Several years ago, I gave a presentation to the staff at Mount Vernon, home of George Washington, in Virginia.

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I thought this would be my only visit. It proved to be the start of an adventure.

Several years later I receive an email asking if my skills with a wood fired oven might be transferable. They had rebuilt George Washington’s distillery, back onto its original site and were running it using period equipment and a recipe from 1799.

 

They had the help of one of the worlds great distillers, Dave Pickerall. I was asked to go an learn from him and teach what I could about using wood fires under the still.

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So, whenever I can, I pack up and go to Mount Vernon to help with a Whiskey run.

I went with some knowledge but have gained many skills in return.

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There is a real thrill, (and a real danger) running a 95 gallon copper pot still with a wood fire burning under it. No temperature measures, no pressure gauges, just you, and your senses.

Each day it is another rollercoaster when the whisky starts to run.

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Sadly Dave passed away in 2018, a great loss to the world of whiskey.

I hope I can continued to use all the things I learned from him.

 

Mount Vernon White and aged whiskey is only available from the Store at the Mount Vernon Estate.