Honoring History and Investing in the Future
It ain't every day you see a distillery clocking nearly two centuries under its belt. Holladay Distillery out of little old Weston, Missouri, gets to put that feather in its cap. Coming up on its 170th birthday, this stalwart of a bourbon maker isn't just sitting pretty. Nah, they're making moves that'll keep 'em in the bourbon game for another hundred and seventy years, if you ask me.
New Kid on the Block: Rickhouse D
One big move in play is the spanking new Rickhouse D. This ain't just some run-of-the-mill storage space. It's got that traditional rickhouse style, the kind that speaks to bourbon purists. Now fully operational as we're talking, Rickhouse D adds more space for aging that whiskey gold, expanding what they've got up there in Weston.
Patrick Fee, Holladay’s VP of Sales & Marketing, marked it as a "belief in the future." You hear that, folks? With barrels already moved in and the site neat as a pin, they're setting the stage for more of that smooth Holladay taste in our glasses.
Keeping Missouri Bourbon on the Map
Holladay’s not just about making good spirits; it's about carrying on a legacy. Since they cranked up operations way back in 1856, they've been cooking up Missouri bourbon the old-school way. And they're still kicking it where they first started, making them the oldest distillery on this side of the Mississippi still at its original digs.
Ten Years of Modern Bourbon Revival
As they're popping corks for the 170th anniversary, Holladay’s also tipping a hat to a decade of what's been dubbed as a "modern bourbon revival." Started ten years ago, this revival's been about revamping their brand in today's bourbon landscape, really honing in on what makes Holladay's spirits stand apart—and let's be honest, feeling miles away from that everyday jug you snag at the corner shop.
"This anniversary is incredibly meaningful," Fee mentioned, showing a bit of that pride dripping into everything they do. It's not just about looking back, but also about gearing up for the next stretch of history-making.
The People Behind the Tradition
Now, while bourbon's getting its share of the spotlight, Holladay hasn't forgotten the folks who paved the way. With their latest renaming of the Ed Pechar Event Center, they're saluting the late Edward A. Pechar, a game-changer for McCormick Distilling Co. He helped steer the ship towards premium spirits and future-looking investments when they snagged McCormick Distilling, Holladay's parent company.
This nod joins others like the nearby Michael S. Griesser Stillhouse, giving props to those legends who helped mold Holladay into the powerhouse it is today. It's these folks' handiwork and vision that's being bottled up and passed on to new generations.
A Legacy Built on Limestone and Casks
And oh, let's not forget—Holladay's a bit of a tourist hot spot. Folks come in droves to Livingston County, drawn by the siren song of bourbon history. Between guided tours, tastings, and the kind of hospitable experience any bourbon enthusiast dreams of, the place is selling more than just bourbon; they're selling a slice of Americana.
Wrap that in an atmosphere steeped in tradition, and it's not hard to see why this Missouri fixture has stood its ground for so long. They're crafting award-winning bourbons, sure, but they're also selling a legacy, a story that stretches across nearly two centuries.
So, if you’re into bourbon or just the sort of stories American history has to offer, Holladay’s the kind of place that doesn't just age whiskey; it ages itself like a fine bourbon. Let’s tip our hats to 170 years of spirited persistence and eye the horizon for what’s next over in Weston.
