Interview with Richard Taylor, October 20, 2009

Interview Summary

Richard Taylor is a former English professor and a writer who lives near Frankfort, Kentucky. He is the author of The Great Crossing: A Historic Journey to Buffalo Trace Distillery. In this interview, Richard Taylor talks about the history of the Taylor family, including Colonel E. H. Taylor, Jr., who bought the distillery now called Buffalo Trace in the 1870s. He also discusses the history of the Leestown area of Frankfort where Buffalo Trace is located. In addition, Taylor talks about the history of distilling in the area around Frankfort. He also describes Colonel Taylor's character and his life. In addition, Taylor describes Colonel Taylor's contributions to the bourbon industry, which include his support of quality control regulation and his novel approaches to producing and marketing bourbon.

Interview Keyword

Authors. Leestown (Ky.) Whiskey in Kentucky Alcohol--Law and legislation Liquor laws--United States Quality control. Quality of products.

Interview LC Subject

Bourbon whiskey Buffalo Trace Distillery Frankfort (Ky.)--History Taylor, E. H. (Edmund Haynes), Jr., 1830-1923 Taylor, Richard, 1941- Taylor, Richard, 1941- --Interviews Whiskey Whiskey industry--Kentucky Genealogy. Distilleries--Kentucky Frontier and pioneer life. Families Distillation Distillers

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.