June 14 is a day rich with truly “Made in America” celebrations. It’s Flag Day — a time to honor our Nation’s flag and everything it represents. It’s also National Bourbon Day, recognizing one of our country’s most iconic and officially recognized spirits.
On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress resolved: “That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.” Our flag has evolved over the centuries, but today it still bears those 13 stripes along with 50 stars. I firmly believe it remains the most striking flag of any nation.
Sadly, some today label our flag as a symbol of oppression or racism. Ironically, many of those critics enjoy freedoms — speech, protest, and dissent — that are rare or outright denied in the very regimes they claim to admire. In those systems, expressing such views could easily lead to imprisonment — or worse.
National Bourbon Day came later. On May 4, 1964, Congress declared bourbon a “distinctive product of the United States.” While the exact origins of National Bourbon Day are unclear — perhaps more marketing than history — June 14 has become the day to celebrate our native beverage. A popular legend holds that on this day in 1789, in Georgetown, Kentucky, the Reverend Elijah Craig — a Baptist minister and entrepreneur — first produced bourbon. His distillery is said to be the birthplace of this remarkable spirit. Whatever the origin, it’s fitting to toast an American-made tradition on the same day we honor our flag.
So, raise the flag and raise a glass. Celebrate what makes this Nation great—its history, its symbols, and yes, even its spirits. Be thankful for them all.
Cheers!
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