Raise A Glass To Washington

Sometimes it takes a member of the British royal family to draw attention to our U.S. heritage.

Americans learned Wednesday about George Washington's business savvy – and skill in distilling spirits - when Britain's Prince Andrew cut the ribbon on a reconstruction of the 18th-century whiskey distillery operated by commander of the Revolutionary Army and the nation's first president.

Officials at Washington's Mount Vernon estate hope the $2.1 million project will shine a light on Washington's business savvy.

Mount Vernon began whiskey production in 1797, and by 1799, Washington was producing 11,000 gallons of rye whiskey a year in a state-of-the-art distillery. Estate officials say that made Washington the United States' largest whiskey producer.

Though the new distillery was formally dedicated on Wednesday, it won't be open to the public until April as final touches are put on the distillery's second floor.

Mount Vernon officials hope that about 50,000 visitors a year will come to the distillery and adjacent gristmill.

A national historic landmark listed on The National Register of Historic Places, the mansion and surrounding grounds have been owned and restored since the Civil War years by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union.

Prince Andrew, the middle son of Queen Elizabeth II, was awash in spirits on his latest visit to the United States. He was treated Tuesday to a scotch-tasting ceremony at the British Embassy.