Bill Samuels, Jr.

Bill Samuels, Jr. was the the son of Maker’s founder Bill, Sr. and Margie. When Jr. was inheriting the helm at Maker’s upon his father’s retirement, his parting words that to his son was, “Don't screw up the Whisky." So when Jr took over as the President at Maker’s Mark, he honored his fathers request but wish, but did it his own way.

You see Bill, Jr. is a entertainer with an eye for showmanship. So everything he did, he did in his very own way and usually over the top. It was Bill, Jr. that created the first-of-its-kind Ambassador program that allows Maker's Mark's biggest fans to feel like part of the family. Then just prior to his retirement, Bill, Jr., made his Maker’s Mark on the family legacy in 2010 with the introduction of Maker's 46, the company's first new brand in over 50 years.

The Samuels family line of mercantile bourbon distillers has now been perpetual through eight generations of the family’s sons although it was not as commercial distillers until Ole T. W. began making it the family business in the 1840’s. The Samuels family tradition actually started several generations before T. W. with Robert Samuels (1755-1822) who originally hailed from East Pennsboro Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania and served in George Washington’s Continental Army. He was commissioned by the General to make whisky for the soldiers of Washington’s Army. Robert was honorably discharged out of the Army once the Revolutionary War was over, and moved his family and a 60 gallon copper still to the to Central Kentucky area. Robert had three son, William Samuels (Ole T. W.’s father), John Samuels, and Rueben Samuels. It was T. W.’s uncle John that continued in the distilling business but his main job was that of a farmer. Like others in the day he turned his corn into whisky as an efficient way and value added way to transport his harvest.

The commercial distilling began with Taylor William (Ole T. W.) Samuels, {1821-1898}, William Isaac Samuels {1845-1898}, Leslie B. Samuels {1871-1936}; Taylor William Samuels, IV (“Bill, Sr.”) {1911-1992}, Taylor William Samuels, V {“Bill, Jr.”}, and Robert Samuels, even though Prohibition and separating off to form Maker’s Mark both resulted in some down-time.