As I’ve noted before, bourbon can be made anywhere in the United States. In fact, North Carolina has been making bourbon since the U.S. was founded. Old Nick Williams Co. calls itself “America’s Most Famous Forgotten Distillery” — and for good reason.
The deep roots of North Carolina whiskey began when the original Williams Distillery was established by Joseph Williams in 1768. Successive generations ran the distillery, and in the late 1800s, Glen Williams changed the name to “Old Nick.” He grew the business, showing whiskey at the World’s Fair in Chicago in 1893 and at the Paris Exposition in 1900.
Then, Prohibition came. The distillery had to destroy 28,000 gallons of whiskey and shut down operations.
In 2014, two Williams brothers, Van and John, decided it was time to bring the Lewisville distillery back. Today, Old Nick Williams Co. has two whiskeys: an unaged white whiskey and an aged bourbon whiskey. The latter won a Double Gold medal at the 2018 San Francisco World Spirits Awards.
Tasting notes: On the nose, the soft wood notes complement the spice. It’s a lovely sipping whiskey with a great finish. Perfect in an old fashioned.
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This makes old nicks one of the first legal US distilleries! If not the first! Buffalo Trace is 10 years behind, along with Laird