Skip to content
Search
Cuisine Noir Magazine
Support Our Work - Donate
Support Our Work - Donate
  • Food & Drink
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Recipes
  • Book Grub
  • Events
  • Print
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Videos
    • CN Review
    • Donate
Cuisine Noir Magazine
Search for:
  • Food & Drink
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Recipes
  • Book Grub
  • CN Review
  • Print
  • Events
  • Videos
Support Our Work - Donate
Support Our Work - Donate
Search
Cuisine Noir Magazine
Support Our Work - Donate
Support Our Work - Donate
  • Food & Drink
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Recipes
  • Book Grub
  • Events
  • Print
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Videos
    • CN Review
    • Donate
Cuisine Noir Magazine
Search for:
  • Food & Drink
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Recipes
  • Book Grub
  • CN Review
  • Print
  • Events
  • Videos
Support Our Work - Donate
Support Our Work - Donate

The Black Heritage of Kentucky’s Bourbon

Kentucky bourbon - Evan Williams Bourbon Experience in Louisville, Kentucky
Pictured: Evan Williams Bourbon Experience | Photo credit: Marty Pearl for LCVB
March 23, 2022
Mira Cassidy
Share this article
       

Recently, the City of Louisville pulled together a dynamic team from various museums, services, and skillsets to establish lessons in Black heritage called The Unfiltered Truth Collection. Included is the history of bourbon explained through The Ideal Bartender Experience at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience or Black Americans in Bourbon at the Frazier History Museum. While in attendance, one of the main facts visitors learn is the secret to good bourbon—water.

“Kentucky is the mecca of bourbon,” says Greg Ward, training and development manager of the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. “Obviously, every other city and every other state has water, but what makes Kentucky’s water unique is that Kentucky sits on a gigantic limestone shelf, and that rainwater filters all through that limestone and it goes through the aquifer, and people are able to get the water out of the aquifers.”

He continues, “The limestone does a couple of things, it adds minerals, but the most important thing it does is take out the iron. And if you make whiskey with any type of iron in the water, then it turns black. That is why a lot of people contribute Kentucky for having a good bourbon industry because of the water.”

Who is Tom Bullock?

Speaking of The Ideal Bartender Experience, Ward shares, “Tom Bullock is a very important gentleman in history because he was an African American bartender. He used to work at the Pendennis Club before prohibition and he was the son of a former slave. He is famous for a number of reasons, but the most famous reason that we’re associated with is because he invented the old fashion cocktail. What he did was use bourbon, and most importantly he wrote a cocktail book called “The Ideal Bartender.” He published it, and that is how he got his claim to fame.”

Kentucky bourbon - Black Heritage Experiences in Louisville, Kentucky
Pictured: Black Heritage Experiences | Photo credit: Crystal Ludwick for Louisville Tourism

Black Americans in Bourbon

Brian West, the creative mind behind Black Americans in Bourbon, says, “It’s not just one man that’s responsible for the story of bourbon. It’s many people, and I don’t want to lose sight of the fact that those who were enslaved were really instrumental in carrying the burden of having to harvest the crops, having to mash the grains, and after slavery worked in the distilleries patching, fixing the leaks and putting on the labels.”

  • Brough Brothers Distillery Puts Louisville Front and Center on Bourbon Map Christian, Victor, Bryson Yarbrough of Brough Brothers bourbon
  • Kentucky Natives Sean and Tia Edwards Produce a Fresh Take on Bourbon Sean and Tia Edwards, Fresh Bourbon

Both experiences not only teach attendees the history of bourbon but also gives a rundown of key individuals, past and present, that played a part in the production like Tom Bullock, James V. Johnson, Jimmy Johnson, Freddie Williams, Elmer Lucille Allen, The Brough Brothers, and Tia and Shawn Edwards.

West expounds, “The history of Black Americans and bourbon is very complicated. There are still very many bright spots, especially nowadays. It’s really a story that until now has not been documented and has not been told.”

How It Came About

Louisville’s Unfiltered Truth Collection covers several historical events of the African American experience. Jordan Skora, marketing communications manager of Louisville Tourism, explains more about this collection of Black heritage and how it came to be.

Kentucky bourbon - Brian West of Black Americans in Bourbon in Louisville, Kentucky
Pictured: Brian West of Black Americans in Bourbon |Photo credit: Crystal Ludwick for Louisville Tourism

“When news of Muhammad Ali’s passing in 2016 shook up the world and garnered global media attention it was apparent that there was a desire for people to have a place to celebrate his life and legacy, and a curated experience around Ali tourism was born. The attention this generated shined a light on our visitor demographics and the fact that only 11% of the city’s visitors were Black when Louisville’s Black residents make up over 22% of the population.

RELATED: Rich Louisville Experiences Capture City’s Black Culture

“Our leadership wanted to grow this percentage. While marketing Ali and bourbon tourism more directly to Black consumers, we learned of the 100th anniversary of Tom Bullock’s “Ideal Bartender” cocktail book and his ties to Louisville. Combined with the Black jockey’s legacy and the desire to grow visitation, the idea to cultivate a collection of Louisville’s Black heritage experiences was born.”

Get to know bourbon more intimately by exploring the Kentucky Bourbon Trail here and You can watch West talk more about the Unfiltered Truth experiences in this video.

Learn more about The Unfiltered Truth Collection here. And to start planning your trip to Louisville, Kentucky here.

  • Kitwanda and Tyronne Cypus of Kiki's Chicken and Waffles in South Carolina
    under Black Chefs, Food & DrinkKiki’s Chicken and Waffles Holds the Right Bones for Success
  • James Harden with J-Harden Wines
    under Food & DrinkJames Harden Celebrates First Anniversary of J-Harden Wines with Visit in Houston
  • JJ Williams and his daughters on the show "Bring It"
    under Food & DrinkThe New Breakout Culinary Star of Lifetime’s “Bring It” Series, JJ Williams
  • under Food & DrinkRhonda McCullough-Gilmore: Memories of Bernie Mac & Cooking with Love
Share this article
Mira Cassidy

Mira is an empowerment coach, motivational speaker and an award-winning writer. As a culture and educational enthusiast she believes that food, drink, travel, and lifestyle are the keys to wellness.

Related Articles

Loading...
Featured Food & Drink

Emily Meggett’s Legacy Honored Through Food and Family

Big Dave's Lawrenceville
Food & Drink

Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks Serves Up a Taste of Philly in Georgia

Black Chefs Food & Drink

Bomb Biscuit’s Erika Council Pays Tribute to Black Biscuit Makers in New Book

Be the first to know about the latest online, industry updates, world news, events and promotions that connect the African diaspora through food, drink and travel.


    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising

    #IAmCuisineNoir

    This site participates in affiliate programs. See our full disclosure for more information.

    Copyright© 2023 Cuisine Noir and The Global Food and Drink Initiative. Privacy Site by ACS Digital

    Any unauthorized duplication, download or reprint of images or content from this website for promotional or commercial use is strictly prohibited without written permission from The Global Food and Drink Initiative. Violators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Trademark pending.

    YES!  We’re excited you are signing up too!  

    Get ready to receive our weekly newsletter about:

    • New articles online
    • World news and industry happenings throughout the African Diaspora
    • Mouthwatering recipes
    • Promotions and giveaways

    Right in your inbox!