New Washington’s Reserve One Whiskey Made In Founding Father’s Spirit

A new whiskey from Bedford, Pennsylvania’s historic “Espy House” sets out to honor the spirit of America’s founding father.

A social media post from the historic estate recently announced the limited release of their first small batch of whiskey, Washington’s Reserve One.

The whiskey maker explained that Espy House Washington’s Reserve Number One is made in the spirit of the country’s first president, George Washington.

A new whiskey from Bedford, Pennsylvania’s historic “Espy House” sets out to honor the spirit of America’s founding father. (image via Espy House)

This single barrel comes bottled at barrel strength, and the brand’s notes show this bourbon expression has aromas of brown sugar, crème brulee, butterscotch, and leather, while on the palate are tastes of mixed nuts and baking spices mingling with spearmint, mellow oak, black currant and cinnamon.

The hand-numbered bottles clock in at 45% ABV, or 90 proof. You can pre-order a bottle online at www.espyhouse.com/bourbon.

The Espy House, in Bedford, Penn., was built around 1771 and was occupied by President Washington, using it as his headquarters during the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794.

Today, The Espy House is owned by Todd Eichelberger, who was inspired by the building’s history and created this whiskey to commemorate the house and those that occupied it throughout history.

It was in 1794 when Congress repealed a tax on distilled spirits, but replaced it with a new tax causing the onset of the “Whiskey Rebellion” when residents in Western Pennsylvania disputed the new tax with force.

This was the first rebellion against the new United States government. President Washington then mobilized 12,950 troops to squash the rebellion and assert the government’s authority to make laws.

The rebellion ended with only minor confrontation and no loss of life. The Espy House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and made a National Historic Landmark in 1983.