FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 5, 2009

Lexington, Kentucky based documentary film producer, Witnessing History LLC, announced today that its 2008 production, Bourbon and Kentucky: A History Distilled, which has been broadcast on Kentucky’s statewide PBS affiliate, KET-TV, over the past six months, has been selected by the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) for nationwide syndication / distribution and will be made available to every PBS television affiliate station in the United States for public broadcast in early 2009.

NETA is a non-profit membership organization with 96 members representing 99 public broadcasting licensees in 43 states, the Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia. The NETA Program Services mission is to enrich public television by delivering one-of-kind documentaries and diverse informational programming to every PBS station in the country. NETA works to connect people and ideas by providing quality programming, educational resources, professional development, management support, and national representation.

Bourbon and Kentucky: A History Distilled was produced in High Definition with a 60 minute television run time and explores how distilling originated in Kentucky with it's first settlers in 1775, and takes the viewer to the sites of central Kentucky's earliest distilling operations. Magnificent portraits and landscapes adorn the production and illustrate on the screen the progression of whiskey-making to the stage where the best of it was old, smooth, amber in color and known as "Bourbon". Craig Cornwell, Director of Programming at KET, notes: “Bourbon and Kentucky is the first in-depth look at the storied history of Bourbon in Kentucky; it delves deep into the obscure lore of yesteryear to present an insightful profile of the golden mash for which the Commonwealth is so well known. In addition to the colorful stories, the high-definition photography shines as it brings history to life and vividly captures the beautiful locales around the Bluegrass where Bourbon was first distilled. Bourbon and Kentucky definitely deserves to be shown to a national audience.”

News of the upcoming national broadcast of Bourbon and Kentucky by PBS has already elicited comment: “This is more proof of the growing appeal and interest in Kentucky Bourbon,” said Eric Gregory, President of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association that represents the Commonwealth’s signature bourbon industry. “It’s also a great way to kick off 2009, which marks the 10th anniversary of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and the 45th anniversary of Congress declaring Bourbon ‘America’s Official Native Spirit.’” Also, David Lord, President of the Lexington Convention & Visitors Bureau, stated: “The Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau is pleased to be a supporter of Bourbon and Kentucky: A History Distilled. The story of Bourbon showcases the Bluegrass Region’s rich tradition and heritage. Our region’s pure, natural resources are unlike any in the world; and that makes the art and science of Bourbon-distilling a uniquely Kentucky craft. This documentary is the perfect compliment to our efforts of promoting Lexington and the story of Bourbon.”

The executive producers of Bourbon and Kentucky: A History Distilled are Douglas High and Kent Masterson Brown, both of Lexington, Kentucky. Funding for the production was provided in part by a grant from the KET Fund for Independent Production and by the Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau. Al Greenfield directed he program and it was written and hosted by award winning author and historian Kent Masterson Brown. Brown is the author of the 2005 book Retreat From Gettysburg: Lee, Logistics and the Pennsylvania Campaign, also available as a DVD documentary produced by Witnessing History, LLC, in 2008.

To learn more about Witnessing History LLC and to view its catalog of documentary films on DVD, please visit www.witnessinghistoryonline.com.

WITNESSING HISTORY, LLC
Kent Masterson Brown

Phone: 859-455-9330 office
859-608-2323 cell