Stitzel-Weller Distillery is one of the most legendary names in American bourbon history. The distillery opened on Derby Day in May 1935 in Shively, Kentucky, born from a merger between the Stitzel Distillery and the Weller brand — the latter rooted in a pre-Prohibition partnership involving Pappy Julian Van Winkle and Alex Farnsley's Weller wholesaling operation. From its very founding, Stitzel-Weller was steeped in bourbon tradition and craftsmanship. The distillery became the home of iconic brands, most notably Old Fitzgerald, which served as its flagship bourbon. The Van Winkle family sold the distillery in 1972, though they continued bottling whiskey produced there for years afterward. Old Fitzgerald eventually passed to Heaven Hill following the sale of the distillery in 1999. Today, Stitzel-Weller's legacy lives on through brands like Blade and Bow, a Kentucky Straight Bourbon that incorporates some of the oldest remaining whiskey distilled at the original site, using a Solera aging and blending system to honor its heritage. For bourbon enthusiasts, the Stitzel-Weller name represents a gold standard — a promise of quality rooted in decades of distilling excellence. Its historic campus in Shively remains a landmark in the bourbon world, and the distillery's influence continues to shape the character of some of today's most celebrated American whiskeys.