Here is a brief history (as it has to be) of Maker's Mark for the Maker's fans.
1780 - Samuels family come to Kentucky (Courier-Journal,
Oct.3, 1992).
1805 - A distillery is built at the location of Makers Mark
distillery in Loretto Ky. (World Guide to Whiskey,
Jackson).
1844 - T W Samuels opens his first commercial distillery at
Deatsville, Kentucky (History of Nelson County,
Distilleries).
1889 - The present day distillery (Old Happy Hollow) is built
on the foundations of the earlier distillery (World
Guide to Whiskey, Jackson).
1910 - T William Samuels is born (Courier-Journal, Oct.3,
1992).
1911 - W. B. Samuels & Co. listed in the 1911 Mida's Financial
Index as Dy. No. 241, 5th Dist., Samuels, Ky. with a
capital value of $15,000 to $20,000. The T W Samuels Distiller, was Dy. No. 145, 5th Dist.,
Deatsville, Ky. with a capital value of $10,000 to
$15,000.
Burks Spring Distillery Co., Dy No. 440, 5th Dist.
Loretto, Ky. was listed with a capital value of $30,000
to $40,000.
1933 - The T W Samuels distillery is re-opened after
prohibition (History of Nelson County, Distilleries).
1943 - The T W Samuels Brand is taken off the market (Belles,
Bluegrass and Bourbon, Harry Harrison Kroll).
1946 - Glenmore purchases Old Happy Hollow distillery (1946
Glenmore Annual Report).
1948 - Glenmore sells Old Happy Hollow Distillery (1948
Glenmore Annual Report).
1951 - The T W Samuels label is re-introduced in the market
(Belles, Bluegrass and Bourbon, Kroll).
1953 - Makers Mark is created by T William Samuels (World
Guide to Whiskey, Jackson).
o - Samuels comes to Pappy Van Winkle at Stitzel-Weller to
receive a formula and yeast for their new whiskey (Oral
History of the Bourbon Industry in Kentucky, U of L
Archives).
1966 - T.W. Samuels Distillery, Inc. is listed with 16 whiskey
brands at Deatsville, Ky. (1966 Red Book, p.49).
o - The Star Hill Distilling Company is listed with just
three versions of Maker's Mark (1966 Red Book, p.52).
1967 - Bill Samuels Jr. joins the company (The Book of
Bourbon..., Gary and Mardee Regan, p.155).
1975 - Bill Samuels Jr. becomes President of Makers Mark
(Courier-Journal, Oct.3, 1992).
1981 - Makers Mark is sold to Hiram-Walker & Sons. (Courier
-Journal, Oct.3, 1992).
1992 - T William Samuels dies (Courier-Journal, Oct. 3, 1992).
1993 - Makers Mark produces a special edition of liter bottles
with blue wax to commemorate the University of
Kentucky's participation in the South-Eastern
Conference basketball tournament (Courier-Journal,
12/3/93)
Mike Veach