James E. Pepper

A lovely high-rye Bourbon that delivers a great balance of smooth and spice.

Between the two wars, there was a man with a vision in Versailles. The two wars were the American Revolution and the War of 1812, this Versailles was in Kentucky, and the visionary in question was Elijah Pepper. He was a Bourbon distiller who passed his family business to his son and grandson. The latter one was James E. Pepper, a colonel, a Bourbon aristocrat, and the creator of the Old Fashioned cocktail. His distillery was a powerhouse until 1958, when the entire industry fell on its knees.

But the Old 1776 Whiskey, a favorite of Andrew Jackson and Ulysses S. Grant, could not lay in oblivion forever, because good things tend to come back. Amir Peay, an entrepreneur from Georgetown decided to re-found the historic James E. Pepper Distillery and revive the brand. He spent years researching and analyzing the recipes and preserved bottles, and in 2008, the legend was back. 

The majority of the lineup is Rye Whiskey. But they also have a series of high-rye Bourbons. James E. Pepper 1776 92 Proof Bourbon Whiskey utilizes a mash bill of 60% corn, 36% rye, and 4% malted barley. And it’s bottled at a perfect 46% ABV which always makes us smile. If you are looking for a smooth Bourbon that has the right amount of spicy kick and proof to keep things interesting in your glass and cocktails, this is a winner worth sampling.