Bourbon's roots lie in Pennsylvania, the Scotch-Irish settlers in the Western part of that state having been some of the nation's major whiskey producers in the late 1700's. The whiskey produced in that region was primarily made of rye at the time.
In the Spring of 1791, an excise tax was levied on the production of whiskey to help pay for the debts of the American Revolution. An organized resistance to the tax began later that year, and all producers of whiskey in the region refused to pay. Tax collectors were roughed up, some even tarred and feathered, but the situation was stable for a few years.
In 1794, the mansion of excise inspector General John Neville, a personal friend of (then president) George Washington, was burned to the ground by protestors. Washington personally led an army of 13,000 to quell the rebellion, and a number of rebels were arrested. The tax was eventually lifted in 1800.
Some of the whiskey distillers fled to the mountains of Kentucky, where they started replacing the rye in their whiskeys with corn. The process of aging the whiskey in charred oak casks was developed, and bourbon was born.
The Hirsch 16 was distilled in 1974 at Michter's Distillery in Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania. It was aged 16 years, and bottled in 1989. Some of the history of the distillery can be found here.
Hirsch is one of the few bourbons one can find that was made with a traditional copper pot still. Its color is a slightly yellowish amber, and the nose is of orange and walnut.
It has an airy, oaky flavor that moves from the tongue to the nose a few seconds after swallowing. Caramel, orange, and the spiciness of a high rye content. I most enjoy it taken neat.
The Hirsch is truly a fantastic bourbon. I encourage anyone to try it, if you can get your hands on a bottle. Michter's distillery is now closed, and that batch from 1974 is all we have left.
Posted by peter at March 11, 2004 09:50 PMRe: Hirsch 16-year-old bourbon, a clarification.
The Michter's 1974 stock was not bottled in 1989, but was transferred from the barrels to stainless steel tanks, effectively ending aging. The initial bottling was in the early Nineties, with another following several years later. The final bottling did not take place until late last year (2003), when Julian Van Winkle (the grandson of Pappy Van Winkle) oversaw that job at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Ky.
Some of the 1974 remained in barrel until 1993 and 1994. About 190 cases of 19yo were bottled in '93 (and is a very rare find). Considerably more 20yo was bottled in 1994, and all of it is gone unless a stray bottle can be found at some out-of-the-way liquor store.
The Hue family of Covington, Ky. (owners of the Cork 'n Bottle liquor stores) sold the rights to the remaining Hirsch 16yo to Henry Preiss of Preiss Imports (San Francisco) last fall. Mr. Preiss recently told me that about 2,500 cases of it -- the most recent bottling -- is in warehouse. Afer that, original Michter's will remain only in collections -- and myth.
The Michter's label, however, lives on. Chatham Imports of New York is using the Michter's name on some premium bourbon, blended whiskey and rye spirits currently marketed. Consumers should be wary of the Michter's name on the bottle. The whiskey in them is purchased from Kentucky.
Tim, thanks so much for the clarifications. I had heard that bottling started in 1989, but that didn't jive with some of the other dates I'd seen. I'd been unable to find much on the recent history of the Hirsch. I also hadn't found any information on why the Michter's name was on some more recent bottles. Thanks for clearing it up!
Posted by: peter at March 28, 2004 06:47 PM