Just 10 years into his tenure, he was promoted to plant superintendent in 1966. The following Monday, he was hired in plant maintenance and was quickly promoted to an engineer working on and repairing machinery. On his way out, Lee ran into Orville Schupp, who told him to come back next week, that they’d find him something.

The master distiller and president of the distillery, Colonel Albert Blanton, told him “Son, we’re not hiring any hands today.” On a random day in 1949, Lee walked down the street and asked for a job. Just down the street from Lee’s home was the now- Buffalo Trace distillery, but at the time, it was the George T. Lee served as a B-29 bombardier.Īfter the war, Lee returned home and re-entered the University of Kentucky, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in engineering. He started college at the University of Kentucky but withdrew in December 1941 to volunteer for the U.S. His father passed away when he was an infant, and he was raised by his mother in Frankfort, Kentucky. The man was humble yet had a bigger-than-life presence.Įlmer Tandy Lee was born in Peaks Mill, Kentucky, in August 1919.

You’d never suspect he was an industry giant, a legend of whiskey brilliance and the man who made whiskey premium again. I am truly grateful I had that opportunity. I was fortunate enough to have met him in 2011, which, can we talk about how 2011 should not be 10 years ago!? In meeting him, he was an unassuming elderly gentleman that could not have been nicer and more engaging with a bunch of whiskey geeks. I am old enough (I feel it too!) to remember the actual man Elmer T.

Elmer t lee bourbon