“We were lucky to have Elmer with us for 93 years. “After a century has passed since he was born, we want to honor Elmer and share our admiration with his family and others, while also giving back to Elmer’s local VFW,” said Kris Comstock, senior marketing director in a press release this morning. Lee 100 Year Tribute bottle will go towards Frankfort VFW Post 4075, where Elmer was a member until his passing. But today, I think it’s safe to say Elmer made a wise move.”Įlmer, a World War II Veteran, flew missions over Japan as a radar bombardier on B-29 flights with the US Army Air Force. At first Blanton’s wasn’t popular, and Elmer feared it may not take off. “Elmer took a big risk creating a single barrel bourbon, but he hoped it would generate new interest in bourbon and revive the industry.
“What Elmer did for American whiskey is hard to grasp in today’s terms, but in 1984, bourbon was in the doldrums and sales were low,” stated Harlen Wheatley, Buffalo Trace’s current master distiller. He continued to work as an ambassador for the brands long after his official retirement in 1985. He began his work at the distillery in 1949 following his graduation, working his way up to Master Distiller and creating beloved brands like Blanton’s. Lee, who passed away in 2013, was a force behind the revitalization of Buffalo Trace. Lee with a 100th Birthday edition of his namesake bottle, 100 Year Tribute Single Barrel Bourbon. Photo Courtesy Buffalo Trace.īuffalo Trace Distillery is honoring late Master Distiller Elmer T. Lee 100 Year Tribute Single Barrel Bourbon. Interestingly, the Buffalo Trace name is borrowed from the DBA ("doing business as") name that Age International used to bottle Elmer T. This is an arrangement that is still in place today. This saw the American company take ownership of the distillery (which they renamed Buffalo Trace in 1999), as well as the exclusive production and US distribution rights for the Age International labels.
As it turned out, their only interest was in the brands, and they had used the 30 days to negotiate a deal with the Sazerac Company of New Orleans.
ELMER LEE BOURBON FULL
With the deal all but done, the Japanese company stepped in on the final day of the window to acquire full control of the company. Their deal the year before had included a 30 day right of refusal to purchase the shares for themselves should they be put up for sale.
ELMER LEE BOURBON SERIES
In an unusual series of events, they then scuppered a deal the following year that was to see the remaining shares sold to Heublein (a subsidiary of Grand Metropolitan). In 1991, with Age International in some financial trouble, a Japanese company called Takaro Shuzo stepped in and acquired a 22.5% stake in the company. The popularity of these products was particularly high in Japan, coinciding with a market boom for American whiskey there in the 1980s. At the time of his death in 2013, Elmer was one of only two living master distillers with a bourbon named after them. In a fitting tribute, the following year saw the distillery launch the Elmer T. One of his final pioneering triumphs before doing so was the introduction of mass produced single barrel bourbon through the creation of the Blanton's brand in 1984. Lee, who had served there for 36 years, working his way from the bottom up. The deal was completed in 1983, two years before the retirement of George T. They had approached Schenley in the early 1980s with a view to purchasing its Old Charter brand, but were instead offered Ancient Age and the George T. Lee is a bourbon brand from the portfolio of Age International, the company formed by former Fleischmann's Distilling director's, Bob Baranaskas and Ferdie Falke.
Elmer T Lee Single Barrel Kentucky Bourbon 2006 / Signed by Elmer T LeeĮlmer T.
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