Now in its second year, the
Kentucky Distillers’ Association Bourbon Affair (held this year June 3-7) is
already firing on all cylinders. Events
this year ranged from fishing with Fred Noe, blending at Four Roses (post coming soon!), sampling Bourbon
from all over Heaven Hill, culinary events, polo on the riverfront, and much,
much more. The vast majority of people I
met at the Bourbon Affair were from out of state – one extremely fun group was
in from Canada – and they were here to enjoy daily events.
Instead of the full immersion of
attending events over the better part of a week, my plan has been more akin to
dipping my toes, with the goal of selecting one or two once-in-a-lifetime
experiences. For 2015, that meant the
Maker’s Mark southern style crab and crawfish boil hosted by Bill Samuels, Jr.
and his wife, Nancy, at their home on the Ohio River near Louisville.
I’ve already written about Bill,
Sr.’s exit from, and immediate competition with, Country Distillers, and the
resulting necessity of coming up with a new name since the Kentucky Court of
Appeals prevented Bill, Sr. from using his surname in any material way
associate with his newly planned Bourbon (link
here). I’ve also already written
about the more recent legal fight with Diageo over the iconic dripping red wax
seal (link
here).
Litigation tells a great story
about the Samuels family, but after getting the chance to talk with Bill, Jr., I
saw firsthand how his family has made its mark.
Bill’s affability and charm held his audience gripped for the next
story. And Bill’s family pride – without
being boastful and without false modesty – gives him an impressive command of
the room. Combine those people skills
with his knowledge of the Bourbon business, and it’s no wonder that Bill, Jr.
was able to pick up where his father left off.
The evening started with greetings
from Bill, Jr. and informal tours around his home, which had rooms more reminiscent
of museums and art galleries. The
vaulted ceiling entryway was dominated by contemporary art, but after moving
into the parlor and other interior rooms, the mood became purely historical. That’s where Bill, Jr. showcased Marker’s
Mark memorabilia, historical furniture, and oil-paint portraits from a bygone
era.
The historical Maker’s Mark
treasures included things like the very first Maker’s Mark bottle, and non-Bourbon
historical pieces included the actual desk where Stephen Foster wrote “My Old
Kentucky Home,” a checker’s set owned by Thomas Jefferson, and Robert E. Lee’s
pistol in a shadow box.
Some of the art
wasn’t to my taste (posed mannequins enjoying tea and pie on the sun porch),
but that scene led to some tremendous conversations.
The family-style crab and crawfish
boil, followed by more time on the sweeping back lawn overlooking the Ohio
River, together with Bill, Jr.’s graciousness, made for a perfect evening.
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