Old Charter is a brand of bourbon whiskey

Bourbon whiskey

Bourbon is a type of American whiskey – a barrel-aged distilled spirit made primarily from corn. The name of the spirit derives from its historical association with an area known as Old Bourbon, around what is now Bourbon County, Kentucky . It has been produced since the 18th century...

 distilled in Frankfort, Kentucky

Frankfort, Kentucky

Frankfort is a city in Kentucky that serves as the state capital and the county seat of Franklin County. The population was 27,741 at the 2000 census; by population it is the 5th smallest state capital in the United States...

 at the Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is a distillery located in Frankfort, Kentucky. It has historically been known by several names, including most notably, the George T. Stagg Distillery and the O.F.C. Distillery. Its namesake bourbon brand, Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskey, was introduced...

, which is part of the Sazerac Company

Sazerac Company

The Sazerac Company is a large privately held and family-operated alcoholic beverages company with headquarters in Metairie, Louisiana.It owns and produces a large and diversified portfolio of beverage brands, and it owns and operates a number of distilling companies...

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Early History

The "Old Charter" brand was established in 1874 by A B Chapeze, who was operating this distillery on the Bardstown branch of the L&N Railroad. However, it was Ben Chapeze who traveled and pushed the brand and made it well known. Eventually sales were assigned under contract to Wright & Taylor, a Louisville wholesale house operated by John J. Wright and Marion E. Taylor.

After prohibition

In 1933 the Bernheim distillery acquires the Old Charter Brand and all stock of its bourbon from Wright and Taylor, but do not start selling the brand until it was fully aged for bond in 1937. Wright and Taylor are allowed to use the name for their remaining pre-prohibition stocks. In 1937 the two majority owners of Bernheim (and Old Charter); Gerngross and Schwarzhaupt sell to Schenley Distileries, Inc. Other brands sold at that time include Old Charter, Cascade, and Echo Springs. In 1974 the 1,000,000th barrel of Old Charter bottled and a case was given by the Governor of Kentucky (Wendell Ford) and to the Governor of Texas (Dolph Briscoe) as a gift. In 1987, United Distillers acquires Schenley. In 1999 the Old Charter brand was purchased by the Sazerac Company

Sazerac Company

The Sazerac Company is a large privately held and family-operated alcoholic beverages company with headquarters in Metairie, Louisiana.It owns and produces a large and diversified portfolio of beverage brands, and it owns and operates a number of distilling companies...

 from Diageo

Diageo

Diageo plc is a global alcoholic beverages company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest producer of spirits and a major producer of beer and wine....

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Current Expressions

• Old Charter 8 year - an 8 year old bourbon bottled at 80 proof.
• Old Charter 10 Year - a 10 year old bourbon bottled at 86 proof.
• Old Charter 101 - No age statement and bottled at 101 proof.