Bourbon Design Series For many, design is not a hallmark largely associated with bourbon. However, as we continue to celebrate #BourbonHeritageMonth, we wanted to spotlight just how design has inspired us and how it’s played a significant role in shaping the legacy and story of bourbon. Here, we share some of our favorite historical design patents: Design 1: Frederick Stitzel’s Design Patent for Improvement in Racks for Tiering Barrels, 1879 “Stitzel of the city of Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Racks for Tiering Barrels containing whisky and other similar liquids.” Design 2: Eli Barnum’s and Benjamin Brooks’ Design Patent for the Pot Still, 1808 “The process of this design generally worked by heating the fermented liquid in the pot until the alcohol vaporized. The vapor would rise through a condenser where it would cool and condense back into a liquid. This liquid would then be collected in a separate pot. Depending on the distiller’s preference, this process would be repeated until a preferable flavor and/or purity was achieved.” Design 3: Maker’s Mark Design Patent for the mark of their wax-like coating, 1985 “The mark consists of a wax-like coating covering the cap of the bottle and trickling down the neck of the bottle in a freeform irregular pattern.” Further, Marjorie "Margie" Samuels, gave Makers Mark its name, drew its label, and thought up the wax dipping that gives the bottle its distinctive look. It was introduced to the market in 1959. Design 4: H.W.T. Jenner Design Patent for his Flask Hidden in a ‘Legal Discussions’ Book, 1885 “This invention relates to liquor-flasks; and it consists in making the outer covering of the flask in the form of a book or other similar article large enough to entirely cover the whole of the flask, including the neck. and stopper, and having a hole in the said covering beneath the bottom of the flask, so that it can be pushed upward and the neck made to project through an Opening in the covering.” #AmericasSpirit #BeFrank #BourbonHeritageMonth #Design