Interview with Marsha Wiechman, April 30, 2009

Interview Summary

Marsha Wiechman has been an employee of Buffalo Trace for twenty-two years at the time of this interview. Marsha grew up on a farm in Kansas and lived there for many years before coming to Buffalo Trace. In this interview, Wiechman describes her education and professional training and explains how she ended up at Buffalo Trace. She lists and explains the different positions she has held at the distillery, describes tasting procedures, and explains some of the terminology used by workers at the distillery. Wiechman also discusses workplace safety and the treatment of female workers at the plant. She compares the work environment in the 1980s with the work environment of today. In addition, Wiechman describes how Elmer T. Lee contributed to her positive experience working for Buffalo Trace.

Interview Keyword

Childhood Kansas Whiskey in Kentucky Economic conditions. Women--Employment. Quality control. Distillers. Ghosts.

Interview LC Subject

Bourbon whiskey Buffalo Trace Distillery Distillation Farm life. Liquors--Gaging and testing Whiskey Whiskey industry--Kentucky Whiskey--Analysis Wiechman, Marsha Wiechman, Marsha--Interviews

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.