the other posts -- to encourage you to continue to enlighten us! More, more, more!

[MurphyDawg]

Hiya Mike. Long Time no see.

TomC

[bourbonv]

Tim,

Kentucky Tavern enjoyed a good reputation as a Glenmore product. United Distillers even received some complaints when they changed the whiskey. The old Yellowstone Distillery did make some fine bourbon as a matter of fact in the 1970's Yellowstone was Kentucky's favorite whiskey if you simply look at sales figures.

Mike Veach

[cowdery]

Good to see you back on the board, Mike. To finish that thought, pre-1993 KT was probably made either at Yellowstone in Louisville or, more likely, Glenmore in Owensboro (previously a Medley plant, I think). Bernheim was the Schenley/UDV plant.

Pre-1993 KT drinkers were also getting a bargain because for at least some period of time prior to the sale, they were bottling 10 year old whiskey as ordinary KT because they had too much old whiskey in inventory.

That was, as you indicate, not wheated but rye-recipe bourbon.

[ratcheer]

That was, as you indicate, not wheated but rye-recipe bourbon.

All the better, then.

Tim

[bourbonv]

Chuck,

Kentucky Tavern would have been made in Louisville at the Yellowstone distillery. Buddy Thompson loved that distillery and the whiskey it made but it had fallen into such disrepair that it would cost a small fortune to start it up again. This is one of the factors that caused the Glenmore company to buy the Medley distillery and its Ezra Brooks brand. The real problem came in 1989 or 1990 when they knew they were running short on whiskey and they had to start distilling again. Buddy could not face the fact that Yellowstone was too expensive to start up and did not want to give the OK to start up Medley. He solved the problem by selling the whole company to United Distillers.

There was whiskey at Medley but that was to support Ezra Brooks. This extended the life of Kentucky Tavern as a rye recipe some months when U.D. sold Ezra Brooks to Heaven Hill (who sold it in turn to David Sherman).

Mike Veach

[Marvin]

Bobby,

I have made a statement before about Kentucky Tavern and I said then "Let's just leave it forgotten" and I will say it again. This is one bourbon that makes all the rest better. Let's just leave it forgotten - it's better that way.

Cheers,

Marvin