Bulleit/Diageo Whiskey Founders
(North American Founders Only)
(NOTE: FOUNDERS ARE LISTED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
1
Barry Becton
As the “aughts” began, Diageo as a multinational conglomerate was then only about five years old, but the decade already saw the young company undergoing further change. With acquisitions including Captain Morgan Rum, Crown Royal, Ltd., and Don Julio tequila, as well as the divestiture of most of its non-beverage holdings, the organization was seeking to focus heavily on its core assets, alcoholic beverages. Barry Becton was at that time a rising star at Diageo North America, where he played a key role in the company’s expansion into bourbon production.
2
I.W. Bernheim
Things were moving fast for the two brothers – so much, two years later in 1872 they opened their own liquor company “Bernheim Brothers Distillery” after a dispute with the owners at Loeb & Bloom over becoming partners with interest in the business. The brothers are believed to have contributed their life savings of $1,200 to help fund the $3,200 start-up.
3
Tom Bulleit
There is family history behind Bulleit Whiskey. The Bulleit Distilling Company was a dream hatched by Thomas E. Bulleit Jr., back in 1987. Tom had a successful law practice, but followed in his great-great-grand father’s footsteps, Augustus Bulleit, risking everything to fulfill that dream.
4
Ralph Dupps
Ralph Louis Dupps was born October 15th, 1917 in Louisville, Kentucky. He graduated from Male High School and served as a pilot in World War 2. He graduated from the Speed Scientific School of Engineering, University of Louisville and became a mechanical engineer. He eventually ran the Bernheim Distillery in Louisville after starting in the business working on boilers for the Shenley Corporation who at the time was one of the largest liquor companies.