History

In 1805, just 13 years after Kentucky became a state, my great-great-great grandfather, Charles Burks, opened a gristmill outside Loretto, Kentucky, and began making whiskey with the ground up corn. Over the years, a real functional distillery and several homes were built on the property. The land stayed in the Burks family until 1919 when Prohibition forced the closure of the distillery. The farm, the distillery, and the house on the property where my father and aunt were born were all sold, and the family moved to Louisville. After Prohibition ended, several attempts were made to revive the distillery, but they were not successful. In 1953 Bill Samuels, Sr. bought the property/distillery, and Maker’s Mark was born. Some of the equipment my grandfather installed in the distillery is still being used, and the house my dad and aunt were born in is now part of the Visitor's Center at Maker's Mark.

Now, over 200 years after my relatives started making whiskey, I am proud with the help of friends and family to bring back to life the same whiskey my grandfather last made before Prohibition. We are using the same mash bill, proof, and age in our new bourbon, Burks Spring Bourbon. I hope you will enjoy our new bourbon as we salute our family's proud tradition.

Dick Burks, Burks Spring Distillery