The History of Silk Velvet Whiskey: A Legacy Reborn

1800s: The Birth of a Bourbon Legacy

  • 1829 – Aaron Shelby (A.S.) Winstead is born in Kentucky.

  • 1856 – At 26, A.S. Winstead marries America T. Worsham, daughter of Elijah W. Worsham, a respected Kentucky distiller. This marriage introduces Winstead to the whiskey industry, and he begins working at his father-in-law’s distillery in Henderson, Kentucky.

  • 1863 – During the Civil War, Winstead registers for the draft but does not serve. He later earns the title of "Colonel Winstead," likely as an honorary Kentucky Colonel designation rather than through military service.

  • 1880 – Col. A.S. Winstead leaves the Worsham distillery and establishes Hill & Winstead Distilling Co. with business partner Bona Hill. They purchase the former Henderson Car Works site and repurpose it into a distillery.

    • The first batch of whiskey is produced in the winter of 1880. After tasting it, Winstead declares it the smoothest whiskey on the market and names it "Silk Velvet."

  • Mid-1880s – Silk Velvet gains regional popularity. The distillery expands to 125 bushels per day, with two warehouses storing thousands of barrels of aging whiskey.

  • 1891 – The firm is renamed A.S. Winstead & Sons as Winstead takes full control of operations.

  • 1892 – The Winstead Distilling Co. is officially incorporated, and a bonded warehouse is added. Mashing capacity grows to 250 bushels per day.

  • Late 1890s – Silk Velvet is widely recognized, with reports describing it as having a "national reputation for purity and aroma" and being "shipped to all sections of the United States" (Henderson Morning Gleaner, March 23, 1913).

1900s: Growth, Prohibition, and Decline

  • 1900 – Production slows, reducing mashing to 130 bushels per day. Warehouses hold 4,000 barrels of aging whiskey.

  • 1904 – Reports suggest Winstead is considering opening a pottery factory due to difficulty sourcing quality ceramic jugs for bottling.

  • 1906 – Production declines further to 100 bushels per day, though warehouse stock increases to 5,000 barrels.

  • 1910 – E.W. Winstead, son of A.S. Winstead, officially takes over operations, renaming the company E.W. Winstead & Co.

  • 1912 – Col. A.S. Winstead passes away at age 82 and is buried at Fernwood Cemetery in Henderson, KY.

  • 1913 – The Henderson Morning Gleaner describes Silk Velvet as a nationally recognized brand with widespread distribution.

  • 1915 – Silk Velvet is marketed as "Kentucky’s finest product, pure and undefiled," with distribution expanding east of the Rocky Mountains.

  • 1917 – The Webb-Kenyon Act restricts interstate alcohol shipments, reducing Silk Velvet’s mail-order business.

  • 1920 – Prohibition begins, forcing the closure of E.W. Winstead & Co.

  • 1920 – E.W. Winstead dies at age 52, marking the end of Silk Velvet’s original production. He is buried alongside his father at Fernwood Cemetery.

2000s: The Bourbon Revival Begins

  • 2020 – The Hargis family of Henderson, KY, discovers the history of Silk Velvet and begins researching the brand’s legacy.

  • 2021-2022 – The Hargis family secures the Silk Velvet trademark, ensuring the historic name is preserved.

  • 2023 – The Hargis family partners with Jacob Call, an 8th-generation master distiller, whose family has been making bourbon since 1791.

    • Jacob Call, previously the master distiller at Green River Distilling Co., distilled and aged barrels that are now being hand-selected for the first modern release of Silk Velvet.

    • At his new home, Western Kentucky Distilling Co., Jacob begins distilling bourbon for future releases of Silk Velvet Whiskey.

2024-Present: Silk Velvet Returns

  • May 2024 – The first barrels of Silk Velvet are selected for bottling, reviving the brand after more than a century. Each Single Barrel is handpicked by the Hargis family and Jacob Call.

  • December 9, 2024 – Silk Velvet Whiskey officially launches in Henderson, KY, selling out on day one.

  • January 2025 – The brand expands its reach, increasing volume and adding more locations across Kentucky.

  • February 2025 – Silk Velvet gains recognition in bars, tastings, and liquor stores, as its 6-year-old, 107-proof Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon earns praise for its smooth, floral character and velvety finish.

  • Present Day – Silk Velvet continues to grow, with more limited barrel releases planned and future distillate aging at Western Kentucky Distilling Co.

The Legacy Lives On

Once lost to time, Silk Velvet Whiskey is back, reviving a legacy that began in 1880. Experience the Revival.