June 14, 1789
Whisky distilled from maize was first produced, by a clergyman, the Rev Elijah Craig.
Ireland
Whiskey distilled from maize (corn) was first produced by Reverend Elijah Craig, a Baptist clergyman and distiller in Bourbon County, Kentucky, in the late 18th century. He is widely credited — though somewhat mythically — with the creation of what became known as bourbon whiskey, named after the county in which he lived. Craig’s use of charred oak barrels and a corn-based mash laid the foundation for what would become a distinctly American spirit.