OLD KENTUCKY PEERLESS, a fine Kentucky bourbon whiskey was produced from the late 1800s until about 1920 by the Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co., a somewhat prominent bourbon distilling company located in Henderson, Kentucky owned and operated by Henry Kraver.

Then came Prohibition, that weird period in United States history from 1920 to 1933 during which the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution generally prohibited the production, importation, transportation or sale of alcoholic beverages.

Although production of OLD KENTUCKY PEERLESS ceased as a result of Prohibition, the company still had a considerable amount of barrel aging product and obtained a governmental license permitting it to continue distributing its inventory for prescribed "medicinal purposes." Blissfully, effective December 5, 1933, Prohibition was repealed by the 21st Amendment to the United States Constitution. This was too late for Kentucky Peerless though, along with numerous other pre-Prohibition brands never resumed production; by killing numerous brands, the Temperance Movement had succeeded in part.

Fast forward to today, the popularity of Kentucky Bourbon is at an all-time high, especially small batch premium bourbons. The craft bourbon business is booming. So it's timely that the iconic old brand, KENTUCKY PEERLESS, like a Phoenix, is experiencing new life. Corky Taylor, the great-grandson of Henry Kraver, along with Corky's son, Carson, are bringing back the family brand.

The Taylors have organized Kentucky Peerless Distilling Company, LLC, have acquired a former warehouse a block from museum row a half block North of Main Street in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, and have constructed in the space a craft distillery to give re-birth to the family bourbon brand.

Proactively pursuing trademark protection in association with the re-birth of the family brand, The new Kentucky Peerless has reserved with the United States Patent & Trademark Office (the "PTO") the historic family brand name, PEERLESSTM, and has already registered the mark in various foreign countries. In addition to the PEERLESSTM brand, the new Kentucky Peerless Distilling Company is planning a premium Kentucky bourbon to be named HENRY KRAVERTM in honor of the owner of the earlier Kentucky Peerless Company. That mark too has been reserved with the PTO. And consistent with the branding theme of family pride, Kentucky Peerless has reserved for trademark protection the tagline, MADE WITH HONEST PRIDETM.

This re-birth is not just a dream, it has become reality. The grain formulation has been concocted, and the first batch of grain has been cooked, fermented distilled and barreled. On March 4, 2015, the bourbon aging process associated with the re-birth of PEERLESS began when "Barrel No. 1" was filled. Watch here –

We are in the Lenten season so I suppose it is appropriate that I confess. Indeed, it is especially appropriate considering the photographic proof below. I confess! Not all of the first small batch of PEERLESSTM made its way into Barrel No. 1.

Perhaps I should have another. Please join me. We need not wait long. Just as many of the new craft bourbon distilleries are doing, while Barrel No. 1 and the numerous that follow are aging 4 to 6 years to evolve into a fine Kentucky bourbon, Kentucky Peerless will be commercializing some of its distilled spirits output without first aging it – moonshine. The Kentucky Peerless moonshine will be branded LUCKY KENTUCKY MOONSHINETM. The Kentucky Peerless Moonshine will soon go to market with a variety of flavors such as chocolate nut pie, peach, green apple, coconut cream, pineapple, LEMON DROPTM and CINNAMON FIRETM.

We at TRADEMARKOLOGY salute Corky and Carson Taylor and everyone else at Kentucky Peerless. We wish you the best.

Cheers . . . Prost . . . Salud . . .Yung sing . . . Gom bui . . . Salute!

The lawyers at Trademarkology provide trademark registration services backed by the experience and service of one of the nation's oldest law firms. Click here to begin the process of protecting your brand name with a federally registered trademark.

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