Whiskey Flows Once More at Mount Vernon

The Centre Daily Times ^ | Tue, Oct. 21, 2003 | NANCY ZUCKERBROD -- Associated Press

[Willie Green]

MOUNT VERNON, Va. - George Washington's estate on the Potomac River hasn't been home to a working distillery for about two centuries, but that changed Tuesday as whiskey makers toiled on the founding father's popular recipe.

"For me, it's like standing on hallowed ground," Jim Beam master distiller Jerry Dalton said as he took a break from recreating the 18th century recipe to survey the scene, three miles from the main house where Washington lived from 1754 until he died in 1799.

Washington started his whiskey business in 1797, after leaving politics. It was a thriving enterprise that yielded 11,000 gallons of whiskey and a profit of $7,500 - or about $105,000 in today's dollars - in one year.

[glorgau]

Let's see...

Washington started his whiskey business in 1797, and died in 1799.

I hope he died contented. :-)

[dennisw]

Enough whiskey and his wooden false teeth didn't bother him.

[sandydipper]

Probably did not have to deal with todays bureacrats either. After todays taxes on 11,000 gallons of whiskey his $7,500.00 profit would not exist.

[Alter Kaker]

Probably did not have to deal with todays bureacrats either. After todays taxes on 11,000 gallons of whiskey his $7,500.00 profit would not exist.

Ha, not true! In 1794, George Washington sent 13,000 man army to suppress Whiskey Rebellion which came about over burdensome tax on whiskey.

[Dinsdale]

Now if they just grow some hemp (and kill the males) it will be historically accurate.

[Willie Green]

Probably did not have to deal with todays bureacrats either. After todays taxes on 11,000 gallons of whiskey his $7,500.00 profit would not exist.

Uhhhhmmm.... Actually, Washington and Hamilton WERE the bureaucrats.
It was Hamilton's imposition of an excise tax on whiskey that led to the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 (which Washington used the military to suppress.) It helped put the smaller distillers out of business and reduced competition.

(One more reason why I admire Jefferson far more than Hamilton)

[wolficatZ]

George Washington's Visions & Prophecies

 

         

 

           http://www.crystalinks.com/gw.html

 

        http://www.crawford2000.co.uk/wash.htm

[nicksaunt]

"Whiskey flows again in Mount Vernon"

Uh-oh, Teddy just found himself a new watering hole.

[afraidfortherepublic]

He should have drunk more whiskey and stayed away from the docotors who bled him to death in order to cure a strep throat.

[speedy]

Washington will always be our greatest President. The fact that he appreciated a good whiskey only enhances his reputation. Wonderful man, wonderful President. To your health in that great distillery in the sky, Mr. President.

[Chuckster]

Yes. IIRC the "Burdensome" tax was a few cents a barrel!

[dirtboy]

bump