James E. Pepper is a historic American whiskey brand with roots stretching back to 1776, when Elijah Pepper established what is considered one of Kentucky's oldest whiskey distilleries. The legacy continued through his descendants, most notably Colonel James E. Pepper, who built the brand into a celebrated name in American whiskey. After the Colonel's death, the brand slowly declined and eventually vanished from the market, though the name survived as a dormant trademark. In 2008, entrepreneur Amir Peay revived the brand by obtaining the abandoned trademark and began sourcing whiskey primarily from MGP to sell under the James E. Pepper name. A significant milestone came in 2017, when a dedicated distillery was built in Lexington, Kentucky, honoring the brand's historic heritage and location. Today, James E. Pepper's portfolio includes a variety of bourbon, whiskey, and rye expressions under two main lines: the James E. Pepper '1776' and the Old Pepper brands. The flagship 1776 range includes both Bourbon and Rye Whiskey expressions, with additional releases such as a Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon and even a Single Malt Whiskey. By rejoining the Kentucky Distillers' Association and reestablishing a physical distillery in the Bluegrass State, James E. Pepper has cemented its place as a brand that bridges nearly 250 years of American whiskey history with a modern craft approach.