Master Distiller at Michter's

[wadewood]

I received an email invitation to a bourbon dinner at the Bourbon House in New Orleans. The headline read "Join us for dinner with Michter's Master Distiller Willis Pratt".

I sent an email back questioning the use of Master Distlller since Michter's does not distill. To my surprise, I did receive an email back from the restaurant. Their explanation was that "Although Michter’s is distilled at Kentucky Bourbon Distillers, Willis Pratt oversees all production of Michter’s." We all know the reality of this statement.

I know it all marketing hype, but someone uses the title of Master Distiller, should they not actually distill something themselves?

[BourbonJoe]

One would think so.

Joe :usflag:

[sku]

I know it all marketing hype, but someone uses the title of Master Distiller, should they not actually distill something themselves?

I am actually a Master Distiller as well. Although I don't actually distill anything and have no idea how to distill (though I believe it has something to do with one or all of warts, beer and some sort of coffee), I personally oversee a small collection of whiskeys that I keep in my closet.

That should do it, right?

Sku

Master Distiller

[callmeox]

We need someone to go to the dinner and quiz the "master distiller" on his experience running the still at KBD.

I bet he has all sorts of great stories about it. :slappin:

[Josh]

I think there's a fine line these days between master distiller and mascot (and a football coach and a mascot in the case of Joe Paterno).

Willis Pratt is obviously the latter.

I give credit to Beam for calling Fred Noe a "Brand Ambassador" rather than giving him the title master distiller.

[Josh]

We need someone to go to the dinner and quiz the "master distiller" on his experience running the still at KBD.

I bet he has all sorts of great stories about it. :slappin:

DON'T TALK ABOUT KBD!!!:hot: :hot: :hot:

None of us bastards have any idea of what is, isn't or has been "about to happen" for at least five years.

[cowdery]

DON'T TALK ABOUT KBD!!!:hot: :hot: :hot:

None of us bastards have any idea of what is, isn't or has been "about to happen" for at least five years.

Five years? Try 20.

As for Michter's, good for you, Wade. The majors, at least, have gotten more careful about this. In the official program for the Kentucky Bourbon Festival this year, Tom Bulleit is called "founder and bourbon ambassador." Ken Pierce at Tom Moore is called "chief chemist and bourbon ambassador" (although they incorrectly identify the distillery as Barton). Fred Noe is identified as "7th generation distiller and bourbon ambassador."

I also learned that the Kentucky legislature has declared the Kentucky Bourbon Festival to be the commonwealth's official state bourbon festival. Take that all you other bourbon festivals in Kentucky.

[Josh]

Five years? Try 20.

I stand corrected.

[sailor22]

Also the dinner is $20 more expensive then the two previous ones. I'm sorry I missed the first two - Wild Turkey and Van winkle.

[cowdery]

Also the dinner is $20 more expensive then the two previous ones. I'm sorry I missed the first two - Wild Turkey and Van winkle.

Fake master distillers cost more.

[PaulO]

They didn't say master whiskey distiller. Maybe they are going to serve some distilled water with the meal. I just couldn't resist.

[cowdery]

They didn't say master whiskey distiller. Maybe they are going to serve some distilled water with the meal. I just couldn't resist.

All I can say is that it better be some kick-ass distilled water.

[wadewood]

I copied my email to Chatham Imports and received a response from them:

Michter’s American Whiskey Co. is in fact currently selling whiskey distilled under the supervision of our Master Distiller Willie Pratt. Below is an excerpt from Willie’s bio.:

“Michter’s Whiskeys’ Master Distiller, Willie Pratt, has over 40 years of experience in the whiskey industry with in-depth knowledge ranging from selection of grain, to distillation, to barreling and maturation. Prior to joining Michter’s, Willie spent his career at Brown-Forman where among other things, he co-chaired a special committee formed to study cooperage – the art of barrel construction – and to identify optimal distillation and aging conditions for among other things, whiskey taste, aroma, color and yields.â€

If we put 2+2 together, then the current Michters whiskey were distilled at Brown Forman and purchased by KBD.

[sailor22]

I have only had three pours of Michters and every time it reminded me of some BF barrel proof I have tasted. So your 2+2 sounds right.

[Gillman]

That's interesting but the ryes too?

Gary

[ethangsmith]

My friend Dick Stoll is and was the last legit Master Distiller of Michter's- the REAL Pennsylvania Michter's. No one can take that title from him! This clown from Brown-Forman can take a hike. He's an "overseer," not a Master Distiller. Shame on them. I will NEVER buy another Michter's American Whiskey product again. Fools.

[MJL]

I'm a Maker's Mark ambassador with my name on a barrel somewhere in some rick house. I even have business cards with my name on them showing that I am an ambassador. cough, cough!

[barturtle]

I'm a Maker's Mark ambassador with my name on a barrel somewhere in some rick house. I even have business cards with my name on them showing that I am an ambassador. cough, cough!

Oh, well...my barrel has already come out of the warehouse and been bottled...that gives me Senior Ambassador status:slappin:

[tommyboy38]

Maybe Master Distiller Willie Pratt oversees the Master Distiller at KBD when he distills....masterfully I assume.

[boone]

I am actually a Master Distiller as well. Although I don't actually distill anything and have no idea how to distill (though I believe it has something to do with one or all of warts, beer and some sort of coffee), I personally oversee a small collection of whiskeys that I keep in my closet.

That should do it, right?

Sk

Master Distiller

[BourbonJoe]

Nope! I am the Master Distiller!

I have credentials My g-uncle Everett Beam ordained me in heaven as Distilleress to carrry out his work:)

Wooooo hooooo!!!

[ethangsmith]

...and I'd buy it by the skid.

[cowdery]

I'm Spartacus...I mean, Michter's Master Distiller.

Don't construe Mr. Pratt's previous employment with Brown-Forman as meaning that BF likely made the current Michter's juice. If they did it's more because of the connection between BF and Heaven Hill on the one side and Heaven Hill and KBD on the other. Mr. Pratt is simply enjoying a little post-retirement employment. Presumably he is engaged in barrel selection, which is part of a master distiller's job. Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending the practice of a non-distiller producer claiming to employ a master distiller. You can't characterize that as anything other than an attempt to mislead the public. But let's call it that and not go over the top.

[mark fleetwood]

On 9/21/2010 at 8:27 PM, cowdery said:

Fake master distillers cost more.

(How I got to this point today and why it even matters aside, I can't help myself,) but,

Fake Master Distillers Lives Matter.