After 200 Years, George Washington's Distillery Again Making Whiskey

After George Washington left the presidency, he became the most successful whiskey producer in the nation. After a 200 year hiatus and a $2.1 million reconstruction, on March 30, Mount Vernon, Washington's estate and a major tourist attraction, opened Washington's rye whiskey distillery to the public. The reconstructed distillery is located a few miles away from the mansion on its original 1799 site. Earlier this year, the state of Virginia's General Assembly allowed Mount Vernon to sell limited quantities (up to 5000 gallons) to the visiting public.

The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States and the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America paid for the distillery's reconstruction with the goal of creating a national distillery museum. Mount Vernon's distillery will serve as "the gateway" to the "American Whiskey Trail", also sponsored by the Distilled Spirits Council in cooperation with Mount Vernon. The Trail provides an educational tour of historical sites including Mount Vernon and New York's Fraunce's Tavern, along with operating distilleries including Jim Beam and Wild Turkey in Kentucky, and Jack Daniels in Tennessee. The Council also aims to create an American whiskey tourism industry much like Scotland's thriving whiskey tourism industry.

The Distilled Spirits Council is a national trade association representing America's leading distillers and "nearly 80% of all distilled spirit brands" sold in the United States.

After George Washington's death, his whiskey business died with him. In 1814, the distillery itself burned to the ground. Archaeological work began at the distillery site in the mid-nineties. This work enabled the reconstruction to begin. It was the discovery of five copper pot stills that gave insight into the 18th century distilling process and helped spur sponsorship of the reconstruction project.