Pappy Van Winkle purchases the A. Ph. Stitzel Distillery in Louisville, KY, which had started as a sour mash whiskey distillery in 1872. The products were distributed through the wholesale company Van Winkle owned, W. L. Weller & Sons. Just before Prohibition started, the company introduced Old Rip Van Winkle. During Prohibition, the Stitzel-Weller company was awarded a license to manufacture whiskey for medicinal purc
