Bill Samuels, Sr. came from a long line of distinguished Samuels generations making undistinguished whisky. In 1953, looking to improve bourbon’s taste profile (and the family’s reputation), he torched the family recipe and started anew. His vision was to create a smooth, flavorful whisky that would bring connoisseurship to America’s native spirit. The going was slow at first, but by the early 1980s Maker’s Mark had succeeded in forever elevating the perception of bourbon - a lofty image it holds today, thanks largely to Bill’s foresight and tenacity.