Oily Bits What I learned at Valvoline's sesquicentennial

摘要

Motor oil isn't terribly sexy, so I don't pay it a lot of attention. But because it would double as an opportunity to spend an evening at the Buffalo Trace distillery (one of only two on the Bourbon Trail I was missing), I decided to head to Kentucky to help the Lexington-based Valvoline celebrate its 150th birthday. Yes, in 1866, while John Ellis was trying (unsuccessfully) to find a medicinal purpose for the crude that was bubblin' up in Pennsylvania, he noticed how slippery it was and reckoned it might serve as an improvement over the animal- and vegetable-based oils that were then used to lubricate steam engines. He renamed his company Valvoline in 1873, and the company has since pioneered all-climate motor oils, racing oils, synthetic blends, and high-mileage engine oils. Here's some of what I learned in between tastes of Eagle Rare and Bourbon Cream.