Edwin S. Foote

Inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2008, Edwin Foote began his post-college life as a teacher in 1961, but needed more money to raise his family. Fortunately for the bourbon world, Foote answered an advertisement for the Henry McKenna Distillery in Fairfield, Ky. 

He quickly showed promise and eventually became a Seagram’s beer chemist, where he analyzed samples from Seagram’s five Kentucky distilleries. In 1982, Foote was hired as the distiller for Stitzel-Weller (also referred to as Old Fitzgerald Distillery). He made Rebel Yell, Weller and the famous Van Winkle lines, among other brands. He retired in the 1990s, but his work laid the groundwork for Whiskey. 

“Ed made our (Pappy Van Winkle) label famous as most of our popularity came while we were bottling whiskey he made. It was arguably the best on the planet according to some. I sure enjoyed it,” says Julian Van Winkle.

Ed spent his life focusing on wheated bourbons. Despite working on so many famous lines, Ed has a special place in his heart for Maker’s Mark.