Episodes

In this episode of Smoke Signals, hosts Bo Kauffmann and Smoke Signals Promo recount the dramatic 1996 Heaven Hill Distillery fire in Bardstown, Kentucky—a disaster that destroyed 90,000 bourbon barrels and threatened a cornerstone of American whiskey. The story highlights the solidarity among rival distillers, the determination of the Shapira family, and Heaven Hill’s remarkable recovery, including the acquisition of Bernheim Distillery and the rise of celebrated brands like Elijah Craig, Evan Williams, and Larceny. Listeners discover how resilience, community, and tradition turned catastrophe into bourbon legend, inspiring a new era and culminating in Heaven Hill’s return to Bardstown with a state-of-the-art distillery.