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The compelling story of how one man took a 150-year-old family recipe and disrupted the entire liquor industry one sip, one bottle, one handshake at a time
Tom Bulleit stood on a stage before a thousand people inside a tent the size of a big-top. It was both his thirtieth wedding anniversary and his birthday. But there was another thing to celebrate: the dedication of the new Bulleit Distillery in Shelbyville, Kentucky. His great-great-grandfather, Augustus, created his first batch of Bulleit Bourbon around 1830. A century and a half later, Tom fulfilled his lifelong dream, revived the old family bourbon recipe, and started Bulleit Distilling Company. Eventually, Tom was named a member of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, and elected to the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame. Thinking back on all his achievements, Tom was overcome by a wave of emotion. He looked into the sea of faces and said, "I don't believe our lives are told in years. . . or months. . . or weeks. I believe we live our lives in moments."
Tom's book Bulleit Proof is just that--a life told in moments. Moments of joy, triumph, hardship, persistence, and success. His is a story of survival: in war, in business, in life. Tom faced death twice: in a foxhole and in a cancer ward. In Bulleit Proof, Tom reveals all, pulls no punches, and lets you into his heart. In this book, you will:
* Share Tom's personal story, including his loves, losses, and struggles
* Learn the history of one of America's most beloved and awarded brands
* Draw inspiration from the persistence and dedication Tom has shown throughout his life
* Explore how Bulleit Bourbon changed the liquor industry forever
Bulleit Proof is a fast-paced page-turner--not only for fans of Bulleit Bourbon and admirers of Tom, but for anyone who loves an emotional, hilarious, inspirational, and deeply honest story.
List of contents
1. One Sip 1
2. The Promise 7
3. War 15
4. The Start-Up 25
5. My Old Soldier 33
6. Family Business 45
7. Steambath 65
8. Maniacal Patience 79
9. The New Frontier 93
10. The 12 Apostles 109
11. Bourbon in My Blood 125
12. "It Was the Drugs, Tom" 141
13. Revolver 177
14. Vows 189
15. Finally 199
Bulleit Points 201
Acknowledgments 207
About the Author 209
Index 211
About the author
Tom Bulleit is founder of the Bulleit Distilling Company. After earning his B.A. from the University of Kentucky in 1966, Bulleit served during the Vietnam War as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps. He then earned law degrees from the University of Louisville and Georgetown University. Bulleit was elected to the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2009.
Alan Eisenstock is an award-winning and
New York Times bestselling author. Alan has written fifteen books, including
Hang Time, the memoir of NBA legend Elgin Baylor, and the acclaimed nonfiction narrative
RAIDERS!
Summary
The compelling story of how one man took a 150-year-old family recipe and disrupted the entire liquor industry one sip, one bottle, one handshake at a time
Tom Bulleit stood on a stage before a thousand people inside a tent the size of a big-top. It was both his thirtieth wedding anniversary and his birthday. But there was another thing to celebrate: the dedication of the new Bulleit Distillery in Shelbyville, Kentucky. His great-great-grandfather, Augustus, created his first batch of Bulleit Bourbon around 1830. A century and a half later, Tom fulfilled his lifelong dream, revived the old family bourbon recipe, and started Bulleit Distilling Company. Eventually, Tom was named a member of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, and elected to the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame. Thinking back on all his achievements, Tom was overcome by a wave of emotion. He looked into the sea of faces and said, "I don't believe our lives are told in years. . . or months. . . or weeks. I believe we live our lives in moments."
Tom's book Bulleit Proof is just that--a life told in moments. Moments of joy, triumph, hardship, persistence, and success. His is a story of survival: in war, in business, in life. Tom faced death twice: in a foxhole and in a cancer ward. In Bulleit Proof, Tom reveals all, pulls no punches, and lets you into his heart. In this book, you will:
* Share Tom's personal story, including his loves, losses, and struggles
* Learn the history of one of America's most beloved and awarded brands
* Draw inspiration from the persistence and dedication Tom has shown throughout his life
* Explore how Bulleit Bourbon changed the liquor industry forever
Bulleit Proof is a fast-paced page-turner--not only for fans of Bulleit Bourbon and admirers of Tom, but for anyone who loves an emotional, hilarious, inspirational, and deeply honest story.
