The Ambassador of Bourbon

Nestled in the rolling hills of central Kentucky, just outside the sleepy little town of Loretto, lies the Maker's MarkR distillery. Already declared a National Historic Landmark, it is also considered by many bourbon lovers as the Mecca of Fine Bourbon. Thousands of visitors make the trek to Loretto each year to tour this historic place, see the distilling process first hand and enjoy the scenic grounds. The vision of this book, The Ambassador of Bourbon: Maker's Mark and the Rebirth of America's Native Spirit, was to visually capture the distillery grounds at every season of the year and every time of day. This book conveys, through photographs, the history, the heritage and that special something that makes Maker's Mark, well… Maker's MarkR! Photographer David Toczko tells the story of what sets Maker's apart from other bourbons, and takes the reader on a visual tour of the distillery. The beautiful photographs will hopefully entice those who have never been to Loretto to come and experience this special place for themselves. For those who have already taken the walking tour, this book will serve as a source of reflection and fond remembrance of their visit. With over 10,000 photographs shot at the distillery, Mr. Toczko presents his favorite 250+ images, including several historic shots from the Samuels' family archives, that demonstrate why Maker's MarkR truly is The Ambassador of Bourbon

David Toczko is a long-time Kentucky resident and a Western Kentucky University graduate. His interest in photography began in 1985 and has grown from a passionate hobby to a career as a freelance, commercial photographer. His work is internationally published and has been acclaimed for its richness and depth of color, texture and clarity. His artistic vision is to create photographs with both visual and emotional impact. Recent efforts are focused in his signature style of low light/natural light, which adds a dimension not always found in the studio. His first book, Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill: 50th Anniversary of the Restoration, was published in 2010 by Acclaim Press and received an ADDY Award for its design.A Maker's MarkR Ambassador since 2009, David received his inspiration for this book during a visit to the distillery. He has returned many times since then, not only to photograph, but also to share this wonderful place with friends and family.David is a juried member of the Visual Arts with the Kentucky Arts Council, an Official Kentucky Derby Archive Team Photographer, a Louisville Ballet Archive Photographer, and a member of the Professional Photographers of America. His works have appeared in both national and international magazines, catalogs and publications including The Kentucky Derby: 133 Review. His photographs are exhibited in galleries and shows throughout Kentucky, and have been selected to appear at the Kentucky State Capitol Rotunda, the Senate Offices of the Kentucky State Capitol Annex, and the Kentucky First Lady's Office.