One to One with Bill Goodman:
Bill Samuels Jr.
aired July 20 and 22, 2007
Bill Samuels Jr., president of Maker’s Mark, discusses his distinguished family heritage in the world of bourbon making on this edition of One to One with host Bill Goodman.
The Samuels family began distilling in 1780. In the 1950s, Bill Samuels Sr. purchased the small distillery in Marion County now known as Maker’s Mark and began making bourbon using a new recipe he developed himself. His wife, Marge, is credited with contributing the distinctive red wax top by which Maker’s Mark is recognized around the world.
Bill Jr., who took over as president and CEO in 1975, recently authored Maker’s Mark: My Autobiography, which takes readers on a guided tour of the old-fashioned distillery, describes how bourbon is made, explains what makes an excellent bourbon, and includes food and drink recipes.
The book also touches on Maker’s Mark’s advertising history and Samuels’ own reputation as a daring marketer. In the interview, he discusses his offbeat approach to reaching new customers.
