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Evan Williams, born a Welshman, settled in Virginia
and moved to what would become Kentucky (but was
then Fincastle County of Virginia) in about 1780.
Like most frontiersmen, he grew crops, but getting
them to market over narrow trails and steep mountains
was a daunting task. Williams soon learned that
converting his corn and other grains to whiskey
made them easily transportable, prevented the excess
grain from simply rotting, and gave them a little
welcome diversion from the rough life of the frontier.
Williams set up his small distillery on the Ohio
River at the foot of what is now Fifth Street in
Louisville. According to an article in the Louisville
Courier-Journal of 29 April 1889, "Williams
was a member of the early Board of Trustees of
Louisville, and tradition says he never attended
a meeting of the board without bringing a bottle
of his whiskey, and that what he brought was always
drank by the members before the meeting adjourned." He
was censured every time for doing so, but still
he never left with a full jug!
Williams was later appointed Harbor Master of the
port of Louisville, and supervised construction
of the Jefferson County Jail in 1802-03. He died
in October of 1810, and is widely considered "Kentucky's
First Distiller."
Evan Williams, the second largest selling brand
of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey in the U.S.,
is named for Kentucky's first distiller of 1783.
Today, Heaven Hill's Master Distillers, Parker & Craig
Beam, oversee the production of Evan Williams
using the same process and traditional recipe
made popular by the brand's namesake.
Evan Williams continues to be a category leader
with its hallmark embodied in the "Extra
Aged" tagline. Also an international brand,
Evan Williams has gained global recognition,
particularly in Europe, Asia, Australia and New
Zealand.
? Evan Williams is recognized nationwide and
worldwide as a superior Bourbon: "Best Buy.
Rating 90" -Wine Enthusiast
? Evan Williams Best Buy Whiskey of the Year
2003 - Malt Advocate
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