A Rare Sighting - A Decommissioned Still

So much great whisky flowed through this old still!

by Colonel Steve Akley

So last weekend, I was at Maker’s Mark for a tour. I do love the beautiful grounds and all of the history at that distillery. Having not been there in over a year, it was nice to get back.

As we approached the production area, we were shocked to see an old still, looking battered and old, unceremoniously sitting out on the street (immediately, I was thinking “Call Adam Stumpf,” since he collects this kind of stuff).

So what’s the future hold for this 40ish-year-old relic (it was originally installed in the 80s)?

Will it go on display somewhere at Maker’s Mark?

Can an artist turn it into some sort of cool piece that makes a statement about the world we live in?

Does someone like Adam Stumpf buy it and bring new life to this old gem?

The answer… none of the above.

Alas, this old Maker’s still is destined for the scrap yard. It will then get recycled and probably turned into something like copper wire. Wouldn’t it be glorious to turn on a light switch one day in your brand new home and note, “It smells faintly like Maker’s Mark in here!”