James E. Pepper 1776 100 Proof Straight Rye Whiskey

Elijah Pepper started a legacy in whiskey distilling at the dawn of the American Revolution. Pepper also built the first log cabin distillery in Versailles, during the Kentucky War of 1812. The family business was passed on to his son, Oscar, and then on to his grandson, James E. Pepper.

Colonel James E. Pepper experienced life as one of Kentucky's first Bourbon aristocrats. As an elite he raced thoroughbreds in the Kentucky Derby, traveled in a private rail car and made the Old Fashioned cocktail famous. “Pepper Whiskey is an old fashioned whiskey, made in the old time way from a formula used for more than 100 years by three generations of the Pepper family,” wrote James, in an advertisement dated August 22, 1887. “We claim not only to make the oldest but absolutely the purest and best brand of whiskey made in America, and we invite comparison with any whiskey of any age.”

In 1958, after the whiskey industry fell on hard times, the James E. Pepper Distillery was forced to close its doors. During its tenure, Pepper Whiskey, or “Old 1776 Whiskey” as it became it known, was a favorite of Presidents Andrew Jackson and Ulysses S. Grant, and was preferred by Daniel Webster, a leading American statesman and senator from Massachusetts.

“Before re-launching this iconic brand,” says Amir Peay, “we did extensive research and spent years collecting and analyzing full, preserved bottles of original Pepper Whiskey.” Peay even acquired a letter written by Pepper himself, detailing the exact mashbill and recipe used to create Old 1776. “We wanted to pay homage to Pepper's legacy and do our best to recreate the original Pepper Whiskey — something that was part of American history,” he says.”

James E. Pepper Rye is a bourbon-esque, fruity whiskey with a 90% rye mash bill, it’s bottled at 50% ABV. On the nose are spicy notes of rye, with hints of clove and cinnamon underneath. On the Palate are flavors of Orange zest, clove, honeysuckle, heavy rye bread, oak. The finish is long and spicy.

Grab a bottle of this rye today!