Old Crow
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Old Crow | |
|---|---|
| Type | Bourbon whiskey |
| Proof | 80 |
| Manufacturer | Fortune Brands |
| Country of origin | Kentucky |
| Introduced | 1835 |
| Related products | Jim Beam |
- 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 bourbon whiskey. Old Crow is sold at a relatively low price point. Despite this, the Old Crow brand has a long history, and is distinctive for being the first sour mash process bourbon whiskey.
Old Crow is named in honor of Dr. James C. Crow, the Scottish chemist who 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.
[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."
"Old Crow" was the name given by Bud Anderson, WWII Triple Ace, to his P-51 Mustang. He provides a brief explanation in the FAQ area of his website.
[edit] Old Crow in popular culture
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 an old time string band from Ithaca, NY.
In the movie Barcelona, a character remarks "I'm not going to replace half a bottle of Old Crow, with a full bottle of Jim Beam. I'm going to sell you into the slavery of The Crow instead"
Tom Waits sings, "I come home last night, Full a filth of Old Crow" in his song "Gin Soaked Boy" on the Swordfishtrombones album.
The The Reverend Horton Heat song "That's Showbiz" contains the line(s)
You could have a fever and the dry heaves
From that left handed cigarette
And shot of Old Crow you did between the first and second show
Old Crow is traditionally consumed by audience members during the chorus of Tiny Tim's song "Living in the Sunlight Loving in the Moonlight"
Old Crow appears in the album artwork for Led Zeppelin's In Through The Outdoor
Old Crow whiskey is also mentioned in the Brad Paisley and Alan Jackson's cover of Guy Clark's song "Out in the Parking Lot"
Old Crow is mentioned in the Old 97's song "Doreen"
Old Crow is mentioned in the song "First Date" on Tough Love, by Hamell on Trial
The song "They Don't Make Folks Like They Used To" by Those Poor Bastards contains the line, "I drink Old Crow most everyday."
In The Rum Diary by Hunter S. Thompson, Paul Kemp grabs three bottles of Old Crow during the looting of a liquor store. Thompson also frequently mentions the whiskey in a number of letters and articles.
