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Bourbon: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of an American Whiskey
Best New Spirits Book, 2017 Tales of the Cocktail's Spirited Awards Smithsonian Magazine : One of the "Best Books About Food of 2016"
O nce and for all, America learns the likely inventor of its beloved bourbon.
Bourbon is not just alcohol -- this amber-colored drink is deeply ingrained in American culture and tangled in American history. From the early days of raw corn liquor to the myriad distilleries that have proliferated around the country today, bourbon has come to symbolize America. In The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of an American Whiskey, award-winning whiskey author Fred Minnick traces bourbon's entire history, from the 1700s with Irish, Scottish, and French settlers setting up stills and making distilled spirits in the New World through today's booming resurgence. He also lays out in expert detail the critical role this spirit has played throughout the cultural and even political history of the nation -- from Congress passing whiskey-protection laws to consumers standing in long lines just for a glimpse of a rare bottle of Pappy Van Winkle -- complemented by more than 100 illustrations and photos. And most importantly, Minnick explores the mystery of who most likely created the sweet corn liquor we now know as bourbon. He studies the men who've been championed as its inventors over time -- from Daniel Boone's cousin to Baptist minister Elijah Craig -- and, based on new research and never-before-seen documentation, answers the question of who deserves the credit.
O nce and for all, America learns the likely inventor of its beloved bourbon.
Bourbon is not just alcohol -- this amber-colored drink is deeply ingrained in American culture and tangled in American history. From the early days of raw corn liquor to the myriad distilleries that have proliferated around the country today, bourbon has come to symbolize America. In The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of an American Whiskey, award-winning whiskey author Fred Minnick traces bourbon's entire history, from the 1700s with Irish, Scottish, and French settlers setting up stills and making distilled spirits in the New World through today's booming resurgence. He also lays out in expert detail the critical role this spirit has played throughout the cultural and even political history of the nation -- from Congress passing whiskey-protection laws to consumers standing in long lines just for a glimpse of a rare bottle of Pappy Van Winkle -- complemented by more than 100 illustrations and photos. And most importantly, Minnick explores the mystery of who most likely created the sweet corn liquor we now know as bourbon. He studies the men who've been championed as its inventors over time -- from Daniel Boone's cousin to Baptist minister Elijah Craig -- and, based on new research and never-before-seen documentation, answers the question of who deserves the credit.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published August 15, 2016
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1083 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
February 18, 2017
I really liked this. He cut through all of the claims and mystery surrounding bourbon and crafted a story rich in characters, struggles and triumph. I also can't wait for my next glass of bourbon.
January 23, 2023
I really wanted to love this book. Fred Minnick is passionate about bourbon, and he obviously knows his stuff and did extensive research for this book, but his writing leaves a lot to be desired. I did learn so much reading this book, but I felt like I had to fight through sentences that didn't make sense and paragraphs that were disjointed and didn't flow (plus some straight up spelling and grammar errors - but maybe that's only the case for the ebook). The insets didn't help either; they often felt like filler and interrupted the flow of the text. Overall, I'm glad I read this book - I gained an overall understanding of the history of bourbon and a bunch of fun facts that I'm excited to share with friends. But I'm also glad that I'm finished reading it.
August 5, 2016
The most comprehensive bourbon history book I've ever read.
April 28, 2018
This book is pretty, and well written, but the formatting wherein "articles" are interspersed with the bulk of the text is questionable. The result is frustrating and hard to read. It kept me from connecting to the text.
July 26, 2018
Meh - random and unorganized.
The book felt random and unorganized. It lacks the good storytelling of similar books about bourbon and wanders around seemingly without thesis.
The book felt random and unorganized. It lacks the good storytelling of similar books about bourbon and wanders around seemingly without thesis.
September 12, 2022
Book # 3 prep for my upcoming Tenn/Ky Road Trip.
I was hoping to learn a lot about Bourbon from this book. What I learned was some history about this whiskey, from the time of the early settlement of Kentucky to 2010 or so. The author primarily focuses on the legal and political history of bourbon distilleries (much of the book is devoted to prohibition and one of the 12 chapters is about industrial alcohol production during WWII). An excessive amount of typeface is dedicated to discussion of taxes on Whiskey, which is quoted as rates beginning in the 1700s (but not translated into 2020 dollars, so it is pretty meaningless) and the method of taxation is still foreign to me ( is it based on percent alcohol , on dollar value, on liquid measurement ?). The author seems opposed to taxes on spirits, despite repeatedly boasting that most roads and schools in Kentucky were paid for with taxes on Bourbon.
The reader wishing to learn about the manufacturing process is gong to be disappointed. While the author throws around terms like "sour mash" and "column distillation", he does not explain any of these terms.
The book ends with the story of the current popularity of Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon. The author explains that it currently sells for around $5000 per bottle and that these bottles contain whiskey that a conglomerate had overproduced and then sold to multiple buyers in a fire sale. He does not even attempt to explain why some of this Bourbon is now fetching this price. I found this frustrating and typical of this book.
The best part of the book is the many historical photographs it contains. Unfortunately, these images are placed fairly haphazardly, and this nonfiction book is not indexed, making it all but useless as a reference.
I was hoping to learn a lot about Bourbon from this book. What I learned was some history about this whiskey, from the time of the early settlement of Kentucky to 2010 or so. The author primarily focuses on the legal and political history of bourbon distilleries (much of the book is devoted to prohibition and one of the 12 chapters is about industrial alcohol production during WWII). An excessive amount of typeface is dedicated to discussion of taxes on Whiskey, which is quoted as rates beginning in the 1700s (but not translated into 2020 dollars, so it is pretty meaningless) and the method of taxation is still foreign to me ( is it based on percent alcohol , on dollar value, on liquid measurement ?). The author seems opposed to taxes on spirits, despite repeatedly boasting that most roads and schools in Kentucky were paid for with taxes on Bourbon.
The reader wishing to learn about the manufacturing process is gong to be disappointed. While the author throws around terms like "sour mash" and "column distillation", he does not explain any of these terms.
The book ends with the story of the current popularity of Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon. The author explains that it currently sells for around $5000 per bottle and that these bottles contain whiskey that a conglomerate had overproduced and then sold to multiple buyers in a fire sale. He does not even attempt to explain why some of this Bourbon is now fetching this price. I found this frustrating and typical of this book.
The best part of the book is the many historical photographs it contains. Unfortunately, these images are placed fairly haphazardly, and this nonfiction book is not indexed, making it all but useless as a reference.
January 6, 2019
If you google "whiskey songs," you'll find articles listing as many as 68 songs. These range from traditional Irish (Whiskey in the Jar) to country (Hotel Whiskey) to rock and roll (Whiskey Night). So it's odd that Minnick makes so little mention of the whiskey-music connection. Other than a punk bar called Delilah, music really doesn't figure into this story.
It's one of many places where Minnick drops the ball (or perhaps the glass).
Bourbon: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of an American Whiskey is, I'm sorry to say, a mediocre book on an interesting topic. Though I found the book engaging at the start, part way through I started to feel that I was reading a public relations exercise, not a real history.
For starters, anything negative is papered over. The Whiskey Rebellion is mentioned, but not really explored. For Prohibition, you get a better explanation in two pages of The Omnivore’s Dilemma than you receive in this book. The whiskey-music connection, not really explored.
Moreover, the author really suffers from what Steven Pinker calls "the curse of knowledge." The author frequently uses technical terms that he either doesn't define at all or defines many pages after he introduces the term (bonded is an example). I took to reading the book with my phone open to Wikipedia because this was so frequently a problem.
Finally, 50% of the book is taken up with pointless stock photos and even more pointless sidebars.
This is not a book I can recommend.
It's one of many places where Minnick drops the ball (or perhaps the glass).
Bourbon: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of an American Whiskey is, I'm sorry to say, a mediocre book on an interesting topic. Though I found the book engaging at the start, part way through I started to feel that I was reading a public relations exercise, not a real history.
For starters, anything negative is papered over. The Whiskey Rebellion is mentioned, but not really explored. For Prohibition, you get a better explanation in two pages of The Omnivore’s Dilemma than you receive in this book. The whiskey-music connection, not really explored.
Moreover, the author really suffers from what Steven Pinker calls "the curse of knowledge." The author frequently uses technical terms that he either doesn't define at all or defines many pages after he introduces the term (bonded is an example). I took to reading the book with my phone open to Wikipedia because this was so frequently a problem.
Finally, 50% of the book is taken up with pointless stock photos and even more pointless sidebars.
This is not a book I can recommend.
May 1, 2024
This a quintessential read for anyone who want to know more about America's spirit - bourbon. It is well written and thorough. I highly recommend it.
July 14, 2019
Minnick starts out well covering some interesting topics that any avid bourbon-er will want to know about their favorite whiskey, including the origins and mythos surrounding it. But he gets into the weeds by the middle, spending too much time without keeping the reader in context of all the various distilleries, laws, and trends. By the end, with the help of modern corporate consolidation and access to company archives, he regains a tight narrative.
July 3, 2022
Good overview of the spirit but hard for a serious reader to get through. It is a cross between a serious history and a coffee table book although it leans more history. I found all the pictures and call-outs distracting. They took away, not added to the narrative. The narrative, however, was good and I learned more than a bit about the spirit. IMO this book is ideal for the noob and good for anyone really trying to learn about the craft.
November 24, 2017
If you have interest in and want education in Bourbon, then this is the book.
My wife and I just completed our tour through Kentucky on the Bourbon Trail and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Like my interest in driving American cars, I decided it was time to change from gin to Bourbon and haven't looked back. Enjoy this excellent book.
My wife and I just completed our tour through Kentucky on the Bourbon Trail and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Like my interest in driving American cars, I decided it was time to change from gin to Bourbon and haven't looked back. Enjoy this excellent book.
August 19, 2016
TLDR: Meticulously researched and well written book on bourbon history by a person many consider an expert in the field. Highly recommended!
In addition to this book, I've also enjoyed the last two books by Fred Minnick, Whiskey Women and Bourbon Curious. In my honest opinion, this one was the best by far.
Bourbon's history has been repackaged in multiple ways over the years, usually as a marketing ploy to highlight a spirit company's longevity or continuity, but Minnick dug quite a bit deeper to bring a new chapter to light. Distillery tours discuss making industrial alcohol during World War II, but nobody has ever talked about how the distilleries didn't freely participate in this effort--they were forced to. It's a great book, definitely worth buying if you love bourbon and/or history in general.
In addition to this book, I've also enjoyed the last two books by Fred Minnick, Whiskey Women and Bourbon Curious. In my honest opinion, this one was the best by far.
Bourbon's history has been repackaged in multiple ways over the years, usually as a marketing ploy to highlight a spirit company's longevity or continuity, but Minnick dug quite a bit deeper to bring a new chapter to light. Distillery tours discuss making industrial alcohol during World War II, but nobody has ever talked about how the distilleries didn't freely participate in this effort--they were forced to. It's a great book, definitely worth buying if you love bourbon and/or history in general.
June 16, 2018
Great archive material and photos, but for such a short book gets too bogged down in detail, particularly around tax.
Second part of the book on more recent industry trends much more enjoyable.
Second part of the book on more recent industry trends much more enjoyable.
October 1, 2017
Kentucky bourbon- a drink that baptists should be proud of( because of the Elijah Craig legend) ,but are notoriously not.
This book partly considers the immense hold that tv shows and television culture has on our buying choices. James Bond- people started buying vodka based drinks and cocktail bars popped up all over the country. Sex and the city- appletinis became a hugely popular drink for women and men who were gay(like Stanford) or just didn't care(i.e. Marshall from how i your mother)
With Ron Swanson adulation on the rise, I imagine scotch sales have gone up significantly.
Good luck reading without going out and trying every bourbon that you're reading about.
This book partly considers the immense hold that tv shows and television culture has on our buying choices. James Bond- people started buying vodka based drinks and cocktail bars popped up all over the country. Sex and the city- appletinis became a hugely popular drink for women and men who were gay(like Stanford) or just didn't care(i.e. Marshall from how i your mother)
With Ron Swanson adulation on the rise, I imagine scotch sales have gone up significantly.
Good luck reading without going out and trying every bourbon that you're reading about.
February 7, 2017
A really enjoyable read charting the origins, rise, fall and rebirth of bourbon.
The author shows that he has a genuine interest and love for bourbon and it's history. There are times when (in my opinion) the book can get bogged down in legislature and statistics but this is a small gripe.
Truly a fascinating read especially if like myself you enjoy a glass of bourbon.
The author shows that he has a genuine interest and love for bourbon and it's history. There are times when (in my opinion) the book can get bogged down in legislature and statistics but this is a small gripe.
Truly a fascinating read especially if like myself you enjoy a glass of bourbon.
October 27, 2017
This book covers a lot of ground in a short time. If you are a bourbon enthusiast I would recommend it.
September 6, 2016
I reviewed this book for Bourbon & Banter:
http://www.bourbonbanter.com/gear/gea...
http://www.bourbonbanter.com/gear/gea...
October 5, 2017
First of all this is a beautiful book. The contents is okay, but nothing special.
December 26, 2021
3.5/5…Love Fred’s video and short-form work, but this could use a polish…good content, though.
February 9, 2025
Book Review: Bourbon: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of an American Whiskey
Author: Fred Minnick
Publisher: Voyageur Press
Publication Year: 2016
Pages: 240
You’ll seldom read such a complete and appealing historical account of bourbon, America’s native spirit!! Minnick, a well-known whiskey professional and historian, takes the reader on a captivating journey through bourbon’s origins, its golden era, its near demise, and its modern renaissance.
More than just a history lesson, the book provides cultural, economic, and political insights into how bourbon evolved alongside the United States itself. The book traces bourbon’s roots back to the early American settlers who distilled whiskey from corn and other grains.
The book explores the influence of immigrants, particularly the Scots-Irish, who brought their distilling customs to the New World. The book discusses how bourbon gained distinction in the 19th century, with figures like Elijah Craig and Dr. James Crow pioneering techniques that defined the spirit’s modern production process. Minnick also sheds light on the role of bourbon in shaping American commerce, detailing how government regulations like the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 helped ensure quality and authenticity in an era of rampant adulteration.
One of the most intriguing sections of the book details the various challenges bourbon faced, from Prohibition (1920–1933) to changing consumer preferences in the mid-20th century. Minnick explains how the rise of vodka and lighter spirits in the 1960s and 1970s nearly led to bourbon’s extinction. The book highlights industry missteps, such as distillers diluting their product quality to meet mass-market demand, and how corporate acquisitions further diminished the identity of many historic bourbon brands. Minnick also explores bourbon’s struggles in international markets, where Scotch whisky maintained a stronghold.
Minnick’s storytelling shines in the latter part of the book, where he examines bourbon’s renaissance in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. He credits factors such as the craft whiskey movement, a renewed interest in high-quality spirits, and the efforts of passionate distillers who reclaimed bourbon’s heritage.
The book covers the role of premium brands, single-barrel expressions, and limited-edition releases in bringing bourbon back to prominence. Minnick also discusses how marketing strategies and bourbon tourism—centered around the Kentucky Bourbon Trail—helped revive the industry.
The narrative style of the author is engaging, informative, and well-researched. He equilibriums profound historical detail with a relaxed tone, making the book accessible to both whiskey enthusiasts and unpremeditated readers. His passion for bourbon is evident all over, and his aptitude to texture together private anecdotes, interviews, and historical facts keeps the narrative energetic. The book also includes antique photographs, advertisements, and charts that enrich the storytelling. These visuals provide an immersive experience, helping readers connect with the past and understand how bourbon evolved over time.
To end with, we can without harm, say that this tome is an indispensible read for anyone interested in whiskey history, American culture, or the pliability of an industry that refused to die. Minnick’s attractive storytelling and skilled examination make it a compelling journey through the highs and lows of bourbon. Whether you’re a veteran bourbon drinker or a tenderfoot to the world of whiskey, this book offers a profounder appreciation for America’s native spirit.
Possibly my best non-fiction yet, in 2025.
Author: Fred Minnick
Publisher: Voyageur Press
Publication Year: 2016
Pages: 240
You’ll seldom read such a complete and appealing historical account of bourbon, America’s native spirit!! Minnick, a well-known whiskey professional and historian, takes the reader on a captivating journey through bourbon’s origins, its golden era, its near demise, and its modern renaissance.
More than just a history lesson, the book provides cultural, economic, and political insights into how bourbon evolved alongside the United States itself. The book traces bourbon’s roots back to the early American settlers who distilled whiskey from corn and other grains.
The book explores the influence of immigrants, particularly the Scots-Irish, who brought their distilling customs to the New World. The book discusses how bourbon gained distinction in the 19th century, with figures like Elijah Craig and Dr. James Crow pioneering techniques that defined the spirit’s modern production process. Minnick also sheds light on the role of bourbon in shaping American commerce, detailing how government regulations like the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 helped ensure quality and authenticity in an era of rampant adulteration.
One of the most intriguing sections of the book details the various challenges bourbon faced, from Prohibition (1920–1933) to changing consumer preferences in the mid-20th century. Minnick explains how the rise of vodka and lighter spirits in the 1960s and 1970s nearly led to bourbon’s extinction. The book highlights industry missteps, such as distillers diluting their product quality to meet mass-market demand, and how corporate acquisitions further diminished the identity of many historic bourbon brands. Minnick also explores bourbon’s struggles in international markets, where Scotch whisky maintained a stronghold.
Minnick’s storytelling shines in the latter part of the book, where he examines bourbon’s renaissance in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. He credits factors such as the craft whiskey movement, a renewed interest in high-quality spirits, and the efforts of passionate distillers who reclaimed bourbon’s heritage.
The book covers the role of premium brands, single-barrel expressions, and limited-edition releases in bringing bourbon back to prominence. Minnick also discusses how marketing strategies and bourbon tourism—centered around the Kentucky Bourbon Trail—helped revive the industry.
The narrative style of the author is engaging, informative, and well-researched. He equilibriums profound historical detail with a relaxed tone, making the book accessible to both whiskey enthusiasts and unpremeditated readers. His passion for bourbon is evident all over, and his aptitude to texture together private anecdotes, interviews, and historical facts keeps the narrative energetic. The book also includes antique photographs, advertisements, and charts that enrich the storytelling. These visuals provide an immersive experience, helping readers connect with the past and understand how bourbon evolved over time.
To end with, we can without harm, say that this tome is an indispensible read for anyone interested in whiskey history, American culture, or the pliability of an industry that refused to die. Minnick’s attractive storytelling and skilled examination make it a compelling journey through the highs and lows of bourbon. Whether you’re a veteran bourbon drinker or a tenderfoot to the world of whiskey, this book offers a profounder appreciation for America’s native spirit.
Possibly my best non-fiction yet, in 2025.
September 19, 2025
In the late 1950s, the only way the Bourbon Institute could have made bourbon sound more American was if they claimed the first barrel was used to squash a time-traveling KGB operative.
a very interesting and (theoretically) short read that should absolutely not be read in ebook format. while i really enjoyed the history and minnick's style i found myself constantly hating the formatting; there's a lot of inserts (which honestly pads out the pages; i think without them this would be at least 50 pages shorter, if not more), from pictures to tables to "fun facts!" with borders and backgrounds, and it was a miserable experience on my kindle. it broke the flow of the narrative multiple times, with some pictures coming well before or after the paragraphs they were relevant for; this really isn't the fault of the author, and moreso the fault of whoever formatted the book, but i really do have to deduct points from my rating for it because it makes the book seem erratic and moreso like it's just looking to stretch out the page count.
that aside, like i said: this was a pretty interesting read. though some passages end up feeling repetitive, and others don't receive enough attention, this serves as a very good entry point to the bourbon (and alcohol) microhistory. i'm from tennessee and my family has deep roots in kentucky so i was familiar with a lot of the history here but even i found myself surprised by a lot of the information provided. i didn't realize bourbon was such a hit in japan; that's so interesting to me.
the most interesting part of this book, though, is not even really in this book. there's some discussion of gender and class, which surprised me, because it's not what i expected from this book at all, but it really made perfect sense. alcohol IS a product with specific stereotypes attached to certain types/brands and it was nice of minnick to acknowledge that. even more interesting was the exploration of marketing, which is woefully underdiscussed for my taste, but what stuck out the most was acknowledging that women were used in the marketing for whiskey but rarely actually marketed to. it tied back in to an earlier narrative about bottling being a job designated for women/something women fought to keep men out of, and i was really disappointed that these were only brief mentions in this book, and that minnick opted instead to write a separate book and plugged it mid-book (it's called whiskey women, and since it's not even 200 pages per goodreads, i don't understand why that information wasn't included here; but i guess that's the reason minnick is a published author and i'm not).
this book just left me with more questions about the industry, but thankfully there's always a bibliography i can use as a jumping-off point to further go down this rabbit hole.
a very interesting and (theoretically) short read that should absolutely not be read in ebook format. while i really enjoyed the history and minnick's style i found myself constantly hating the formatting; there's a lot of inserts (which honestly pads out the pages; i think without them this would be at least 50 pages shorter, if not more), from pictures to tables to "fun facts!" with borders and backgrounds, and it was a miserable experience on my kindle. it broke the flow of the narrative multiple times, with some pictures coming well before or after the paragraphs they were relevant for; this really isn't the fault of the author, and moreso the fault of whoever formatted the book, but i really do have to deduct points from my rating for it because it makes the book seem erratic and moreso like it's just looking to stretch out the page count.
that aside, like i said: this was a pretty interesting read. though some passages end up feeling repetitive, and others don't receive enough attention, this serves as a very good entry point to the bourbon (and alcohol) microhistory. i'm from tennessee and my family has deep roots in kentucky so i was familiar with a lot of the history here but even i found myself surprised by a lot of the information provided. i didn't realize bourbon was such a hit in japan; that's so interesting to me.
the most interesting part of this book, though, is not even really in this book. there's some discussion of gender and class, which surprised me, because it's not what i expected from this book at all, but it really made perfect sense. alcohol IS a product with specific stereotypes attached to certain types/brands and it was nice of minnick to acknowledge that. even more interesting was the exploration of marketing, which is woefully underdiscussed for my taste, but what stuck out the most was acknowledging that women were used in the marketing for whiskey but rarely actually marketed to. it tied back in to an earlier narrative about bottling being a job designated for women/something women fought to keep men out of, and i was really disappointed that these were only brief mentions in this book, and that minnick opted instead to write a separate book and plugged it mid-book (it's called whiskey women, and since it's not even 200 pages per goodreads, i don't understand why that information wasn't included here; but i guess that's the reason minnick is a published author and i'm not).
this book just left me with more questions about the industry, but thankfully there's always a bibliography i can use as a jumping-off point to further go down this rabbit hole.
July 15, 2020
Definitely for the bourbon enthusiast. From the early days through World War I, Prohibition, the second World War, the seemingly consolidation of small distilleries under the larger, more well-known ones, the impact of vodkas and it's eventually appeal to the current specialty drinkers.
He does go into the controversy of who and when the first bourbon was created as well as the proverbial hoops that the companies needed to go through in order to survive Prohibition. The fact that thousands - if not millions - of gallons of aging bourbon was warehoused in bonded buildings the entire time in order to make 'medicinal whiskey' enabled them to survive even as they were creating nothing new. Aging for 4-5 and more years actually provided a bit of a safety net for many companies. Overall not really surprised by the political impact that the various levels of government - local, state and federal - had on the distillers but really didn't need the word by word reading of the specific regulations.
The author does go into some of the personalities that populated the entire industry but likely due to the massive amount of information he was conveying, they sometimes seemed to not get as much attention as they deserved.
The only negative I can really make is due to it being an audio book and when the reader was relaying the contents of some tables - locations of bonded warehouses or gallons - it just became blurs of places or numbers without really any impact unless I was perhaps looking for a specific distiller.
Not necessarily a fan of bourbon - more of a Scotch girl - but it was an interesting view into an American standard.
2020-130
He does go into the controversy of who and when the first bourbon was created as well as the proverbial hoops that the companies needed to go through in order to survive Prohibition. The fact that thousands - if not millions - of gallons of aging bourbon was warehoused in bonded buildings the entire time in order to make 'medicinal whiskey' enabled them to survive even as they were creating nothing new. Aging for 4-5 and more years actually provided a bit of a safety net for many companies. Overall not really surprised by the political impact that the various levels of government - local, state and federal - had on the distillers but really didn't need the word by word reading of the specific regulations.
The author does go into some of the personalities that populated the entire industry but likely due to the massive amount of information he was conveying, they sometimes seemed to not get as much attention as they deserved.
The only negative I can really make is due to it being an audio book and when the reader was relaying the contents of some tables - locations of bonded warehouses or gallons - it just became blurs of places or numbers without really any impact unless I was perhaps looking for a specific distiller.
Not necessarily a fan of bourbon - more of a Scotch girl - but it was an interesting view into an American standard.
2020-130
November 2, 2022
Seemingly Great History, At Least In Audible Form. Yes, I read the Audible of this - mostly on my commute to and from work over the month of October 2022, though I finished it after work on Halloween day itself. So I can't speak to all the pictures and such that some complained about in the text version of this tale. And I also can't speak to how well documented it is - the Audible version doesn't exactly have footnotes. :)
With the above caveats though, I found the actual history presented here to be interesting and informative, though as others noted, perhaps a bit tedious in some spots ("bonded" is used long before it is clear exactly what this term means) and perhaps with some hand waving in other spots (the Whiskey Rebellion, and even Prohibition outside of its particular application to whiskey generally and bourbon specifically). It even manages to cover some of the more modern issues in the liquor business, at least through the mid-2010s when the book was originally published, including the GenX / Millenial shift away from whiskey and dark liquors to more vodkas and lighter liquors.
Thus, overall this truly is a strong history that anyone remotely interested in the subject (and not already well-versed in its history) will likely find informative and interesting. Very much recommended.
With the above caveats though, I found the actual history presented here to be interesting and informative, though as others noted, perhaps a bit tedious in some spots ("bonded" is used long before it is clear exactly what this term means) and perhaps with some hand waving in other spots (the Whiskey Rebellion, and even Prohibition outside of its particular application to whiskey generally and bourbon specifically). It even manages to cover some of the more modern issues in the liquor business, at least through the mid-2010s when the book was originally published, including the GenX / Millenial shift away from whiskey and dark liquors to more vodkas and lighter liquors.
Thus, overall this truly is a strong history that anyone remotely interested in the subject (and not already well-versed in its history) will likely find informative and interesting. Very much recommended.
May 7, 2020
I listened to this book on Audible and enjoyed it overall. The only mark against Audible over reading was the oration of several tables or lists throughout the book that I felt greatly distracted from the flow and story line.
Minnick opens by offering an overview of several key figures in bourbon history in an effort to determine who the true "Father of Bourbon" is. This comes across as well-researched, and it is, but the evidence still leaves plenty of room for speculation that ultimately fell flat for me.
The sections that followed offer a fantastic and semi-quick hitting history for the time period from roughly WWII to present. This details highly interesting times in our country, and ultimately for the bourbon industry, that often get overshadowed by the early 1900's. Industry response and impact from deceptive marketing/bottling practices, wartime production, legislation (taxation), production surplus and eventual shortfalls, consolidation of stocks, monopolization of the industry, and evolution of consumer preference/demand are all detailed extremely well.
Minnick opens by offering an overview of several key figures in bourbon history in an effort to determine who the true "Father of Bourbon" is. This comes across as well-researched, and it is, but the evidence still leaves plenty of room for speculation that ultimately fell flat for me.
The sections that followed offer a fantastic and semi-quick hitting history for the time period from roughly WWII to present. This details highly interesting times in our country, and ultimately for the bourbon industry, that often get overshadowed by the early 1900's. Industry response and impact from deceptive marketing/bottling practices, wartime production, legislation (taxation), production surplus and eventual shortfalls, consolidation of stocks, monopolization of the industry, and evolution of consumer preference/demand are all detailed extremely well.
July 14, 2022
Rather dry enumeration of history and sales numbers. While quoting a law word by word might be correct in terms of the science of history, it does nothing for the readability of the book.
I expected more focus on the taste, the technique and the stories. Comparison between bourbon taste profiles and comparisons to Scottish and Irish whiskey and other quality liquor.
The name might come from the street in New Orleans or a county in Kentucky, but they were definitely named after the French dynasty, in favor at the time in the new country of USA around 1780.
Historically, whiskey was considered also a medicine which was a main excuse to write it into various legislation and give it special treatment for taxing purposes. Basically, an effective lobby.
Enjoy the drink, but the search for an interesting companion book is still ongoing, at least from my perspective. This was not it.
I expected more focus on the taste, the technique and the stories. Comparison between bourbon taste profiles and comparisons to Scottish and Irish whiskey and other quality liquor.
The name might come from the street in New Orleans or a county in Kentucky, but they were definitely named after the French dynasty, in favor at the time in the new country of USA around 1780.
Historically, whiskey was considered also a medicine which was a main excuse to write it into various legislation and give it special treatment for taxing purposes. Basically, an effective lobby.
Enjoy the drink, but the search for an interesting companion book is still ongoing, at least from my perspective. This was not it.
January 20, 2021
As a bourbon fan, I enjoyed reading this book. It has two strengths: a comprehensive history of alcohol producing and government regulation in the US, and a wealth of engaging illustrations.
What keeps the book from being a great one is an excessive focus on company histories and mergers. I found it impossible to keep track of all of that. It's perhaps unfair to the author, whose intention is clearly to write a history of the spirit, but I was left wondering how bourbons taste different from each other and what makes a great one. I suppose I should do my own comparative tasting, but that requires a bit of capital investment and I just don't get around to it.
Still if you like bourbon, and even if you just enjoy alcoholic beverages (in moderation, of course!), this is worth reading.
What keeps the book from being a great one is an excessive focus on company histories and mergers. I found it impossible to keep track of all of that. It's perhaps unfair to the author, whose intention is clearly to write a history of the spirit, but I was left wondering how bourbons taste different from each other and what makes a great one. I suppose I should do my own comparative tasting, but that requires a bit of capital investment and I just don't get around to it.
Still if you like bourbon, and even if you just enjoy alcoholic beverages (in moderation, of course!), this is worth reading.
July 27, 2023
I hoped to enjoy this book. But sadly, it was barely readable, poorly edited, and an absolute struggle to finish. I could sense the author was trying to tell a story, unfortunately he was all over the place, jumping back and forth between time periods, back and forth between distilleries never quite making the connections coherent. While the inserts were poorly placed relative to the text of the book, ironically many of the inserts were more informative and enjoyable than the body of the book which seemed more a self directed homage to his extensive “research” on the subject with endless statistical analysis of barrels, gallons, permits and taxes.
January 5, 2018
Es un libro físicamente precioso, pero su contenido no está a la altura de su hermosa presentación. Quizás esperaba otra cosa: la génesis de las grandes marcas, la explicación de por qué el Pappy Van Winkle es lo que es hoy, quién es Jack Daniel’s, quién Jim Beam, esperaba anécdotas, narrativa. Pero es de contenido muy seco, demasiado obsesionado con la política y los impuestos. Tiene méritos, pero no. Tendré que buscarme otra historia. ¿Alguna recomendación?
October 30, 2021
I not only love whisky and bourbon, but also love books about drinks and history. This is a good one, but more focus on journalistic aspects. Compared to books such as ‘The Search for God and Guinness” and “Shadows in the Vineyard”, about Bourgogne, this one lacks more people and brand history, favoring dates and regulatory aspects. Anyhow, it is a good book for those who love the drink, in special because of its beautiful edition with photos and poster.
July 30, 2018
Ironically, I found the first 3/4 of the book very dry and lethargic. There is no denying that Fred is has an encyclopedic wealth of information, it's just once he started frequently citing lengthy congressional testimony and laws, I struggled to keep focus. I did learn a few things however, and at the end of the day, that's what I hoped for when I picked up this book.
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