Chuck, thank you so much for your knowledge and candor!
As I asked Mike V. some months ago to explain this entry:
"1870 - John E Fitzgerald builds distillery in Frankfort Ky.
[origin of Old Fitzgerald] (N Morgan, 18/11/91). "
But gained no reply.
Now we know for sure that John E. Fitzgerald never built a distillery in Louisville (or anywhere else for that matter); was never a distiller, and never owned; distilled, or bottled "Old Fitzgerald" bourbon.
Yes, I konw that Prof. Veach never said this entry was the absolute truth - just that someone named N. Morgan said it was true in 1991.
This kind of entry needs some intellectual unpacking, and editorial comment. Surely one could be kind and say that this is mearly an innocent misrepresentation by one N. Morgan, but the facts are ...X...Y... & Z.
There can be no greater honor than to be known as the "Great De-Bunker of Bourbon Bunk" (read 'Lore' or lies if you're hardy enough).
Linn