Passing of Elmer T. Lee

[clingman71]

Just saw this posted on Bourbon Review FB page. Many pours planned for this evening.

[jakew]

I just saw the same thing, I'll have a pour in his honor tonight.

http://lewbryson.blogspot.com/2013/07/rip-elmer-t-lee.html

[tanstaafl2]

Couldn't find this on the board. If this is not the right forum please feel free to move. I saw one mention of it on the board but no specific thread.

Passing of Elmer T. Lee

[MyOldKyDram]

Very sad news indeed. Thoughts and prayers for the man, his friends and his family. Can't wait to get off work so that I can properly honor him myself. RIP Mr. Lee.

[ChainWhip]

Rest in Peace sir. My hats off to you and prayers for your family and friends.

[393foureyedfox]

wow, that guy had seen and done it all! WW2 B29 crewman, engineer, master distiller, etc. impressive! RIP, ETL

[P&MLiquorsEric]

We are heading to BT thursday for a barrel selection, I would imagine the mood will be quite somber.

A legend in the business. RIP

[mosugoji64]

RIP, Elmer. Best to his friends and family. I know he will be missed.

[Yeti]

We are heading to BT thursday for a barrel selection, I would imagine the mood will be quite somber.

A legend in the business. RIP

While that is expected, I hope there is also a celebration for all of his wonderful contributions and accomplishments. A toast to Elmer T. Lee!

[zillah]

Sad times. I will have to raise a glass for him when I get home. He had good taste.

[P&MLiquorsEric]

Email from Mark Brown

Dear Friends,

It is with a very heavy heart that I share with you that our beloved Master Distiller Emeritus Elmer T. Lee, 93, passed away today, July 16, 2013 after a short illness.

In the world of making really fine whiskey the role of Master Distiller is pivotal, but Elmer's meaning to those he met, came to know, and worked with closely extended far beyond that of a Master Distiller. Elmer defined, in the simplest terms, what it means to be a great American - hard working, self-made, courageous, honest, kind, humble, and humorous.

Elmer was born in 1919 on a tobacco farm near Peaks Mill in Franklin County, Ky. He graduated from Frankfort County High School in 1936 and worked for Jarman Shoe Company until December 1941. He then served with the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II as a radar bombardier on a B-29. After flying missions against Japan through 1945, Elmer was honorably discharged in January 1946. He returned home and studied engineering at the University of Kentucky, where he graduated with honors in 1949.

In September 1949 Elmer began working in the engineering department of the George T. Stagg Distillery in Frankfort. In 1966, Elmer was promoted to plant superintendent, responsible for all plant operations and reporting to the plant manager. 1n 1969, he became plant manager.

But it was in 1984 that Elmer's contribution to the bourbon industry gained him the most notoriety, when he introduced Blanton's, the world's first Single Barrel Bourbon. Elmer retired in 1985 but continued to serve as an ambassador for Buffalo Trace, and in 1986 he was honored with his very own single barrel bourbon, Elmer T. Lee. Of course, for those of us who knew Elmer, he never really retired. Every Tuesday we could see Elmer making his rounds at the Distillery in his trademark cap, signing bottles, posters, and other memorabilia at the Gift Shop, visiting his friends in Blanton's Bottling Hall, and tasting bourbons (for quality control purposes!) in the lab.

Elmer was always ready to offer advice, and was a wealth of information that many of us relied on, myself included. Harlen Wheatley would inquire with Elmer when stuck on a mechanical problem, and any historical questions about the Distillery always went to Elmer, who, with his razor sharp memory, could invariably answer. To all of us, Elmer was a friend, a mentor, and a trusted advisor.

Elmer was known through the bourbon industry for his expertise and knowledge about bourbon whiskey and he received numerous awards and recognition, including induction into the Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2001, the Lifetime Achievement Award from Whisky Advocate in 2002, and the Lifetime Achievement Award and Hall of Fame induction from Whisky Magazine in 2012.

We have lost a wonderful friend today, and he will be missed terribly.

Services for Elmer T. Lee are pending and will be announced shortly.

Sincerely,

Mark Brown

[TheNovaMan]

Another member of the Greatest Generation gone.

[kickert]

There is a reason my avatar is of an ETL bottle. Nothing but respect for him.

[Tony]

Picking up a Blanton's tonight to raise a glass. RIP.

Best regards, Tony

[WAINWRIGHT]

A toast to his legend this evening will be in order,such and impact on so many a things in our modern bourbon world.

[Richnimrod]

I'll have a generous pour of Elmer's namesake SB in his honor in just a few moments. A toast to a life well-lived and a celebration of his many accomplishments in the world of Bourbon. We'll all miss him for his ever-present good humor and all his expertise at The Buffalo. Go ahead of us, Elmer and prepare the next great offering for all of us in the big distillery that awaits.

[PaulO]

My best ETL memory was one time I was with friends in a hurry. We went into a big store. I happened to spot some ETL bottles with a paper label. I figured it was one more label change at BT (they had been changing the labels of several brands around that time). My friends had ants in the pants, so I couldn't browse like I normally would. Anyway, some time later I discovered those bottles were the 90th birthday special edition. I was beside myself since that was it. Nobody was getting any more. Then a couple months later, I walked in and found 3 mixed in with the regular ETLs! I bought 2, and left one for good karma.

[RWBadley]

I was just in the local retailer this AM and made a comment to Bonnie, ( one of the sales reps) that ETL was one of my favs in that price point.

RIP good sir, I can only speculate the 93 years was achieved at least partially due to drinking the good bourbon.

[Kendall]

rest in peace Mr.Lee.

Prayers to all the family and friends.

[mark fleetwood]

I have it in my memory that someone told me that Mr Lee wanted to produce ETL as single barrel at a very reasonable price so that everyone could taste what single barrels are like. ie- not get priced out. In a world where it's primarily "how much more can I squeeze out of you" that was just dang nice. Why isn't he a Ky Colonel?

[Josh]

This is sad news for us and his loved ones, but if there was ever a man who lived a long and full life, it was him. Tonight I will be raising a glass to him in celebration of a life well lived.

[dohidied]

What a life. What bourbon. I'd be happy to accomplish half of what he did. I'm enjoying a fantastic pour of ETL, I just wish I had a bottle that wasn't a barrel selection from a liquor store so I could toast him with juice he actually picked.

[HP12]

A legend. RIP ETL.

[smknjoe]

Never met the guy, but his name graces the best $30 bourbon you can buy today. I'll pour one for him tonight.

[Bourbon Boiler]

We will toast Mr. Lee tonight, while he shares with the angels in a different way.