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Joseph Head being presented his KY Colonel certificate by Michael Veach. Two legends in the bourbon world.

Many of us know Joe Head as the driving force behind the changing of The Century Bar to a bourbon bar. In 2012 the decor of the bar was changed, to reflect its new direction and the focus of this venue, evolved to celebrate America’s Official Native Spirit.

In 2013 the Bourbon Review named The Century one of America’s Best Bourbon Bars,” a title they’ve continued to be a party of. Here’s what they said:

Century Bar, Dayton, OH: In what could be the most underrated Bourbon bar in the country, the Century Bar takes you back to 1862 with its 150-year-old back bar. The home of the former Kette & Sons Rye Whiskey Distillery, Century Bar packs 87 Bourbons and regularly holds blind tastings. It’s the sort of place every Bourbon drinker should visit at least once in his or her life.

In 2015 Men’s Journal declared The Century Bar one of the 10 Best Bourbon Bars in America. Travelandleisure.com put The Century on their list of 15 best bourbon bars in America. Joe has established himself as a bourbon ambassador and now spends more time doing talks and tastings than he does behind the bar. But he’s also made sure to keep the standards high for his staff of bartenders that mimic his passion for the bronze liquid and continue to create new bourbon fans daily.

And last night General Manager Joe Head was inducted into the Kentucky Colonels, for his dedication to promoting the bourbon heritage, and thus Kentucky.

The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels is an organization of talented and capable men and women appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky because of their service to the state. They act as the Governor’s ambassadors of Kentucky’s heritage and rich history of arts and entertainment.

Here’s Colonel Joe’s reaction from last night, as posted to his Facebook page:

“Wow what an amazing evening so many people to thank, first and foremost my beautiful wife Edye Head without her non of this would be possible , my dear friend Michael Veach for nominating me to be a Kentucky colonel. Thank you for the toast to my friend Jeff Luebbe. To all of you who took time out of your lives to share a glass of bourbon with me, I appreciate it greatly. This was a wonderful night.”