Google “A. H. Hirsch” and one of the first names you’ll see is Henry Preiss, a spirits savant who is known for bringing unique European spirits to America. Preiss Imports introduced Luxardo, Darroze Armagnac, and Jägermeister to the United States. One of the dearest brands Preiss is known for is A. H. Hirsch Private Reserve Bourbon. How the Hirsch brand came to be is as unexpected as the long history of the distillery that made it.
In 1753, Swiss Mennonite farmers John and Michael Shenk founded what is considered to be America’s first rye whisky distillery near Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania. Lore has it that, during the American Revolution, the Continental Army procured whisky from Shenk’s while camping at nearby Valley Forge in the gruesome winter of 1777–1778. It’s likely that George Washington visited Shenk’s Distillery.
“They were crossing the river in that part of Pennsylvania, and they were allegedly sourcing some provisions for the troops there,” said Henry Preiss.
