Whiskey Warriors

We West Point Whiskey Warriors gave it our best shot on the Bourbon Trail in Kentucky. By the numbers, there were fourteen of us ‘78ers, along with eight wives, from twelve states. We sampled at nine distilleries in four days, and had one helluva good time. Numbers of course don’t capture everything, or for that matter, much of anything.

Bill Moeller, our Yoda in all things whiskey related, first formally announced the trip and mini Class of ‘78 reunion in January of ‘25. The tour was limited to 14, as that is the maximum for tastings at many of the distilleries. Wives were also invited, and Bridget, Bill’s wife, would “organize” separate tastings and events for the ladies. Cathy and I discussed it and we were both in.  As an aside, Cathy and Bridget first met when they were the pourers for a class of ‘78 whiskey tasting we did at the Biltmore back in ‘22.*

The planning continued over the next several months with emails and Zoom calls. Bill masterfully kept us organized and on track. Some folk dropped off, and others were added. A couple of people looked to join us for specific days or events. The distilleries where we would taste included: Heaven Hill, Woodford Reserve, Buffalo Trace, Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Whiskey Thief, Old Forester, Michter’s, and Evan Williams. A complete list of our crew can be found in the addendum. 

 On the first day, after a quick tasting at Heaven Hill, Bill started us off with a group dinner at the Old Talbott Inn, which also happens to house the oldest Bourbon Bar in America. Built in 1779, just three years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, it was the western most stagecoach stop in the country at the time. After a great dinner, we adjourned upstairs to the “Jesse James” Room, so named because there are holes in the wall, from bullets fired by Jesse James at a mural during a visit. Mr James, after consuming a few beverages, evidently thought some birds in the mural were alive. ;-). We didn’t have any six-shooters with us, but Bill did pour us shots of Green River’s 250th Army Anniversary Bourbon. We drank to the Army, and to our 97 departed classmates.

 For the next three days we toured distilleries. At each of them, Bill presented a challenge coin* we created for our reunion to our tour guides, or other people who helped insure we had a good trip. Most were very appreciative.  Challenge coins are something of a military tradition and presented to individuals who do something in support of a military unit.

 We classmates woke up early and travelled in a van together. Depending on the day, we visited 2 or 3 distilleries. Our wives were on a more leisurely tour. They slept in a bit, ate a late breakfast and then travelled in two cars. They typically did something else early in the day, and then linked up with us at a distillery for a tour or tasting. I like to think of our two groups as forming a helix, with periodic touch points, if that makes sense. The ladies said when they linked up with us, we men often looked like “kids in a candy store.” 😉

 On the first full day, we visited Woodford Reserve, Buffalo Trace, and Whiskey Thief. All were good, and of course, most of us stocked up on hard-to-find bottles while at Buffalo Trace. It’s worth noting that at Buffalo Trace, we did the special EH Taylor tour. Taylor was the great, great, great, great, great Uncle of our Classmate Dave Pickerell, who was the master distiller at Maker’s Mark for fourteen years.  I’ve written about Dave in previous blogs (see below). The ladies also made Woodford and Buffalo Trace, where several did tastings, or enjoyed a midday Old Fashioned.

 As good as those tours were, it was day two that really stands out in my mind, and I suspect in the minds of most of my fellow Whiskey Warriors. The first stop of the day was at Jim Beam. In addition to Jim Beam itself, they make Knob Creek, Bakers, Bookers, and the Little Book family of bourbons and whiskeys. We would taste and enjoy all of those while visiting. 

Bill had arranged a special two hour VIP tour for us. Our guide, Sam, was wonderful.  Half way through, we were exactly on time.  We eventually came to the tasting room, where Sam talked us through the 4 whiskies on the tasting. She then added a bonus tasting of Little Book, Chapter 9. Our already good moods elevated to another level. We somehow lost time, or perhaps track of time, and our two hour tour ended up taking two hours and forty minutes, meaning we would arrive late to our next destination, Maker’s Mark.  In the van, no one seemed to mind as we were all talking loudly and enjoying the scenic drive.

 At Makers, we linked up briefly with our wives as they were finishing lunch. They were getting ready for their tour, which also included a special art tour of a Chihuly Glass exhibition. Seated with them was none other than Bill Samuels Jr, the son of the founder of Maker’s Mark. He is a legend in the industry and is who hired our classmate, Dave Pickerell as the master distiller. 

 Bill joined us guys for a sit down lunch and discussions about Dave, bourbon, and the world in general. A humble man, he also told us stories of his life as an engineer and as a lawyer. It was an amazing event and something I’ll always remember. At the conclusion, Bill Moeller presented him with one of our coins as a thank you.

After our VIP tour at Maker’s, some of us dipped newly purchased bottles in their trademarked red wax. Our wives were finishing their tour as well, and the 22 of us posed for a picture.  I think everyone looks pretty happy. 

 On day three, we left Bardstown and made our way to Louisville for tastings at Old Forester, Michter’s, and Evan Williams. The Michter’s tour was special and we were able to try (and buy) their rarely found Bomberger’s and Shenk’s whiskeys.  At Evan Williams, we again linked up with the ladies. Several of them had just come from a tour and mint juleps at Churchill Downs. 

 That evening we all stayed at the historic Brown Hotel in Louisville.  It’s one of those grand old hotels that I love. Bill had arranged for a private three course farewell dinner.  As Cath and I came from our room and joined the group, I noticed a high percentage of folk were drinking Manhattans, Old Fashioneds, and whiskey neat.  When in Rome… 😉 

 If you are going to do a group dinner at the Brown, there is really only one meal to serve – their famous Hot Brown, a dish originally created in 1926. They then doubled down and served Derby Pie for dessert.  After the meal, most of us adjourned to the rooftop of the Brown for cigars and more libations. Eventually, with handshakes and hugs people said their goodbyes.  

On the drive home, Cath and I talked about what a wonderful time we had, and how easily everyone mixed with each other. Some of the folk we knew quite well.  Others only a bit, and some not at all. It didn’t matter – we have a mutual bond that ties us.  I thought too about our conversations and the flow of the four days. We didn’t seem to talk about West Point or the Army as much as I’d noticed at other reunions and get togethers. I mean, sure we did some.  But we also talked about life, about bourbon, and travel and meals in other places. Given we are all at or near 70, it’s no surprise we also talked about health and health related issues. That seems to be a fact of life at a certain age, and this trip was no different.  What was different is I heard no one whining about it. All of us have issues. It comes down to how we are dealing with it, and still living life to the fullest, both on this trip, and in our lives in general. 

 Yes, it was a super trip with great people. Old friends and new friends. Classmates and wives. West Point Proud and Great ‘78, one and all. 

Addendum:

• Our complete crew consisted of: Bill and Bridget Moeller, Blair Ross, Bob Rush and Erica Ellis, Rob and Jan Grubbs, Bond Wells, Max and Cathy Hall, Rusty Roberts, Michell Clark, Al and Sue Aycock, Dale Hamby, Mike and Terri Schaefer, Alan and Susan Anderson, Ed O’Neil, and Jay and Julia Butler.  Bobby and Barbara Knight joined us for the Monday welcome dinner and Thursday dinner, and Bobby Williams joined us for the Michter’s Tour and Thursday dinner.  Participants came from Pennsylvania, Virginia, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kentucky. Seven of us were veterans of the WhistlePig tasting we did in 2023 (blog below).
• A special thanks to Bill and Bridget for all of the planning they did on this trip. It was a truly wonderful time. 
• ** You can read more about Challenge Coins online at: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenge_coin
• Here are two other whiskey/West Point related blogs I’ve done in the past. Both touch on our classmate Dave Pickerell and his influence on the whiskey industry.
  • * When Rob asked if I would help “host” the whiskey tasting for the West Point Class of ‘78 mini-reunion at The Biltmore, I immediately said yes. During the tasting, we honored classmate Dave Pickerell, later known as The “Johnny Appleseed” of Craft Whiskey, and all of our departed classmates […] Continue at: https://mnhallblog.wordpress.com/2022/04/19/pickerell-the-biltmore-and-the-whiskey-tasting/
  • We were on a mission to the WhistlePig Distillery in Vermont. Twelve classmates gathered to taste whiskey from five barrels. We would select two for the West Point Proud and Great, Class of ‘78 45th reunion this coming fall. We didn’t want to let our classmates down […] Continue here: https://mnhallblog.wordpress.com/2023/05/09/__trashed-2/

• Thank you to various classmates for providing some of the photos in this blog.