Kentucky Owl was founded by Charles Mortimer Dedman, a local pharmacist, in 1879. After marrying his wife, Dedman was given a large parcel of land on the banks of the Kentucky River, as a wedding gift from his adopted father who was a local town judge. C.M. Dedman Distillery was established here on the banks of the Kentucky River, producing "The Wise Man's Bourbon" under Distilled Spirits Plant Designation "No. 16," one of Kentucky's original distilleries and part of a booming industry.

Old Fitzgerald is a brand with a rich history, being first registered in 1884. During Prohibition, the brand was sold to "Pappy" Van Winkle. Since 1999, Old Fitzgerald operates under the Heaven Hill banner, and the whiskey is distilled at Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky. Heaven Hill releases their Old Fitzgerald Bottled-In-Bond whiskey biannually: once in autumn and once in spring. The bottle is inspired by an original 1950s decanter, reflecting the rich history of the brand. The Fall 2022 release is a Kentucky straight bourbon that was distilled in 2003 from a mash bill of 75% corn, 20% wheat, and 5% malted barley. After patiently maturing for 19 years, the whiskey was bottled in October of 2022 at 100 proof.