1780 – Jacob Beam and others setup in Bardstown/Kentucky Whiskey becomes known as “Bourbon”.
1783 – Evan Williams becomes Kentucky's first licensed distiller.
1785 – Rev. Elijah Craig leads congregation into Louisville.
1789 – Elijah Craig becomes known as the “Father of Bourbon” after he stores his whiskey in barrels that he has accidentally charred.
1791 – Whiskey Rebellion.
1792 – Kentucky is admitted to statehood/Bourbon becomes the term used for Kentucky Corn Whiskey.
1794 – Proof and Excise Tax first passed on Bourbon.
1800’s
1820 – Dr. James Crow comes to KY, begins distilling, develops the sour mash process.
1830’s – 1860’s – Rapid expansion of commercial distilling.
1830 – The Temperance Movement begins.
1831 – Aeneas Coffey creates “continuous” still.
1837 – Henry McKenna comes to the U.S., settles in Fairfield, Kentucky.
1852 – Bourbon production begins at the site of todays Bernheim Distillery.
1860’s – 1890’s – Bourbon becomes popular among the upper classes.
1865 – Isaac W. Bernheim purchases the Pleasure Ridge Park Distillery and renames it Bernheim.
1870’s – John Fitzgerald begins production of Fitzgeralds Wheated Bourbon .
1893 – Anti-Saloon League is founded.
1900’s
1920 – Volstead Act becomes law, begins era of Prohibition/Mock funeral for “John Barleycorn” .
1932 - The repeal of Prohibition.
1933 – Distilling resumes following Prohibition.
1934 – Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. is founded by the five Shapira brothers.
1935 – Barrel #1 is filled.
1946 – Earl Beam leaves the D.M. Beam company and succeeds his cousin Harry as Heaven Hill Master Distiller
1961 - Barrel #1,000,000 is filled
1964 – U.S. Congress protects the word “BOURBON” as uniquely American
1971 - Max Shapira, son of Ed Shapira, joins as Director of Corporate Planning
1976 - Barrel #2,000,000 is filled
1976 – Harry Shapira, son of David Shapira, joins the family business as Vice President and Treasurer.
1988 - Barrel #3,000,000is filled
1996 – Heaven Hill's historic original Bardstown Distillery burns down in a fire. George Shapira, last surviving member of the five founding brothers, passes away
1996 – Max Shapira becomes President of Heaven Hill Distilleries Inc.
1998 - Barrel #4,000,000 is filled on January 13.
1999 - Heaven Hill acquires the historic Bernheim Distillery.
2000's - Heaven Hill Today
2001 - Current Heaven Hill Director of Marketing Strategy Kate Shapira Latts and her husband, Director of Corporate Planning Allan Latts, join the family business.
2003 - Heaven Hill breaks ground for the Heaven Hill Distilleries Bourbon Heritage Center set to open in Fall 2004.
2004 - Heaven Hill dedicates the new Heaven Hill Trolley to tour Bardstown and Nelson County.
2004 - Heaven Hill dedicates the Heaven Hill Distilleries Bourbon Heritage Center.
2004 - Wine Enthusiast names Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. "Distiller of the Year" .
2005 - Heaven Hill introduces Bernheim Wheat Whiskey.
2005 - Heaven Hill introduces PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur .
2006 - Barrel #5,000,000 is filled on January 31st.
2007 - Andy Shapira joins the family business as Director of Sales Analysis.
History
Historyhttp://www.bourbonheritagecenter.com/2007-08-24T10:47:36ZHISTORY OF DISTILLING IN KENTUCKYhttp://www.bourbonheritagecenter.com/site/history/history.html2007-08-24T10:47:36Z
<h3>1700’s</h3>
<ul>
<li><strong><img height="128" alt="Bourbon Certificate from 1799" hspace="10" width="205" align="right" src="/uploads/4/Image/bhc_history01.jpg" />1770</strong> – First distillers arrive. </li>
<li><strong>1778</strong> – Louisville is established. </li>
<li><strong>1780</strong> – Jacob Beam and others setup in Bardstown/Kentucky Whiskey becomes known as “Bourbon”. </li>
<li><strong>1783</strong> – Evan Williams becomes Kentucky's first licensed distiller. </li>
<li><strong>1785</strong> – Rev. Elijah Craig leads congregation into Louisville. </li>
<li><strong>1789</strong> – Elijah Craig becomes known as the “Father of Bourbon” after he stores his whiskey in barrels that he has accidentally charred. </li>
<li><strong>1791</strong> – Whiskey Rebellion. </li>
<li><strong>1792</strong> – Kentucky is admitted to statehood/Bourbon becomes the term used for Kentucky Corn Whiskey. </li>
<li><strong>1794</strong> – Proof and Excise Tax first passed on Bourbon. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<h3>1800’s</h3>
<ul>
<li><strong><img height="191" alt="" hspace="5" width="238" align="right" vspace="5" border="5" src="/uploads/4/Image/bhc_history02.jpg" />1820</strong> – Dr. James Crow comes to KY, begins distilling, develops the sour mash process. </li>
<li><strong>1830’s – 1860’s</strong> – Rapid expansion of commercial distilling. </li>
<li><strong>1830</strong> – The Temperance Movement begins. </li>
<li><strong>1831</strong> – Aeneas Coffey creates “continuous” still. </li>
<li><strong>1837</strong> – Henry McKenna comes to the U.S., settles in Fairfield, Kentucky. </li>
<li><strong>1852</strong> – Bourbon production begins at the site of todays Bernheim Distillery. </li>
<li><strong>1860’s – 1890’s</strong> – Bourbon becomes popular among the upper classes. </li>
<li><strong>1865</strong> – Isaac W. Bernheim purchases the Pleasure Ridge Park Distillery and renames it Bernheim. </li>
<li><strong>1870’s</strong> – John Fitzgerald begins production of Fitzgeralds Wheated Bourbon . </li>
<li><strong>1893</strong> – Anti-Saloon League is founded. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<h3>1900’s<strong><img height="145" alt="Historical Photo Depicting Barrel Filling" hspace="10" width="238" align="right" src="/uploads/4/Image/bhc_history03.jpg" /></strong></h3>
<ul>
<li><strong>1920</strong> – Volstead Act becomes law, begins era of Prohibition/Mock funeral for “John Barleycorn” . </li>
<li><strong>1932 -</strong> The repeal of Prohibition. </li>
<li><strong>1933</strong> – Distilling resumes following Prohibition. </li>
<li><strong>1934</strong> – Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. is founded by the five Shapira brothers. </li>
<li><strong>1935</strong> – Barrel #1 is filled. </li>
<li><strong>1946</strong> – Earl Beam leaves the D.M. Beam company and succeeds his cousin Harry as Heaven Hill Master Distiller </li>
<li><strong>1961</strong> - Barrel #1,000,000 is filled </li>
<li><strong>1964</strong> – U.S. Congress protects the word “BOURBON” as uniquely American </li>
<li><strong>1971</strong> - Max Shapira, son of Ed Shapira, joins as Director of Corporate Planning </li>
<li><strong>1976 -</strong> Barrel #2,000,000 is filled </li>
<li><strong>1976</strong> – Harry Shapira, son of David Shapira, joins the family business as Vice President and Treasurer. </li>
<li><strong>1988</strong> - Barrel #3,000,000is filled </li>
<li><strong>1996</strong> – Heaven Hill's historic original Bardstown Distillery burns down in a fire. George Shapira, last surviving member of the five founding brothers, passes away </li>
<li><strong>1996</strong> – Max Shapira becomes President of Heaven Hill Distilleries Inc. </li>
<li><strong>1998</strong> - Barrel #4,000,000 is filled on January 13. </li>
<li><strong>1999</strong> - Heaven Hill acquires the historic Bernheim Distillery. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<h3>2000's - Heaven Hill Today</h3>
<ul>
<li><strong><img height="268" alt="Photo depicting today's bourbon making process" hspace="10" width="175" align="right" src="/uploads/4/Image/bhc_history04.jpg" />2001</strong> - Current Heaven Hill Director of Marketing Strategy Kate Shapira Latts and her husband, Director of Corporate Planning Allan Latts, join the family business. </li>
<li><strong>2003</strong> - Heaven Hill breaks ground for the Heaven Hill Distilleries Bourbon Heritage Center set to open in Fall 2004. </li>
<li><strong>2004</strong> - Heaven Hill dedicates the new Heaven Hill Trolley to tour Bardstown and Nelson County. </li>
<li><strong>2004</strong> - Heaven Hill dedicates the Heaven Hill Distilleries Bourbon Heritage Center. </li>
<li><strong>2004</strong> - Wine Enthusiast names Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. "Distiller of the Year" . </li>
<li><strong>2005</strong> - Heaven Hill introduces Bernheim Wheat Whiskey. </li>
<li><strong>2005</strong> - Heaven Hill introduces PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur . </li>
<li><strong>2006</strong> - Barrel #5,000,000 is filled on January 31st. </li>
<li><strong>2007</strong> - Andy Shapira joins the family business as Director of Sales Analysis. <br />
</li>
</ul>
1770 – First distillers arrive. 
1820 – Dr. James Crow comes to KY, begins distilling, develops the sour mash process. 
2001 - Current Heaven Hill Director of Marketing Strategy Kate Shapira Latts and her husband, Director of Corporate Planning Allan Latts, join the family business.