Behind the Bottles: 13 People Whose Contributions Made Bourbon the Darling of Drinking Culture

September is about honoring all things bourbon — it is Bourbon Heritage Month, after all. The culture behind bourbon is richly steeped in Americana: from whiskey-swigging cowboys to swanky lounge singers sipping cocktails in smoky bars. Since its inception in the 1800s, bourbon has undoubtedly earned its nickname as America's native spirit. But bourbon's reputation wouldn't be cemented without the contributions of several key historical figures. We've taken a deep dive into some of the most significant names in bourbon, sharing the contributions of these individuals in the list below and featuring a selected bourbon to try if you feel like raising a glass to them during Bourbon Heritage Month. If you'd like to learn more about the history of bourbon and those who shaped it, you can just read on. You may even recognize some of these names on your favorite bottles!

Raising a Glass to 13 Individuals Who Made Bourbon an Iconic Beverage

Meredith Basil Hayden Sr.

Meredith Basil Hayden Sr. made some contributions to the bourbon world, so it's no wonder the wildly popular bourbon brand from Jim Beam is named after him. From a distillation and recipe perspective, Hayden is considered the father of high-rye bourbon. High-rye bourbon is a style of bourbon that has rye as the second most prominent grain in its mashbill (behind corn), giving it a bit of a zing. Many popular bourbon brands release whiskeys with high-rye mashbills, including Four Roses, Beam and Bulleit. Hayden made the additional contribution of establishing bourbon's ancestral home. In 1785, Hayden led 25 Catholic families to settle in Bardstown, Kentucky. This area is the home of major brands like Heaven Hill, Willett and Barton 1792. If you want to celebrate the founding father of Bardstown and high-rye bourbon, we recommend dipping into a glass of Basil Hayden's Red Wine Cask Finish. With ripe cherries from nose to finish, interlaced with caramel and maple cream, this delicious bourbon hosts a suggested retail price of $59.99 per bottle and is great for oenophiles and bourbon aficionados alike! If you want to read our review, you can view it here .

Evan Williams

[caption id="attachment_83557" align="aligncenter" width="600"] (Photo: Evan Williams/Instagram)[/caption] Welsh immigrant Evan Williams settled in Kentucky in the 18th century. He is credited with building the first commercial whiskey distillery in Kentucky — talk about laying the foundations for an empire. According to Kentucky History , Williams noticed the rich agricultural potential of the state. He noticed Kentucky's fertile soil and that it could yield a high volume of crops like corn. Yet, the state had issues with transportation and infrastructure. Ever the savvy businessman, Williams built a distillery that used excess corn. The bottles would be shipped down the Ohio River which neighbored the distillery. You could go so far as to say Evan Williams was the founding father of Kentucky's bourbon industry, and if that's not worth celebrating we don't know what is. If you want to raise a glass to Evan Williams, the bourbon brand you should be drinking is a no-brainer. Out of the entire Evan Williams portfolio, we recommend drinking the Evan Williams Single Barrel. Click here to read our review. Evan Williams Single Barrel can be found for anywhere within the $30 range.

George Garvin Brown

George Garvin Brown was a former pharmaceutical salesman who came up with the idea of selling whiskey in a glass bottle. The National Library Of Medicine reports that before Brown came up with the idea, doctors would prescribe whiskey for physical and psychological ailments — ah, the good old days. According to NPR , before Garvin's idea of bottling whiskey came around, whiskey was sold by the barrel. There were plenty of pitfalls because of this. Patients and doctors would complain of crappy whiskey and inconsistent product. After Brown came up with the idea of bottling whiskey, other brands followed suit. Eventually, Garvin Brown became the "Brown" in the spirits giant Brown-Forman. The company owns legendary brands like Old Forester and Jack Daniel's. If you want to celebrate George Garvin Brown for Bourbon Heritage Month, consider trying a bottle of Old Forester, as that was the first brand Brown actually bottled and sealed. We recommend Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon, a vintage-styled bourbon meant to replicate the type of bourbons the brand made during Prohibition. The bourbonn clocks in at 115 proof and is full of nutty, nougaty, honeyed goodness. Best of all, the bottle hosts a suggested retail price of $56.99. Read our review here .

Julian "Pappy" Van Winkle

[caption id="attachment_51818" align="aligncenter" width="600"] (Photo: Buffalo Trace)[/caption] Few if any whiskeys have achieved more fame and cult-like status than the Van Winkle portfolio. But what about the man behind the bottles? The Van Winkle family has been stewards of the Pappy Van Winkle Brand — which is now owned by Buffalo Trace — for generations. But the story of these famous bottles dates back to Julian. "Pappy" was a salesman, according to Buffalo Trace , and started his career working for the liquor wholesaler W.L. Weller & Sons in 1893. He ended up purchasing the company, and they both purchased the A. Ph. Stitzel Distillery in Louisville. The whiskey that was sold before Prohibition was called "Old Rip Van Winkle." Though Prohibition temporarily killed the brand, it was resurrected by Julian P. Van Winkle in the 1970s. One of the brand's many calling cards is its signature wheated mashbill, which authentically dates back to the time when "Pappy" was making it. Pappy was the oldest distiller, still working on his craft at the age of 91. This whiskey we're recommending will undoubtedly be a splurge, but if you're looking to celebrate Julian "Pappy" Van Winkle for Bourbon Heritage Month, you're probably going to have to pay up. We suggest the Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year, if you can snag a bottle. Though the whiskey hosts a suggested retail price of $120, the reality is you'll typically find it priced upwards of a grand. Mildly tannic yet beautifully balanced with fruity cherries, vanilla bean and toffee, Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year certainly is a pretty bourbon. If you want to read our review, you can view it here .

Frank Sinatra

[caption id="attachment_36042" align="aligncenter" width="600"] (Photo: AP Photo/Toby Talbot, File)[/caption] This next individual might be a little bit surprising, but Ol' Blue Eyes was a massive fan of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey — such a fan, in fact, that the Tennessee whiskey brand even has a special tribute bottle to honor its "lifelong friendship" with the jazz singer in its portfolio. Check out our review of Sinatra Select here . Sinatra essentially acted as a brand ambassador for Jack Daniel's, and he apparently hoisted a Jack Daniel's flag over his home when it was time to have a drink. The singer additionally had an embroidered blazer that read "Jack Daniel's Country Club," and he gave multiple jackets like this to close friends, according to Tasting Table . The singer referred to Jack Daniel's as "the nectar of the gods," during a concert in 1955. Needless to say, sales of the brand's whiskey skyrocketed thanks to the celebrity endorsement. You're welcome to raise a glass to the Chairman of the Board with a glass of Sinatra Select if you'd like, or for a whiskey less tied to Sinatra but very tasty, you can give Jack Daniel's 12 Year Old a try. This whiskey hosts a suggested retail price of $80, but chances are it will go for a couple hundred on the secondary market. This gorgeous whiskey is beautifully balanced, with sweet cream, tobacco and nectarine on the nose. The palate is opulent and has banana nut muffin aromas with an unctuous texture. The finish is gorgeous, with banana, tobacco and plenty of dessert throughout the pour. Read our review here .

Jimmy Russell

Jimmy Russell is a legend within the whiskey world and possesses 60 years of master distilling experience. He's synonymous with brands that need no introduction like Wild Turkey and is the creator of Russell's Reserve. The Kentucky Bourbon Hall Of Famer is also responsible for starting the flavored whiskey craze after inventing Wild Turkey Liqueur, which was flavored with honey according to Whisky Advocate . Russell's Reserve 15 Year Old Bourbon is a great tipple to celebrate Eddie Russell. This bourbon is a departure age-wise from the standard Russell's Reserve 13 and is bottled at 117.2 proof. You can typically find a bottle for the suggested retail price of $250. With a massive nose filled with aromas of root beer and bitter oak, this bourbon is big with plenty of rich wood notes. The palate has plenty of oak with cherries and tobacco, yet is beautifully balanced and rich. The finish on this bourbon is big and oaky through and through. This whiskey is so delicious, it actually made our Best Whiskeys We Tasted in July of 2024 list, and if you want to know more about what we thought of it, you can read our review here . Additionally, if you want something to really honor Russell, keep your eyes out for the recently released Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell’s 70th Anniversary Release Kentucky Straight Bourbon Aged 8 Years , a bourbon released to celebrate the icon's 70 years with the distillery.

Booker Noe

Booker Noe is another whiskey icon, known for none other than Booker's Bourbon.  He's a sixth-generation member of the Beam family — as in Jim Beam — and Booker cut his teeth in the bourbon world working at Beam's Clermont facilities in his 20s. He became a master distiller 41 years later and launched the legendary Booker's brand in 1988, according to Whisky Magazine . Although he passed away in 2004, Booker Noe took on a stewardship role for Jim Beam and often hosted bourbon tastings while sharing with the audience stories about his family legacy. If you're interested in toasting this larger-than-life distiller who was a central fixture to the Beam family story, any Booker's batch will do, but see if you can hunt down Booker's "Noe Stranger's Batch." Released in 2021, and bottled at 62.2% ABV, this is one of the best Booker's releases in recent memory. With plenty of buttercream, peanut brittle and salted caramel on the nose, this whiskey segues into a palate full of plenty of honey and caramel, this whiskey is unbelievably luscious and rich. If you want to read our full review, you can check it out here .

Nathan 'Nearest' Green

Jack Daniel's and Tennessee whiskey as we know it may not exist without Nearest Green, though his story was lost to time — until recently. Green was the first known African American master distiller. He was believed to have been born in Maryland around 1820 and was an enslaved man. Green was incredibly gifted at making smooth whiskey due to his signature sugar maple charcoal filtering process, which many historians suggest is a process used to filter water from West Africa. Though Tennessee whiskey is in essence a bourbon, it uses that charcoal filtering process as an extra step. Eventually, Green taught a young boy named Jasper Daniels — or Jack Daniels — how to make Tennessee whiskey. Eventually, Jack Daniel's became one of the most popular Tennessee whiskey brands in the 1800s. Nearest was his first master distiller. Uncle Nearest, a whiskey brand that honors his legacy, launched in 2017 and since then has taken the world by storm. The brand claims its portfolio of ultra-smooth whiskeys were the most-awarded whiskeys of 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. If you want to raise a glass to Nearest Green, consider enjoying a glass of Uncle Nearest Master Blend Edition. With an ABV of 59.2% and a suggested retail price of $150, this whiskey is worth every penny. Gorgeous dessert aromas dance about in the glass at first whiff: picture Payday bars, toffee and maple candies. The palate is decadent with espresso and plenty of tobacco toffee goodness. The finish of Uncle Nearest Master Blend Edition is loaded with nougat, maple and oak. Click here to read our review in full.

Albert B. Blanton

You could say crisis management was Albert B. Blanton's "thing." Blanton was considered one of the more influential leaders at the Buffalo Trace Distillery. Nicknamed "Colonel Blanton," Albert B. Blanton led Buffalo Trace through World War I, Prohibition, a flood and World War II. Blanton started working for Buffalo Trace at what was the George T. Stagg Distillery in its offices at the tender age of 16, according to the brand . He was promoted to president of the distillery in 1921 and kept Buffalo Trace open throughout Prohibition by getting a government license to create "medicinal whiskey." In addition to leading the brand through those challenges, Blanton made improvements at the property by adding 100 buildings to the campus. If you're looking to celebrate Albert B. Blanton, consider pouring yourself a bit of Blanton's Straight From The Barrel. This bourbon is typically found for between $250 and $300, making it not the cheapest option, but it is well-loved for a reason. The pour on this bourbon is full of cream and sugar, interspersed with cinnamon. The finish is long, with plenty of heat and warm caramel. If you want to see what critics think of it, you can read the reviews here .

Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr.

Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr., or E.H. Taylor Jr., is known as the "Father of the Modern Bourbon Industry," according to Buffalo Trace . An experienced banker, Taylor met some of the most successful whiskey makers during the 1860s. Taylor purchased the O.F.C. distillery and made many innovations at the facility including using copper fermentation tanks, column stills and implementing a steam heating system the brand still uses. Taylor additionally pushed for the passage of the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 and was the mayor of Frankfort, Kentucky, for several years. If you want to raise a glass to one of the founding fathers of the modern bourbon industry, we suggest picking up a bottle of E.H. Taylor Single Barrel, a potent bourbon. This bourbon hosts a suggested retail price of around $60 and is, as Taylor would have wanted it, Bottled In Bond . With loads of vanilla and spice, this bourbon is pleasant — yet potent, and if you're interested in reading what the critics think, you can find the reviews here .

George T. Stagg

Buffalo Trace lauds George T. Stagg as the man who built the distillery into what it is today. Stagg fought in the U.S. Civil War as a captain of the Union Army in 1863. He entered the whiskey world through sales and eventually built a relationship with E.H. Taylor. He would go on to purchase the O.F.C Distillery from E.H. Taylor Jr., and the two joined forces to form E.H. Taylor Jr. and Co. Eventually, the two parted ways, and Stagg continued to build the brand. In the 1990s, the distillery was named after Stagg to honor his many achievements for the Buffalo Trace brand. If you're interested in toasting George T. Stagg — and have some cash to burn — we suggest snagging yourself a bottle of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection George T. Stagg Bourbon. Though it hosts an MSRP of $125, chances are it might set you back as much as a grand, making it a true splurge. 2023 was a monumental year for the George T. Stagg expression within the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, and if you want to see what the critics thought of it, you can check out the reviews here . The nose is full of char, brown butter and Luxardo maraschino cherries. Though this expression clocks in at 130 proof, you'd never know it by the taste of it.  On the palate, picture more char and gobs of brown sugar, with a lingering finish of baking spice and cherry syrup.

William Larue Weller

William Larue Weller hailed from a long line of distillers after the Weller family immigrated to Maryland from Germany in the 1740s. In the mid-1790s, the family began distilling, according to Buffalo Trace. In 1849, William Larue Weller worked as a whiskey dealer and distiller. He launched the company W.L. Weller & Brothers, a popular whiskey brand at the time, then changed the name to W.L. Weller & Sons. Weller ended up hiring Julian "Pappy" Van Winkle Sr. at the company, and eventually Pappy ended up merging the distillery with the A. Ph. Stitzel Distillery to create the storied Stitzel-Weller Distillery. If you're looking to raise a glass to William Larue Weller, consider giving W.L. Weller 12 Year a try, if you can score a bottle. This 12-year-old bourbon with a 45% ABV hosts an MSRP of $40, yet due to demand it will probably set you back anywhere from $150 to $300. A sweet and fruity whiskey — partially due to the higher percentages of wheat in its mashbill — with brown sugar and cream, this is dessert in a glass. To see what the critics think, click here .

Mary Dowling

Mary Dowling was a trailblazer and brilliant businesswoman. Known as the "Mother of Bourbon," Dowling was the first female distillery owner and operator in America — and she did at all while raising eight children. During Prohibition, Mary Dowling was caught in a sting operation. She was arrested for owning and selling alcohol during Prohibition. Though she did walk free, Dowling was intelligent enough to relocate her operations at the Waterfill and Frazier Distillery down to Mexico, where she could continue her bourbon business unencumbered. To honor her legacy, Rabbit Hole Distillery founder Kaveh Zamanian founded Mary Dowling Whiskey in 2023. We suggest raising a glass to her contributions with a bottle of Mary Dowling Bourbon Finished in Tequila Barrels, and you can read what the critics think here . With a suggested retail price of $79.99, this 93-proof bourbon spent time finishing in barrels that once housed sacrificial sherry, Oloroso sherry, Vin Doux Naturel and Reposado tequila to honor Dowling's time spent in Mexico. The nose is fruity, giving away the tequila barrel influence. On the palate, this bourbon shows that influence again, with sweet cream and honey. The finish is short and sweet with plenty going on. Consider Mary Dowling Bourbon Finished in Tequila Barrels a true agave-lover's bourbon, and a great way to celebrate Dowling's legacy. [newsletter-promo]