There’s no doubt that Southerners love their whiskey, particularly bourbons made from indigenous corn. But many classic cocktails were created using a more refined and historic base spirit:
brandy. It was only over the past century that mixologists altered the recipes to include corn and rye whiskey as the primary ingredients instead of delicate wine-based spirits.
At
Copper & Kings, a brandy distillery in Louisville, owner
Joe Heron is seeking to revitalize the category of American brandy. The South African–born entrepreneur has years of experience in the beverage biz, having built and sold an energy drink company and a large commercial cidery to raise capital for his foray into crafting brandy. Since its release last June, Copper & Kings has expanded distribution into eight states, and Nashville mixologists have especially warmed to the brandy revolution.