Jefferson’s Bourbon Founder Trey Zoeller is an amazing storyteller, so when I was invited down to Louisville last month to spend some time with him and taste a new expression from the brand, I didn’t have to think twice because I knew it would be a good time. What I didn’t know what that I would be taking a trip back in time to learn about his family’s deep roots in whiskey.
It was on this trip that I learned about Marian McLain, one of the earliest documented female bootleggers and whiskey runners in history, who also happens to be Zoeller’s 8th generation grandmother.
McLain’s husband, Angus, died while fighting for independence in the American Revolutionary War. She, alone with 5 children to support, turned to the illegal production and sale of liquor in order to keep her family afloat. After her arrest in 1799, she became one of the first women on record to have been convicted of bootlegging. It was only fitting that Zoeller and his father Chet, who co-founded Jefferson’s Bourbon, pay homage to that with a whiskey.
Jefferson’s Marian McLain is a blend of five bourbons–21% 14-Year-Old Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey; 40% 11-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (my personal favorite); 14% Wheated Double-Barrel; 17% Rum Cask Finish; 8% 8 Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey–one for each of her five children.
“The Marian McLain expression is a tribute to our family history and a celebration of the pioneering persona that defines our brand. This is not just a bottle of bourbon; it is a legacy,” Jefferson’s Bourbon Founder Trey Zoeller. “What better way to show appreciation for my past than by creating this liquid that can be enjoyed for years to come. I brought my dad, Chet, out of retirement to help create this nod to our heritage. We are honored to share Marian’s spirit through this exceptionally bold and balanced blend.”
To give back in honor of McClain, Jefferson’s just launched the Marian McLain Entrepreneurial Fund contest. Led by Zoeller and Shark Tank star and real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran, the $25,000 in awards aims to motivate budding entrepreneurs looking to kickstart new business ventures.
“Just like Marian, I took big risks to create something for myself, and for my family, even when it was incredibly hard,” said Barbara Corcoran. “But with big risk comes big reward – that’s what being an entrepreneur is all about! – and that’s why I’m partnering with Jefferson’s Bourbon to bring the Marian McLain Entrepreneurial Fund to life.”
“We started Jefferson’s on a shoestring budget and with Marian’s vivacious spirit in mind – it’s why we do what we do,” added Zoeller. “This entrepreneurial fund is our way of helping other people who, like Marian and Corcoran, are risking everything to pursue their dreams.”
Small business hopefuls are welcome to submit their ideas with a short video here now through on May 7. The grand prize winner will receive $20,000 in funding to kickstart their venture, as well as a congratulatory call from Corcoran, and a “shop talk” interview with Zoeller. Five runners up will also be selected to win $1,000 awards – the amount Barbara Corcoran started her business with; small budgets can build big dreams!
Jefferson’s Marian McLain is bottled at 102 Proof and is available for $300.
