KY Derby Museum Legends Tasting:: Ed Foote (Stitzel-Weller)

 

Tickets: $85/per person ($75 for Museum Members)

Ticket price includes 5 tastings of bourbon along with light hor d’oeuvres, dessert and coffee.

BUY TICKETS

Ed Foote:

Ed began his post-college life as a teacher in 1961, but needed more money to raise his family. Fortunately for the bourbon world, Foote answered an advertisement for the Henry McKenna Distillery in Fairfield, Ky. He quickly showed promise and eventually became a Seagram’s beer chemist, where he analyzed samples from Seagram’s five Kentucky distilleries. In 1982, Foote was hired as the distiller for Stitzel-Weller (also referred to as Old Fitzgerald Distillery). He made Rebel Yell, Weller and the famous Van Winkle lines, among other brands. In the Whiskey geek community, Foote’s craft is simply known as the “Stitzel-Weller juice” and is thought to be some of the greatest bourbon ever made. But, Foote has largely stayed out of the spotlight since retiring in the 1990s. With bourbon making its greatest comeback, Foote should finally be recognized. “Ed made our {Pappy Van Winkle} label famous as most of our popularity came while we were bottling whiskey he made. It was arguably the best on the planet according to some. I sure enjoyed it,” says Julian Van Winkle, president of Old Rip Van Winkle.

Note from Bourbon Authority, Fred Minnick:
Since Ed Foote specialized in wheated bourbons, meaning the predominant secondary grain used to make his whiskey was wheat, we have assembled a tasting of modern wheated bourbons and something special you can’t find anywhere else. Of course, this event transcends a whiskey tasting. This is about getting to know one of the most-important bourbon distillers of the past century.
Menu of 5 bourbons for the March 6 tasting:

Maker’s Mark: Ed has a special place in his heart for Maker’s Mark. Want to know why? Well, you need to attend.

Larceny: (Graciously provided by Heaven Hill distillery) Launched in 2012, Larceny is owned by Heaven Hill Distilleries and the heir to the wheated Bourbons that make up the historic Old Fitzgerald franchise that Heaven Hill acquired in 1999. Last year, spirits critic Paul Pacult’sSpirits Journal selected Larceny as the No. 18 on the annual top 100 list.

Old Fitzgerald 12-year-old: (Graciously provided by Heaven Hill distillery): Before wheated bourbons were cool, Old Fitzgerald 12-year-old was a frequent “go to” bourbon and remains a staple for savvy bourbon drinkers. Ed produced this label when running the Old Fitzgerald Distillery, aka Stitzel-Weller.

Weller 12-year-old: Weller 12-year-old. Now owned and made by Buffalo Trace Distillery, this famous wheated bourbon was once made by Ed Foote. It continues to be the hidden gem for bourbon enthusiasts.

Bourbon Made at Stitzel Weller: bourbon from 1980s and 1990s: Handcrafted by
Ed Foote, this bourbon comes from Fred Minnick’s personal collection and can’t be found in stores.