Few people know that George Washington was a pioneer in developing the American whiskey industry. From modest beginnings in the first decades of the 17th century, the production of alcoholic beverages in America expanded and matured until by the early 1800s it was one of the most important industries in the young nation. Over time whiskey made from locally grown grain replaced rum distilled from Caribbean molasses as the preferred spirit. The distillery George Washington established at his Mount Vernon estate in 1797 quickly grew to be one of the largest producers in the country. Washington’s largely unknown and unexamined career as a distiller forms the core of this detailed portrayal of the early years of Americans’ close attachments to beverage alcohol.
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$25 General Admission (Members receive a 20% discount. Learn more)
Admission includes a sample of George Washington’s original recipe, unaged rye whiskey made in the Mount Vernon Distillery using 18th century techniques.
Expanded Whiskey Flight:Â $16.50
Make your tasting a flight! Enjoy two additional samples of the whiskeys made in George Washington’s reconstructed distillery: George Washington’s Straight Rye Whiskey (aged 2-3 years) and George Washington’s Premium Rye Whiskey (aged 5 years). Whiskey flights are available for pre-sale until 4pm on November 29 but will also be available for purchase onsite at the event.
VIP Tables: $300 (Members receive a 20% discount. Learn more)
Tables include seating for four, four full flights of all three whiskeys, a personal tray of snacks to enjoy, a bottle of sparkling water, and four mini-bottles of George Washington’s Straight Rye Whiskey to enjoy at home. VIP tables must be purchased before 4pm on November 29.
A signature cocktail will also be available for purchase at the event. Member discount does not apply to whiskey flights and drink purchases.
The evening’s guest speaker, Dr. Dennis J. Pogue, led the effort to excavate the site of Washington’s still house and faithfully reconstruct the building to serve as both an educational venue and an operating whiskey distillery. During his 25 years working at George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate, Museum & Gardens, he founded the archaeological research program and as Vice President for Preservation he oversaw all preservation related activities on the property.
