[Honestly, I’m writing this post long after the blog date above (it’s now summer 2021, and wow, the end of 2019 seems a long time ago!) But let’s pretend as I tell the beginning of this tale:]
Back in August, while having a weekend with friends in Chittenden, Vermont, I opened an email from Kim at Makers Mark Distillery. I read it, walked back out to the campfire, and said to my friends, “this is crazy, but apparently Rob Samuels from Makers Mark wants to speak with me about building a stained glass cabin on the grounds of the distillery in Kentucky.” Fast forward a few weeks, and Rob invites me out to tour the grounds of Star Hill Farm and brainstorm some possibilities. So, just before Thanksgiving, I hopped on a plane to Louisville, and then headed in a car to Loretto, and finally wound up in an all-terrain vehicle, exploring the rolling hills and woods of Star Hill Farm, where the Samuels family has been distilling whisky for several generations. Rob was thinking about constructing a rustic tasting room with a view of the lake on the property. He wanted to pay tribute to the (all?) important role of nature and location in the production of Makers Mark bourbon. Jason Nally, the Makers naturalist, pointed out native plants and trees. He told me that Makers had worked with Kentucky Audobon to conduct a survey of bird species on the grounds, and with the University of Kentucky to do a genetic sequencing of the oldest White Oak on the propery. In the same vein, Rob told me about how the limestone under our ATV was responsible for filtering the water that is the main ingredient in his bourbon.
Rob had come across photos of my stained glass cabin online, and had noticed the natural imagery that I used as its primary theme. He hoped that I’d be interested in constructing a similar structure at Star Hill, paying tribute to its native species. Yes, I would be interested!