HISTORY OF DISTILLING IN KENTUCKY

1700’s

• 1770 – First distillers arrive.
• 1778 – Louisville is established.
• 1780 – Jacob Beam and others setup in Bardstown/Kentucky Whiskey becomes known as “Bourbon”.
• 1783 – Evan Williams becomes Kentucky's first licensed distiller. 
• 1785 –  Rev. Elijah Craig leads congregation into Louisville.
• 1789 – Elijah Craig becomes known as the “Father of Bourbon” after he stores his whiskey in barrels that he has accidentally charred. 
• 1791 – Whiskey Rebellion.
• 1792 – Kentucky is admitted to statehood/Bourbon becomes the term used for Kentucky Corn Whiskey.
• 1794 –  Proof and Excise Tax first passed on Bourbon.

1800’s

• 1820 – Dr. James Crow comes to KY, begins distilling, develops the sour mash process.
• 1830’s – 1860’s – Rapid expansion of commercial distilling.
• 1830 –  The Temperance Movement begins.
• 1831 – Aeneas Coffey creates “continuous” still.
• 1837 – Henry McKenna comes to the U.S., settles in Fairfield, Kentucky.
• 1852 – Bourbon production begins at the site of todays Bernheim Distillery.
• 1860’s – 1890’s – Bourbon becomes popular among the upper classes.
• 1865 – Isaac W. Bernheim purchases the Pleasure Ridge Park Distillery and renames it Bernheim.
• 1870’s – John Fitzgerald begins production of Fitzgeralds Wheated Bourbon .
• 1893 – Anti-Saloon League is founded.

1900’s

• 1920 – Volstead Act becomes law, begins era of Prohibition/Mock funeral for “John Barleycorn” .
• 1932 - The repeal of Prohibition.  
• 1933 – Distilling resumes following Prohibition.
• 1934 – Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. is founded by the five Shapira brothers.
• 1935 – Barrel #1 is filled.
• 1946 – Earl Beam leaves the D.M.  Beam company and succeeds his cousin Harry as Heaven Hill Master Distiller
• 1961 - Barrel #1,000,000 is filled
• 1964 – U.S. Congress protects the word “BOURBON” as uniquely American
• 1971 - Max Shapira, son of Ed Shapira, joins as Director of Corporate Planning
• 1976 - Barrel #2,000,000 is filled 
• 1976 – Harry Shapira, son of David Shapira, joins the family business as Vice President and Treasurer.
• 1988 - Barrel #3,000,000is filled
• 1996 – Heaven Hill's historic original Bardstown Distillery burns down in a fire. George Shapira, last surviving member of the five founding brothers, passes away
• 1996 – Max Shapira becomes President of Heaven Hill Distilleries Inc.
• 1998 - Barrel #4,000,000 is filled on January 13.
• 1999 - Heaven Hill acquires the historic Bernheim Distillery.

2000's - Heaven Hill Today

• 2001 - Current Heaven Hill Director of Marketing Strategy Kate Shapira Latts and her husband, Director of Corporate Planning Allan Latts, join the family business. 
• 2003 - Heaven Hill breaks ground for the Heaven Hill Distilleries Bourbon Heritage Center set to open in Fall 2004.
• 2004 - Heaven Hill dedicates the new Heaven Hill Trolley to tour Bardstown and Nelson County.
• 2004 - Heaven Hill dedicates the Heaven Hill Distilleries Bourbon Heritage Center.
• 2004 - Wine Enthusiast names Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc.  "Distiller of the Year" .
• 2005 - Heaven Hill introduces Bernheim Wheat Whiskey.
• 2005 - Heaven Hill introduces PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur .
• 2006 - Barrel #5,000,000 is filled on  January 31st.
• 2007 - Andy Shapira joins the family business as Director of Sales Analysis.