It would have been impossible for me to write and Pam Spaulding to photograph this book without the generous help of many, many people. From allowing us access to answering questions, everyone was unfailingly enthusiastic and obviously proud of Kentucky's bourbon culture. They are listed in alphabetical order by their institution:
Ken Pierce—Barton 1792; Dixon Dedman—Beaumont Inn; Joe Frase and Michael Grider—The Blind Pig; Matt Jamie—Bourbon Barrel Foods; Brian Gregory, Svend Jansen, Chris Morris, Mary Perkins, Greg Roshkowski, Kandi Sackett, and Marnie Walters—Brown-Forman and Woodford Reserve; Beau Beckman, Fred Mozenter, Amy Preske, Angela Traver, John Vereekee, and the Barrel Racing Team—Buffalo Trace; Kevin Hall—Distilled Spirits Epicenter; Michael Veach—Filson Historical Society; Brent Elliott, Patty Holland, Karen Kushner, Jim Rutledge, and Al Young—Four Roses; Lynne Grant, Larry Kass, Joe Skaggs, and Kathleen Smith—Heaven Hill; Lisa Marie Williams—Hill House Bed & Breakfast; Kimberley Bennett, Debbie Faust, Ginger Flowers, and Linda Hayes—Jim Beam; Drew Kulsveen—Kentucky Bourbon Distillers; Pam Glover, Linda Harrison, and Ann McMichael—Kentucky Bourbon Festival; Teri Smith and Jimmy Wickham—Kentucky Cooperage and Independent Stave; Eric Gregory—Kentucky Distillers’ Association; Kathleen Neuhoff and Darkanyan and Shelley Wright—Kentucky Horse Park; Joyce Bender—Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission; Barry McNees—Lexington Distillery District; Kathy Cary and Brad Jennings—Lilly's; Bryan Cushing, Carol Ely, and Gwynne Potts—Locust Grove; Jane Conner, Honi Goldman, and Bill Samuels Jr.—Maker's Mark; Lisa Frost and Joseph Magliocco—Michter's Distillery LLC; Charlotte Browning and Sean Higgins—Mint Julep Tours; Jennifer Broadwater, Aimee Darnell, and David Larson—Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill; Ben Jett and Cynthia Torp—Solid Light; Chris Lady, Ken Lee, Briana Stiff, and Tisha Surrett—Town Branch Distillery; Devona and Steve Porter—Tucker House Bed & Breakfast; Katrina Egbert, Jimmy Russell, Eddie Russell, and Alan Tenniswood—Wild Turkey.
Special thanks to Kathleen Neuhoff and Darkanyan, who allowed Pam to photograph them at the Kentucky Horse Park.
To those whose names didn't make it into my notebooks, please know that your help was greatly appreciated too!
Thanks, as well, to Laura Sutton, formerly of the University Press of Kentucky, for coming to me with the idea for this book and to her successor, Ashley Runyon, for guiding its production.
Finally, Joanna Goldstein helped in many, many ways, including as Pam's “voice-activated light stand,” our traveling companion, and my bourbon-tasting partner.