Joseph Ledbetter

Joe Ledbetter (born 27, October, 1979) is a whiskey enthusiast and spirits entrepreneur. He is a co-founder of Chattanooga Whiskey Company, who led the movement to change a one hundred year law to reinstate the art of distilling into Hamilton County, Tennessee.[1][2]

Background

Joe Ledbetter was raised in the Chattanooga, Tennessee area. He attended Bryan College prior to joining the U.S. Army in 1999. Following five years in the service, Joe was an insurance broker in Washington D.C. when he decided to pursue the Distilled Spirits industry. With one Facebook posting: “Would you drink Chattanooga Whiskey?", Ledbetter and his partner got thousands of supporters to petition a change in the law in Hamilton County.[3][4]

History

Joe Ledbetter addressed the Hamilton County Commission in November 2012, citing the economic boost the distillery could bring to the Scenic City.[5] While the commissioners couldn't change the law on their own, a majority had to send it to the state legislature, which eventually happened.[6][7][8] In 2009, the legislature approved a bill to repeal the prohibition laws in the state, but Hamilton County was not included in that referendum.[9][10] In May 2013, Governor Bill Haslam signed the bill into law, allowing Chattanooga Whiskey to be made in the city for which it's named.[11]

Other activities

In mid 2014, Joe Ledbetter resigned from day-to-day operations at the Tennessee Stillhouse to form Ledbetter Holdings and The Barrelhouse Lab to pursue other projects and ideas as well as consult with other distilleries and spirits brands.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "Made in Indiana:Chattanooga Whiskey". Associated Press. Retrieved 10/09/12. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help); Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  2. ↑ Ayres, Ernie. "Chattanooga Whiskey Company's Joe Ledbetter Interview & Review". whiskeynose.com.
  3. ↑ Phillips, Casey. "Whiskey distillers draw on Chattanooga's past". Chattanooga Times Free-Press. Retrieved 12/08/2011. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  4. ↑ Ramsey, Bill. "Scenic City, Whiskey River". Chattanoogapulse.com.
  5. ↑ Harrison, Kate. "Chattanooga Whiskey backers pack Hamilton County Courthouse". Chattanooga Times Free-Press. Retrieved 2012-11-16.
  6. ↑ "Hamilton state lawmakers mulling distillery". Associated Press. Retrieved 12/03/2012. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help); Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  7. ↑ Hightower, Cliff. "Chattanooga Whiskey letter looking for signatures". Chattanooga Times Free-Press. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  8. ↑ Humphrey, Tom. "Moonshine bill clears subcommittee hurdle". Knoxnews.com. Retrieved 03/06/2013. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  9. ↑ Yeldell, Cynthia. "Ground zero for whiskey: Law allows production of distilled spirits in state". knoxvillebiz.com. Retrieved 07/05/2009. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  10. ↑ Naujeck, Jeannie. "Distilleries could flourish in Tennessee". Nashville Business Journal. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
  11. ↑ Sher, Andy. "Political Notebook: Gov. Haslam signs whiskey bill". Chattanooga Times Free-Press. Retrieved 2013-05-18.
  12. ↑ Morrison, Chloe'. "Founder of Chattanooga Whiskey explains resignation, plans for future". Nooga.com. Retrieved 07/01/2014. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)

External links

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