Bill Samuels Sr.

Born Taylor William Samuels II, “Bill” was born in Kentucky to Leslie B. and Mary Louise, and was heir to the T. W. Samuels Distillery Co. On early labels of T.W. Samuels‘ products, Bill is listed as “T. W. Samuels IV” being born in 1911. After leaving his family’s distilling company in 1943 due to disagreements over the quality of their product, he would go on to establish Maker’s Mark Distillery. It is believed he changed his name to distance himself from his family’s distillery.