'1776'

James E. Pepper's heritage traces to 1780, when Elijah Pepper built his first distillery at the height of the American Revolution. Two centuries later, the historic brand was revived and launched in 2012 as '1776'—honoring both America's founding year and Colonel James E. Pepper, who affectionately called the whiskey 'Old 1776'.

This rye whiskey is composed of more than 90% rye with no corn in the mash bill. It is not chill-filtered, preserving a full, natural character. Bottled at 46% ABV, it delivers warmth without harshness.

The nose opens with clear rye grain, accompanied by citrus—fresh citrus fruit, orange—and spice notes like clove. On the palate, that same elegance unfolds: rye bread, honey, and chocolate form a soft foundation, with sweet spices threading through. The finish brings forward notes of fresh-baked bread, anchoring the whiskey's rye-forward identity.