In 1984, the Very Olde St. Nick brand was created by Marci Palatella in response to the Japanese markets craving for older bourbons. The small craft brand originally started with bourbon produced by Julian Van Winkle III, whose source at the time was older stock of Stitzel-Weller bourbon. Eventually in the early 2000s, the original stock ran out; during this time, Julian Van Winkle III was able to introduce VOSN to Diageo as a new supply source. Diageo, who owned the historic Stitzel-Weller plant, then supplied VOSN with older stock of Van Winkle bourbon. Around this time, Kentucky Bourbon Distillers (KBD) began bottling for the brand and eventually Old St. Nick Distillery became an assumed name under KBD.