Back in August of 2025 David Furer of the Drinking on the Edge posdcast and I interviewed Frank Coleman, one of the people who made the current George Washington's Mount Vernon Distillery possible. A fantastic and informative interview about one of the most famous living history museums in the country. And from an insider who helped make it possible.
Without a doubt, this distillery was among the oldest and largest in Colonial America. It was owned and operated by Washington himself, and at the time of his death, Mount Vernon's distillery was producing more spirits than any other business concern in the land. By far. Old Overholt, founded in 1810, didn't catch up to Mount Vernon's volume for another generation and half at least.
A President with Taste -- George Washington Distillery
Spirits insider Frank Coleman shares the history and current state of Virginia's George Washington Distillery with Carlo DeVito and David. Produced by Matty Rosenberg, Jennifer Hammoud and David Furer at Radio Free Rhinecliff.
Frank Coleman, Then
First of all, who is Frank Coleman? And why interview him? After careers in journalism and politics, Frank became senior vice president, public affairs and communications at the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS). He was responsible for developing and communicating the industry’s key messages about public policy, industry trends and heritage, while helping to raise DISCUS’ profile in Washington, DC, across the country and around the globe. His efforts facilitated rapid growth in spirits market share, spirits exports, and the public fascination with super premium products.
One of his key accomplishments was launching and promoting industry heritage through George Washington’s Distillery project. He is now President of Frank Coleman Strategies LLC, a public affairs and strategic communications consultancy.
For more than twenty years, Frank Coleman was senior vice president, public affairs and communications at the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), where he was responsible for developing and communicating the industry’s key messages about public policy, industry trends and heritage, while helping to raise DISCUS’ profile in Washington, DC, across the country and around the globe. His efforts facilitated rapid growth in spirits market share, exports and the public fascination with super premium products.
While with DISCUS, Coleman launched an annual economic briefing for Wall Street analysts/media impressions; co-managed the USDA-funded international Market Access Promotion program, and the American Whiskey Trail tourism initiative. He also promoted industry heritage with George Washington’s Distillery.
Coleman and rye legendary distiller Dave Pickerall (formerly of Maker's Mark) were instrumental in getting the idea off the ground. But Brown-Forman, and Chris Morris of Woodford all participated in the project, as well as Baker Noe, and Lincoln Henderson and others. Below the following photos were sample bottles of the whiskey Frank brought to the episode.
The Mount Vernon association which oversees the major landmark, had just recreated Washington's then modern grist mill. Not unlike others who owned grist mills, the next thing was to then start brewing beer and making whiskey. Washington followed suit.
Washington's distillery today would be considered a field-to-glass operation. Washington was a heart a plantation owner and a farmer. He grew his own grains, had his own orchards, and used those to supply his distillery. They were able to recreate the distillery because Washington was such an inveterate notes taker.
Today, George Wasington's Distillery at Mount Vernon is without question the most accurate recreation of what it was like to distill spirits back in Colonial times. From the grist mill's hand hewn grinding stones, to the hand hammered copper stills that sit atop plain brick furnaces, to the hand fed fires that power the stills, to the aging of the spirits, George Washington's Distillery is a living museum that all Americans should visit.
Former Head Distiller Steve Bashore, and
Consultant Distiller Lisa Roper Wicker
Today, the facility, completely reconstructed as exactly as possible when is was in business more than two centuries and a quarter ago. It runs the same way, and produces bottles of spirits for sale at the distillery. There's even a plaque commemorating the names of the slaves that worked in the distillery, whose status, though enslaved, were considered tradesmen. Washington memorialized them in his notes, along with the Scottish distillery manager. The mount Vernon association made sure to memorialize them in their exhibits.
If you are any kind of history fan, especially a fan of whiskey history, you owe it to yourself to make the pilgrimmage to Mount Vernon.
George Washington's Unaged Rye Whiskey is a 43% ABV (86 proof) white whiskey produced at Mount Vernon using an authentic 18th-century recipe (60% rye, 35% corn, 5% malted barley). It is double-distilled in wood-fired copper pot stills and sold as a clear, unaged spirit. A wonderful aged spirit.
George Washington's Straight Rye Whiskey is a beautiful amber-colored straight rye whiskey aged for two years in barrels. 375 ml. Alcohol content: 46.5%. Proof: 93 proof. By 1799, George Washington had become one of the largest whiskey producers in the United States, producing nearly 11,000 gallons.
George Washington's Commander-in-Chief Straight Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey, a limited-edition spirit aged 8 years and crafted on-site at George Washington’s Distillery. Using traditional copper pot stills, wooden mash tubs, and 18th-century techniques, each bottle honors Washington’s legacy of craftsmanship, innovation, and leadership. 375 ml. ABV 55.1%. Proof: 110.2. This bottle stands as the oldest whiskey ever released by Mount Vernon, a worthy tribute to a defining chapter in American history.
THE SPIRIT OF RYE - GEORGE WASHINGTON'S DISTILLERY at MOUNT VERNON
I have also included the pages from my book about the distillery. Feel free to read them.
THE GALLERY
