Solve History’s Mysteries
True or False: The “Father of Bourbon” was born and raised here in Orange County, Virginia.
Was Orange County native and Baptist minister Elijah Craig really the creator of American bourbon whiskey or just the beneficiary of a great marketing line?
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Secrets are revealed below!
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What’s in a name? Long before he became known as the “Father of Bourbon” and founded the liquor brand that still lines shelves today, Elijah Craig began his incredible journey of grit, faith, and unmistakable determination right here in Orange County.
As a young boy growing up on his family’s farm, Craig’s path was forever altered by the arrival of Baptist evangelists traveling into Orange County. Inspired by their teachings, Craig converted the family’s tobacco barn into an unlikely chapel—starting his lifelong passion for faith and developing his skills as a powerful speaker.
Even before becoming an alcohol mogul, Craig gained a “bad boy for a good cause” reputation by preaching in contradiction to the established Angelical church, earning him jail stints in Cumberland and Orange Counties.
Undampened by his run-ins with the law, Craig’s fervent faith and bold character established him as a leading figure in the Baptist religion. In 1769, he helped found the Blue Run Baptist Church, which still stands in Somerset today.
In an unusual neighborly alliance, Craig shared his passion for religious liberty with Montpelier owner and future United States President James Madison. As a young Virginia legislator, Madison encountered the teachings of Baptist leaders like fellow Orange County resident Craig, inspiring his commitment to freedom of conscience. This philosophy would later shape the First Amendment’s protection of religious liberties.
Led by the spirit (in more ways than one), Craig sold his Virginia farm in 1786 and followed a wave of Virginia Baptists to Kentucky. There, he opened the state’s first paper mill and eventually began the distillery that would herald his legacy. Whether clever marketing or actual fact, Craig became known as the Baptist preacher who used golden Kentucky corn to invent bourbon whiskey.
Today, Craig’s legacy still flows through Orange County in the many stories shared around the county’s distilleries, breweries, and wineries and in the landmarks that bear witness to his life—proving that, like whiskey, some legends get stronger with time.
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