Bulleit Proof: How I Took a 150-Year-Old Family Recipe and a Revolver, and Disrupted the Entire Liquor Industry One Bottle, One Sip, One Handshake at - Paperback

by Tom Bulleit (Author), Alan Eisenstock (With)

The compelling story of how one man took a 150-year-old family recipe and disrupted the entire liquor industry one sip, one bottle, one handshake at a time

Tom Bulleit stood on a stage before a thousand people inside a tent the size of a big-top. It was both his thirtieth wedding anniversary and his birthday. But there was another thing to celebrate: the dedication of the new Bulleit Distillery in Shelbyville, Kentucky. His great-great-grandfather, Augustus, created his first batch of Bulleit Bourbon around 1830. A century and a half later, Tom fulfilled his lifelong dream, revived the old family bourbon recipe, and started Bulleit Distilling Company. Eventually, Tom was named a member of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, and elected to the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame. Thinking back on all his achievements, Tom was overcome by a wave of emotion. He looked into the sea of faces and said, "I don't believe our lives are told in years. . . or months. . . or weeks. I believe we live our lives in moments."

Tom's book Bulleit Proof is just that--a life told in moments. Moments of joy, triumph, hardship, persistence, and success. His is a story of survival in war, in business, in life. Tom faced death twice: in a foxhole and in a cancer ward. In Bulleit Proof, Tom reveals all, pulls no punches, and lets you into his heart. In this book, you will:

• Share Tom's personal story, including his loves, losses, and struggles
• Learn the history of one of America's most beloved and awarded brands
• Draw inspiration from the persistence and dedication Tom has shown throughout his life
• Explore how Bulleit Bourbon changed the liquor industry forever

Bulleit Proof is a fast-paced page-turner--not only for fans of Bulleit Bourbon and admirers of Tom, but for anyone who loves an emotional, hilarious, inspirational, and deeply honest story.

Front Jacket

TOM BULLEIT, founder of Bulleit Distilling Company, is well known for introducing his family's classic Kentucky bourbon recipe to the American market, and later to the world. In 2009, he was inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame--a testament to his lasting legacy, not only in the liquor world, but in the annals of American business. A titan of industry, Bulleit has the battle scars to show that his wisdom has been hard earned. In Bulleit Proof, he reveals not just the facts of his business success, but the people, stories, insights, and worldview that have carried him to great heights.

Active and aspiring leaders--whether in business or any other venture--will find inspiration in Tom Bulleit's story. After serving his country with the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, Bulleit earned his law degree and, in 1987, launched what would become one of the world's best whiskeys. But his road was an uneasy one, marked with great loss and adversity--including his father's disapproval of his plan to bring a 150-year-old family bourbon recipe to market. Bulleit brings this history to life in Bulleit Proof in his characteristically sparse and striking prose. A true American storyteller, Bulleit evokes both awe and laughter as he recounts his interesting youth, his ambitious plan, and his battle to survive as a new entrant into an industry of good old boys.

In the age of business disruption, tales like Bulleit's are as essential as they are rare. Disrupting the whiskey industry was, in 1987, a foolhardy business plan. Without his dedication to his brand and his fundamental belief in the quality of his product, he might well have failed. A certain amount of old-fashioned gumption was also an essential part of the Bulleit Bourbon recipe. Anyone with a dream, big or small, will enjoy Bulleit's colorful way of showing that survival in war, business, and life are all built on a foundation of commitment and persistence.

The interwoven stories in Bulleit Proof run through the full range of life's wonders: joy, triumph, love, loss, discovery, faith, fortitude, and--finally--success. Bulleit Proof is a must-read for anyone looking for the courage to take on life's great challenges.

Back Jacket

A TRUE AMERICAN PIONEER REVEALS HOW HE SINGLE-HANDEDLY TOOK ON THE LIQUOR INDUSTRY

Among bourbon aficionados around the world, Bulleit Bourbon is a household name.

The story behind the brand, and the man behind the name, are both subject and author of Bulleit Proof--an engaging and inspiring tapestry of tales from one of the liquor industry's most notorious disruptors. Tom Bulleit debuted his great-grandfather's recipe in 1987, taking on a well-established market, and the results speak for themselves.

Bulleit is a true American--the son of a soldier, a Vietnam veteran, an entrepreneur, and a self-made survivor. His southern grit and pioneer spirit come through loud and clear in his inspiring and memorable storytelling.

From the battlefield to the cancer ward, Bulleit has persevered through life's greatest hardships. As a member of the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame, and the name behind one of the world's top whiskeys, Bulleit knows what it means to struggle, how to maintain commitment, and how to avoid taking "no" for an answer. Read Bulleit Proof and feel uplifted and ready to fearlessly follow your own path, wherever it might lead.

If you have a dream to achieve, a challenge to face, or a love of good storytelling, this book is for you. Sit down with a glass of Bulleit and enjoy an unforgettable American success story.

Author Biography

TOM BULLEIT is founder of the Bulleit Distilling Company. After earning his B.A. from the University of Kentucky in 1966, Bulleit served during the Vietnam War as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps. He then earned law degrees from the University of Louisville and Georgetown University. Bulleit was elected to the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2009.