The Old Fitzgerald brand was created by S.C. Hebst in 1870. He was not a distiller at the time and simply bought neutral spirit, which he flavoured and added colouring to to create a whiskey ersatz. Alongside this activity, he also bought rye and bourbon casks, which he bottled under the brand Jno. E. Fitzgerald. His primary activity ended with the Bottled in Bond Act of 1987 and he then turned his hand to producing after buying the Old Judge distillery. Once again he was forced to stop this activity when Prohibition arrived and he sold his brand to Julian “Pappy” Van Winkle, who owned Stitzel-Weller. The distillery closed by United Distillers (the future Diageo) and the Old Fitzgerald brand was sold to Heaven Hill in 1999.

An old bottle of Old Fitzgerald bourbon.