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The Old Pogue Distillery |
Guest Post by: MOABs Husband Kevin Duke
My wife has been writing the Mama on a Budget column for a
few years and I’ve gotten to sit by and read her pot shots about me over and
over all the while she goes to one “Mom’s Night Out” followed by another,
“claiming” that she has to go to
write her next column. Well, it
took me two years but I finally caught on to her angle; by choosing to write
stories about fun activities, she got (much needed) time to herself to do said
activities. I can understand her
reasoning; I imagine it is hard to live with me, basking in my radiance all the
time. Nonetheless, I recently
flipped the script and convinced her I needed to get in on the “time-alone”
action.
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John Pogue and Kevin Duke |
And what better way to start than with some bourbon! The Old Pogue Distillery is located in
Maysville and has been (but for a few post-Prohibition era decades_ since
1876. It has always been family
owned and still is with the master distiller being John Pogue, Fort Thomas
native, Highlands graduate, and (full disclosure) friend of mine since
preschool. After years of
dormancy, the Pogue family began distilling whiskey again in 2004; John made a
career change 3 years ago (geologist by training) to run the family business
full time. Although the original
distillery facility burnt down in a fire, the Pogue’s purchased the property
across the street, fully renovated it, and set up shop to produce a barrel per
week (one barrel nets approximately 200-240 “fifths” of bourbon). Compared to their apex in the early
1900’s when Old Pogue distilled 50 barrels per day, one can see this is truly
“small batch”.
Small or large, I only know taste and the taste is
exquisite. Unfortunately, since
John distills only about a barrel per week AND the taste is exquisite, it means
there is often a shortage. Pogue
distributes to 18 states currently and Kentucky has been completely out of the
Old Pogue Bourbon for months. Even
at the distillery he is out, selling only the Five Father’s Whiskey (which you
can also get in stores such as DEPs) which is quite good, higher proof (110),
but does not have as smooth a finish as the bourbon.
The tour consists of seeing his still, hearing John’s
explanation of the history of the distillery, the process through which corn
(whiskey is required to be a minimum 50% corn) turns to whiskey, the history of
the cooper’s union requiring brand new barrel be used for every batch of
whiskey (used barrels are sold to barrel ale companies or to Scotland for
scotch which has no such requirement), and also one gets to see the historic
house on the property which was renovated by the Pogue family. Oh, and you get to taste the product
(including the bourbon despite the shortage). Honestly, it is worth the 50-mile drive or so simply to
taste the bourbon!
So, gather your Dad friends and hop in a car for the drive
to Maysville to visit John Pogue, try his craft distilled bourbon and rye
whiskeys, and support a local family as they recreate history in every
bottle. Free tours run only on
Tuesdays and Saturdays and you must have an appointment to attend. Visit their website here for more information or to schedule a
tour. And hey, if you only have
three in your sedan, give me a call.
I could always drink more bourbon with a future friend!
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