The third batch of D.H. Cromwell , a highly coveted revival of a cult-like bourbon with a fascinatingly obscene history, goes on sale on Thursday. Given that previous batches have sold out in minutes, it might be a good time to learn a little about the producers behind this 15-year-old bourbon and the history of “Dirty Helen” Cromwell, the namesake behind the bottle.

What Is Old Commonwealth?

As we’ve outlined before, Old Commonwealth is a once-shuttered distillery that the Van Winkle family had its hands on for the brand’s production until 2002, when Buffalo Trace took over and shut it down.

The original Old Commonwealth can trace its roots back to 1889. After a few sales and pivots (including a time as the Hoffman Distilling Co. and the Ezra Brooks distillery), Julian Van Winkle III renamed it the Commonwealth Distillery in 1983, though the property was really used to bottle and sell his family’s whiskey reserves.…