| 1995 | Henry McKenna Single Barrel bourbon is introduced by Heaven Hill
(M. Veach, 1/1996). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
|
| 1980 | In the early 1980's Seagrams sells the domestic Henry Mckenna label to Heaven Hill but continues to make the Henry McKenna bourbon for the export market. They make it at the Four Roses distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
(Mary Hite, Getz Museum, 12/2/93). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
Timeline:Heaven Hill
|
| 1976 | Seagram's closes the Fairfield distillery and the property is sold
(Mary Hite, Getz Museum, 12/2/93). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
|
| 1974 | The last whiskey is made at Fairfield distillery
(Kentucky Standard, April 15, 1976). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
|
| 1958 | The distillery is enlarged to a capacity of 1,600 bushels per day
(History of Nelson County, Distilleries). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
|
| 1943 | Sam Simpson becomes Master Distiller for Barton
(Kentucky Standard, April 15, 1976). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
|
| 1943 | A rectifying column was installed at the distillery for War Production Alcohol
(History of Nelson County, Distilleries). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
|
| 1941 | Stafford McKenna sells the distillery to Seagrams, but the recipe for the mash was not part of the deal. McKenna whiskey became just another Seagram's whiskey
(Mary Hite, Getz Museum, 12/2/93). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
|
| 1940 | James McKenna sells his share of the distillery to Stafford McKenna
(Mary Hite, Getz Museum, 12/2/93). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
|
| 1940 | James McKenna dies
(Kentucky Standard, April 15, 1976). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
|
| 1940 | *Note* Mary Hite's grandfather, Coleman Bixler, was one of the few non-McKenna family members who owned stock in the distillery. Her father knew the recipe for the mash.
| Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
|
| 1936 | Bixler's son-in-law Sam Simpson becomes distiller
(Kentucky Standard, April 15, 1976). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
|
| 1935 | Stafford McKenna dies
(Kentucky Standard, April 15, 1976). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
|
| 1934 | H McKenna distillery is re-opened after prohibition with James S and Stafford E McKenna in charge. The pre -prohibition distiller, Coleman Bixler (Bixler followed Sweeny as distiller) is re-hired. The distillery has a 20 barrels per day capacity and a 8,000 barrel storage capacity (Courier-Journal, Feb. 18, 1934). Dr. Henry McKenna, James' son is the plant manager
(Kentucky Standard, April 15, 1976). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
|
| 1918 | 1918 Prior to prohibition Daniel McKenna dies
(Kentucky Standard, April 15, 1976). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
|
| 1918 | War and Prohibition forces the distillery to close, but it is not dismantled
(Spirit, 1934). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
Timeline:General Bourbon
|
| 1918 | 1934 - H McKenna whiskey is stored in the Stitzel consolidation warehouse and the brand is kept alive by the Stitzel and Weller sales force
(Stitzel Papers, U D Archives). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
|
| 1911 | The 1911 Mida's Financial Index list H McKenna, Distiller, Dy. No. 111, 5th Dist., Fairfield, Ky. with a capital value of $125,000 to $150,000 capital value.
1911 Mida's Financial Index | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
|
| 1893 | H McKenna dies and the business is taken over by his sons Daniel, James S and Stafford E McKenna
(Courier-Journal, Feb. 18, 1934). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
Timeline:General Bourbon
|
| 1892 | The "McKenna Bill" asking for an unlimited bonding time for whiskey, is placed before Congress
(Wine and Spirits Bulletin, Louisville Public Library). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
|
| 1886 | Dudley S Reynolds, M.D. is quoted as saying; "H McKenna's whiskey is the purest and best I have ever seen."
(Industries of Louisville and New Albany 1886, Filson Club). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
|
| 1883 | McKenna builds a new brick distillery with a capacity of three barrels per day
(Courier-Journal, Feb. 18, 1934). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
|
| 1882 | McKenna moves to larger offices in Louisville located on Fourth Street near Main
(Industries of Louisville and New Albany 1886, Filson Club). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
|
| 1881 | McKenna needs a larger office and purchases "the Old Blue House" on Market Street
(Kentucky Standard, April 15, 1976). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
|
| 1880 | H McKenna opens an office in Louisville on Market Street
(Industries of Louisville and New Albany 1886, Filson Club). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
Timeline:General Bourbon
|
| 1865 | The distillery is enlarged to a capacity of a little over a barrel a day
(Courier-Journal, Feb. 18,1934). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
|
| 1863 | James S McKenna starts working at the distillery
(Spirit, 1934). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
|
| 1861 | Stafford McKenna is born
(Nelson County Record, 1896). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
Timeline:General Bourbon
|
| 1860 | Patrick Sweeny becomes McKenna's distiller
(Kentucky Standard, April 15, 1976). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
|
| 1857 | McKenna changes to a corn whiskey (bourbon)
(Kentucky Standard, April 15, 1976). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
|
| 1855 | H. McKenna, an Immigrant from County Derry, Ireland, founds a distillery in Fairfield, Kentucky to use excess grain from his flour mill. It had a capacity of less than one barrel a day and McKenna put an emphasis on quality, not quantity of his whiskey
(Courier- Journal, Feb. 18, 1934). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
Timeline:General Bourbon
|
| 1855 | The first whiskey made was a weat whiskey. McKenna did his own diatilling with the help of a slave.
(Kentucky Standard, April 15,1976). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
|
| 1855 | James S McKenna is born
(Spirit, 1934). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
Timeline:General Bourbon
|
| 1848 | David McKenna is born
(Nelson County Record, 1896). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
Timeline:General Bourbon
|
| 1847 | Henry McKenna marries Elizabeth Goodwin
(Nelson County Record, Historical and Industrial Suppliment, 1896). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
|
| 1844 | Patrick Sweeny comes to America from County Derry, Ireland
(Kentucky Standard, April 15, 1976). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
|
| 1838 | Henry McKenna comes to Kentucky
(History of Nelson County, Henry McKenna). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
|
| 1837 | Henry McKenna comes to America
(History of Nelson County, Distilleries). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
|
| 1819 | Henry Mckenna is born in County Derry, Ireland
(The Kentucky Standard, April 15, 1976). | Timeline:H McKenna Distillery
Timeline:General Bourbon
|
