CHICAGO CHEF RETURNS TO KENTUCKY ROOTS, OPENS FAMILY DISTILLERY

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Jason Girard, the former executive chef at Buddy Guy’s Legends, is preparing to launch Old Dunbar Distillery in his grandmother’s birthplace of Henderson, Kentucky.

Girard’s great­grandfather, Colonel Felix E. Dunbar, lived his entire life in Henderson County. The Colonel was the county’s rural mail carrier (on horseback, wagon and eventually automobile) for more than 50 years and family legend has it that he delivered more than just the mail, during Prohibition…

The startup distillery will launch a Kickstarter campaign on Tuesday, November 18 @ 7pm CST.

The funds from the Kickstarter campaign will be used to purchase a handmade copper still and help pay for other costs (legal fees, licenses, etc.) involved in opening a craft distillery. The opening of Old Dunbar’s Downtown Henderson (distillery & tasting room) facility, is planned for September 2015.

“We realize that it takes a long time to produce and age a true Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey,” Girard says. “We understand that the process is a labor of love. It takes several years of barrel aging to do it right. Our first priority is to make a memorable whiskey that is true to its heritage and worthy of the ‘top shelf.’”

But it will take more than a family recipe and a few dollars to make Girard’s dream come true. “I want to create a legacy. Something my children, and their children, can participate in. A brand that will outlive me and a name, Old Dunbar, that will forever be synonymous with premium handcrafted Kentucky bourbon.”

As an award­winning chef, Girard understands the importance of using the best ingredients and plans to buy local, sustainably­grown grain. And the chef­turned­distiller’s pride in his Kentucky heritage is evident.

“I used to visit Henderson, with my grandparents, as a child,” says Girard. “The family reunions, barbecues and burgoo (a community stew served at church picnics in western Kentucky) festivals are some of my favorite childhood memories. I love Henderson and I couldn’t imagine doing this anywhere else on earth.

“The local economy has taken many hits, in recent years, while the craft spirits industry is booming. I believe that a destination distillery, in the heart of Downtown, could help get things turned back around.”

Plans are in the works to purchase and renovate a 19th Century landmark, for the distillery and tasting room. Taking a page from the boutique Napa Valley wineries that Girard represented for several years, he’s also planning a second historic renovation that will house a Bed & Breakfast (for the brand’s loyal followers), along with the distiller’s residence, at the westernmost point on the famed Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

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4 COMMENTS

  2. Ten months seems like an awfully short time to raise money and make and age “top shelf” Bourbon, but I wish
    Chef Girard great success. I imagine our Mayor is foaming at the mouth about such an enterprise taking place just across the river from our vibrant downtown. Maybe Councilman Nobody’s Friend could captain a boat to take people across the river, because I doubt Evansville would be allowed to secede from Indiana and join Kentucky.

    • Indeed, that’s an endeavor into more time and commitment for lasting worth than what’s usually plugged in, as far as, what’s usually chambered with the evansville machines chaos goes.

      That stuff takes skill and time, sounds like what he’s after is more organic, our global consortium likes that. We also have some point to point connections with some southwestern Indiana/Illinois organic corn and wheat grain producers. ” Load up on sustainable”, because that’s exactly what they (0ur contacts) strive to produce for the organic beef, pork and poultry suppliers. Real stuff, not, old sectioned downtown Evansville’s bovine scatology fluff rants.
      Where there’s a will, there’s always a way.
      We’ll contact’em when they actually need the product. Set them up with the supply. They would know, its better with that timing. (“Logistics” ) And very with predictable sources, by the historical reliability standards we’d see the blend success.

      Good stuff, Sports, the theme, the aged, the blend. Says “The best is yet to come”. and nails the mix.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6AY27MaQGU

      • Rolling on the floor, the downtown evansville toadies are beatin up the sustainable grain markets looking for a push point. Frickin cat copy losers, its beyond your realm of understanding that’s not something YOU can buy. We’ve got that. Note worthy only because it was so damn predictable. Stupid fools went all in again, own’em.

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