James E Pepper 1776 Straight Bourbon Whiskey 750mL

James E Pepper 1776 Straight Bourbon Whiskey 750mL 50% ABV

1780 is an exciting time in American history. Twenty-seven bloody battles were fought between British and colonial forces, while the legendary betrayal of Benedict Arnold threatened to bring the revolution to an end. Amidst this storm of death and destiny for the United States, the young Elijah Pepper established the first distillery of his family’s famous legacy. Through the action of war and uncertainty of America’s independence, Elijah Pepper persevered. Passing his wisdom and whiskey to son Oscar in 1838, Pepper Bourbon became the preferred brand for Presidents Lincoln, Jackson and Grant. With decades of drinkers in the Oval Office, in 1867 Oscar’s operation passed to his larger than life son: Colonel James E. Pepper. With his own name on the label, James oversaw the Bourbon’s expansion from Kentucky to all corners. Despite the bourbon business sending him beyond the Bluegrass State, James kept Kentucky’s fire burning in both his soul and signature spirit. This unwavering commitment to authenticity caused the distillery to shut its doors in 1958, as the new spirit of the sixties had no taste for such old spirits. In 2008, fifty years after its fall, James E. Pepper was revived under the guidance of James’ own handwritten recipes. The brand’s bourbon, a true Bluegrass testament to old Kentucky taste, balances the sweetness of corn with the strength of a high rye content. This revival apes the style of 1800s bourbon without its unbearable strength, sitting at a well-done 100 proof. Aged for two years in fresh, charred barrels of American oak, the sweet vanillin of its storage surfaces in a subtle vanilla flavour. These same old styles that survived the Civil War are used here to strike a balance between a light honey body and dark chocolate notes. Under your nose, you’ll note a rich aroma of toffee and barrel. When savoured, a soft and tingling mouth-feel of clove compliments its complex character.