T-roy and Mike,
I was waiting for BrendaJ to say something since she is related to the Burkes, but I talked to her yesterday and her modem has crashed. It may be a few days before she is up and running again. She did say that she will respond with some photos and information when she is back inservice so please hold on and don't give up on her.
Oh this is so exciting!
I'm sorry to be so long replying, but like Mike said, I 'have issues'...
I wasn't really aware that Burks Springs did "did a whole lot of contract bottling" like the note from Maker's Mark said. I do know they did a sweet mash and a sour mash, as well as a 'blackberry something'. I have some black and whites of the old distillery buildings, and I have a photo of a pint bottle of Old Greenbriar, which was a local brand they sold around Kentucky. I'll post them as soon as I get this computer thing smoothed out.
However, as luck would have it, Mike had the good fortune to connect with a lady at the Filson Club last week that is also related to the Burks. It seems this lady is in possession of several boxes of family papers from the distillery. I betcha there are clues in those boxes. He has given her my numbers and I'm looking very forward to hearing from her.
I promise to post anything and everything I may come up with. And gee whiz...I sure am interested in hearing how it tasted.
Bj
As a Kentuckian, I consider it my civic duty to drink Bourbon, smoke and bet the ponies. Its a tuff job, but someone has to do it...