Speed Art Museum Louisville, KY
Jake Vollmer
Master Whiskey Taster for North American Distillers Limited and head blender and innovation lead for Rabbit Hole Distillery
Thunder Road (1958)— Backwoods alchemy: The science of distillation and bootlegging
Program Description
Jake Vollmer, Master Whiskey Taster for North American Distillers Limited, discusses the science of distillation as it’s utilized in the pristine facility of a distillery or in the moonlit trees of rural Kentucky. Drawing on his expertise, the head blender for Rabbit Hole Distillery explains what distinguishes a fine whiskey from a jar of moonshine, exploring the chemical difference between two beverages that define the history of the state. The shady bootlegging process is thus illuminated, from the backwoods still to the hidden compartment of a hot rod and finally behind the disguised door of a speakeasy
Presented At
Speed Art Museum Louisville, KY
Film Synopsis
A moonshine runner has to battle gangsters trying to take over the family business and police trying to put him in prison.
Unrepentant Tennessee moonshine runner Luke Doolin (Robert Mitchum) makes dangerous high-speed deliveries for his liquor-producing father, Vernon (Trevor Bardette), but won't let his younger brother Robin (James Mitchum) join the family business. Under pressure from both out-of-town gangster Kogan (Jacques Aubuchon), who wants a piece of the local action, and Treasury agent Barrett (Gene Barry), who wants to destroy the moonshine business, Luke fights for his fast-fading way of life.
Photo credit: United Artists
About the Speaker
Jake Vollmer was born and raised at the confluence of the Bluegrass and Appalachian Mountains, growing up immersed in a region renowned for its whiskey-making tradition. A graduate of Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, Jake’s academic focus on history and art sparked a lifelong interest in Kentucky’s rich legacy, particularly its whiskey history. Jake’s career began at Copper & Kings in Louisville, where he sharpened his skills in processing, blending, and maturation. In 2016, he joined Angel’s Envy where he was integral in formalizing barrel-finishing techniques, developing innovative blending practice and refining the distillery’s acclaimed Single Barrel program. In 2021, Jake moved to Rabbit Hole Distillery as Maturation and Processing Specialist where he focused on sensory development, barrel finishing, maturation science, and innovation. Today, Jake serves as Master Taster for Pernod-Ricard, where he leads liquid creation, innovation, and advocacy for the NADL portfolio.