About the Mint Julep

Greek mythology tells of two weary travelers walking along a darkened road. An old couple took them in, scoured their modest dining board with mint to freshen it for their guests, and prepared for the strangers a meal. The travelers turned out to be gods in disguise, who rewarded the old folks by turning their…

About Screamin’ Mimi’s

About Screamin’ Mimi’s The original Mimi (right), shown with her daughter Donna Madden.   For more than 25 years, friends and family of Mimi Cox have enjoyed the flavor of her unique salsa. Fresh and savory with the flavors of tomatoes, sweet peppers, jalapeños, and garlic, it’s a different and refreshing departure from traditional salsa.…

About Rebecca-Ruth Candy

The story of Rebecca-Ruth Candy begins in 1919 with two substitute schoolteachers, Ruth Hanly (Booe) and Rebecca Gooch. After much praise from family and friends for chocolates they had given during Christmas, they decided they were better candy makers than substitute teachers. At a time when few women went into business, Rebecca-Ruth Candies were an…

About Ale-8-One

Ale-8-One, the soft drink unique to Kentucky, has been bottled in Winchester since 1926. Still a closely guarded family secret, the Ale-8-One formula was developed by G.L. Wainscott in the 1920’s, after experimentation with ginger-blended recipes he acquired during extensive travels in Northern Europe. He sponsored one of America’s first “name the product” contests, and…

About James Archambeault

Kentucky photographer James Archambeault’s images have been admired by people around the world for the past two decades. Through his four books and annual state calendar, Archambeault has become a kind of visual ambassador, communicating to others the rare beauty that Kentuckians know and love. Archambeault has collaborated with historian Thomas Clark on three books: Kentucky, 1982; Kentucky…

A Brief History of Bourbon

In the 1700s Kentucky was originally part of Virginia, and by promising to build a cabin and grow corn, pioneers were granted land rights in what was to become the Bluegrass State. Many of these early settlers were immigrant farmer-distillers from Scotland and Ireland, and because they were obligated to grow corn and were familiar…