Bulleit Proof

The compelling story of how one man took a 150-year-old family recipe and disrupted the entire liquor industry one sip, one bottle, one handshake at a time

Tom Bulleit stood on a stage before a thousand people inside a tent the size of a big-top. It was both his thirtieth wedding anniversary and his birthday. But there was another thing to celebrate: the dedication of the new Bulleit Distillery in Shelbyville, Kentucky. His great-great-grandfather, Augustus, created his first batch of Bulleit Bourbon around 1830. A century and a half later, Tom fulfilled his lifelong dream, revived the old family bourbon recipe, and started Bulleit Distilling Company. Eventually, Tom was named a member of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, and elected to the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame. Thinking back on all his achievements, Tom was overcome by a wave of emotion. He looked into the sea of faces and said, “I don't believe our lives are told in years. . . or months. . . or weeks. I believe we live our lives in moments."

Tom’s book Bulleit Proof is just that—a life told in moments. Moments of joy, triumph, hardship, persistence, and success. His is a story of survival: in war, in business, in life. Tom faced death twice: in a foxhole and in a cancer ward. In Bulleit Proof, Tom reveals all, pulls no punches, and lets you into his heart. In this book, you will:

• Share Tom’s personal story, including his loves, losses, and struggles
• Learn the history of one of America’s most beloved and awarded brands
• Draw inspiration from the persistence and dedication Tom has shown throughout his life
• Explore how Bulleit Bourbon changed the liquor industry forever

Bulleit Proof is a fast-paced page-turner—not only for fans of Bulleit Bourbon and admirers of Tom, but for anyone who loves an emotional, hilarious, inspirational, and deeply honest story.

1. One Sip 1

2. The Promise 7

3. War 15

4. The Start-Up 25

5. My Old Soldier 33

6. Family Business 45

7. Steambath 65

8. Maniacal Patience 79

9. The New Frontier 93

10. The 12 Apostles 109

11. Bourbon in My Blood 125

12. “It Was the Drugs, Tom” 141

13. Revolver 177

14. Vows 189

15. Finally 199

Bulleit Points 201

Acknowledgments 207

About the Author 209

Index 211

TOM BULLEIT is founder of the Bulleit Distilling Company. After earning his B.A. from the University of Kentucky in 1966, Bulleit served during the Vietnam War as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps. He then earned law degrees from the University of Louisville and Georgetown University. Bulleit was elected to the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2009.

A TRUE AMERICAN PIONEER REVEALS HOW HE SINGLE-HANDEDLY TOOK ON THE LIQUOR INDUSTRY

Among bourbon aficionados around the world, Bulleit Bourbon is a household name.

The story behind the brand, and the man behind the name, are both subject and author of Bulleit Proof—an engaging and inspiring tapestry of tales from one of the liquor industry’s most notorious disruptors. Tom Bulleit debuted his great-grandfather’s recipe in 1987, taking on a well-established market, and the results speak for themselves.

Bulleit is a true American—the son of a soldier, a Vietnam veteran, an entrepreneur, and a self-made survivor. His southern grit and pioneer spirit come through loud and clear in his inspiring and memorable storytelling.

From the battlefield to the cancer ward, Bulleit has persevered through life’s greatest hardships. As a member of the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame, and the name behind one of the world’s top whiskeys, Bulleit knows what it means to struggle, how to maintain commitment, and how to avoid taking “no” for an answer. Read Bulleit Proof and feel uplifted and ready to fearlessly follow your own path, wherever it might lead.

If you have a dream to achieve, a challenge to face, or a love of good storytelling, this book is for you. Sit down with a glass of Bulleit and enjoy an unforgettable American success story.