Old Crow

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For the community in Canada, see Old Crow, Yukon

Old Crow is a brand of Kentucky bourbon whiskey, distilled by Fortune Brands which also produces Jim Beam and several other brands of whiskey.

Old Crow is supposedly named in honor of Dr. James C. Crow, the Scottish chemist who is said to have invented the sour mash process now used by all bourbon distillers. In this process, a small amount of the previous batch is left behind to help activate the work of the yeast in the new batch.

Dr. Crow came to Kentucky in 1823 and began working for a distiller, bringing his scientific and medical training to the process. Dr. Crow moved to the town of Millville and for the next twenty years he was in charge of the Oscar Pepper Distillery. Later he went to work for the Johnson Distillery. That distillery eventually became Old Taylor. He worked there until his death in 1856.

Old Crow is a fairly famous brand, but has generally been associated with the lower-price "mass" market and is not usually thought of as a connoisseur item.

[edit] Old Crow in History

Old Crow was the drink of choice for American General and 18th President of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant. An apocryphal story about Grant's drinking has the general's critics going to President Lincoln, charging the military man with being a drunk. Lincoln is supposed to have replied, "I wish some of you would tell me the brand of whiskey that Grant drinks. I would like to send a barrel of it to my other generals."

[edit] Old Crow in Popular Culture

In one of their signature songs, "Doreen," the Country Rock cult-legends The Old 97s mention the drink. "The guy who plays the banjo keeps on handing me the Old Crow, which multiplies my sorrows I can't take it anymore.

Old Crow is also mentioned in the Tom Waits song "Gin Soaked Boy" on the album Swordfishtrombones in addition to the song "Out in the Parkin Lot" performed by Brad Paisley and Alan Jackson.

Old Crow is the drink of choice of Robert DeNiro's character, Dwight, in the film "This Boy's Life", where he often drinks straight from the bottle, as is customary.

The Beavis and Butt-head character Principal McVicker also drinks Old Crow.

Old Crow is mentioned at times in the Beastie Boys album, "License To Ill"

Old Crow Medicine Show is the name of a Bluegrass band from Tennessee who are signed to Netwerk Records.

In the movie Barcelona, character remarks "I'm not going to replace half a bottle of Old Crow, with a full bottle of Jim Beam"