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History of Bourbon
3 hours and 55 minutes
Is bourbon the quintessential American liquor? Bourbon is not just alcohol—the 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 is a symbol of the United States.
This course 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.
On their tour of bourbon's fascinating, turbulent, and uniquely American evolution, listeners will explore the mysterious origins of the whiskey’s name and meet the men and women who have been championed as its inventors and made it so popular - from Daniel Boone's cousin and Baptist minister Elijah Craig to Jacob Beam and Evan Williams.
In this 10-lecture journey through the story of an undeniably American libation, listeners will:
Hear the stories behind the earliest bourbon whiskies right up to the current "bourbon bubble"
Learn how a contemplative spirit went from agricultural product to industrial commodity
Explore how - and why - bourbon played such a large role in the years of the early republic
Get the facts on when and why Congress passed whiskey-protection laws
Discover the surprising importance of bourbon distilleries during World War II, when the spirit became war material
Go inside the Golden Age of Bourbon - a remarkable proliferation of new brands and niche markets happening now
Witness the growth of brands like Jim Beam, Heaven Hill, Bulleit Bourbon, and Old Taylor
Gain insights into why distilled spirits, like clothes and cars, project a message about who we are and the cultures to which we belong
Is bourbon the quintessential American liquor? Bourbon is not just alcohol—the 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 is a symbol of the United States.
This course 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.
On their tour of bourbon's fascinating, turbulent, and uniquely American evolution, listeners will explore the mysterious origins of the whiskey’s name and meet the men and women who have been championed as its inventors and made it so popular - from Daniel Boone's cousin and Baptist minister Elijah Craig to Jacob Beam and Evan Williams.
In this 10-lecture journey through the story of an undeniably American libation, listeners will:
Hear the stories behind the earliest bourbon whiskies right up to the current "bourbon bubble"
Learn how a contemplative spirit went from agricultural product to industrial commodity
Explore how - and why - bourbon played such a large role in the years of the early republic
Get the facts on when and why Congress passed whiskey-protection laws
Discover the surprising importance of bourbon distilleries during World War II, when the spirit became war material
Go inside the Golden Age of Bourbon - a remarkable proliferation of new brands and niche markets happening now
Witness the growth of brands like Jim Beam, Heaven Hill, Bulleit Bourbon, and Old Taylor
Gain insights into why distilled spirits, like clothes and cars, project a message about who we are and the cultures to which we belong
4 pages, Audible Audio
First published December 17, 2019
62 people are currently reading
512 people want to read
About the author
Ken Albala
48 books151 followersKen Albala, Professor of History at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA and Director of Food Studies in San Francisco, is the author or editor of 25 books on food. These include academic monographs, cookbooks, reference works and translations. He is also series editor of Rowman and Littlefield Studies in Food and Gastronomy. His current project is about Walking with Wine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 337 reviews
July 22, 2020
I'm not a bourbon drinker, though I have family members who inbibe. Despite that, I found this informative and well presented. Interesting tidbits here and there, as well as bourbons beginnings, processing and distilling. People in the past drank quite a bit more than we in the present day. Seems drunkenness was not as frowned upon, well at least not until Prohibition. Prohibition provided monetary opportunities for those willing to take the risk.
In another book coincidence, George Remus and his murder of his wife, were given as an example. I read about this in the book The Ghosts of Eden Park: The Bootleg King, the Women Who Pursued Him, and the Murder That Shocked Jazz-Age America. He made and lost a fortune bootlegging during Prohibition. Alcohol of course was still able to be procurred with a medical prescription.
The brands that continue on to the present. We have now gone from distilleries to marijuana dispensaries. No bribes needed.
In another book coincidence, George Remus and his murder of his wife, were given as an example. I read about this in the book The Ghosts of Eden Park: The Bootleg King, the Women Who Pursued Him, and the Murder That Shocked Jazz-Age America. He made and lost a fortune bootlegging during Prohibition. Alcohol of course was still able to be procurred with a medical prescription.
The brands that continue on to the present. We have now gone from distilleries to marijuana dispensaries. No bribes needed.
January 15, 2024
I read this, as a mostly-dry-Mormon, hoping to get a nice framework for bourbon. A lot of the info is really meant for beginners. Much of it I already discovered on YouTube. Obviously, the history is fantastic and the author's ability to separate history from myth. Albala also does a great job of building the basic skeleton of this most American drink. My biggest complaint is the format (Audiobook; Great Courses) keeps this from getting more meat on the bones. Just too wee a dram. A good start, however. More like a WILD TURKEY 101 than a Michter's 20 Years Old Limited Release-Single Barrel Bourbon
June 23, 2020
History of Bourbon
By: Ken Albala, The Great Courses
Narrated by: Ken Albala
This book takes the the listener back to the 1700s and follows through to today. It gives the laws, the many names and types of whiskies they came up with, how they made it and the small changes made today, some known inventors and famous brands. The narrator was the author and he seemed extremely knowledgeable in the subject and was an excellent narrator.
By: Ken Albala, The Great Courses
Narrated by: Ken Albala
This book takes the the listener back to the 1700s and follows through to today. It gives the laws, the many names and types of whiskies they came up with, how they made it and the small changes made today, some known inventors and famous brands. The narrator was the author and he seemed extremely knowledgeable in the subject and was an excellent narrator.
July 20, 2020
Meh.
3.5 Stars
Listened to the audio book.
3.5 Stars
Listened to the audio book.
October 27, 2020
The History of Bourbon is a compelling blend of historical interest, science, and (knowledgeable) personal opinion on the part of the author.
I absolutely added another book to my list about George Reemus, a bootlegger who went to prison, got out, found out his wife was cavorting with the very man who got him imprisoned, and then shot her dead. This is just one of the interesting historical tidbits Albala slips into his course.
He also delves into the scientific nuances of barrel aging, rye vs. wheat, and scotch vs. whiskey vs. bourbon.
Also, his narration was a blast to listen to. Albala is clearly a master of the subject matter who can also convey passion through his narration. And he sounds a bit like Alton Brown. So there's that.
I'd rate this course a PG for some very mild swearing and obvious adult subject matter.
I absolutely added another book to my list about George Reemus, a bootlegger who went to prison, got out, found out his wife was cavorting with the very man who got him imprisoned, and then shot her dead. This is just one of the interesting historical tidbits Albala slips into his course.
He also delves into the scientific nuances of barrel aging, rye vs. wheat, and scotch vs. whiskey vs. bourbon.
Also, his narration was a blast to listen to. Albala is clearly a master of the subject matter who can also convey passion through his narration. And he sounds a bit like Alton Brown. So there's that.
I'd rate this course a PG for some very mild swearing and obvious adult subject matter.
January 3, 2025
4.5 out of 5 stars
The title is a bit misleading as it covers more than just the history of Bourbon - it covers history of alcohol and society's perception of it, as well as the present and possible future of the Bourbon industry.
The title is a bit misleading as it covers more than just the history of Bourbon - it covers history of alcohol and society's perception of it, as well as the present and possible future of the Bourbon industry.
June 8, 2020
As a fellow bourbon lover.. I was very intrigued to dive into this little audiobook.
History of Bourbon was actually pretty interesting to listen to. I actually learned a lot just by listening to all these stories. Whether it was the actual history of it being made or laws being passed for it - every little thing was beyond informative. I mean, if I'm being completely honest I never really thought much about Bourbon.. or any liquor.
That being said, this was a great opportunity for me. For example, when I go to wineries and breweries with my family - we learn about the place and their products. When I went to Boston and toured Sam Adams, we learned the whole process and even got to smell some of the product that goes into it. As well as a little tasting after it.
I don't even drink beer and it was all fascinating to me. So, yeah, I enjoyed everything little thing that I learned today.
History of Bourbon was actually pretty interesting to listen to. I actually learned a lot just by listening to all these stories. Whether it was the actual history of it being made or laws being passed for it - every little thing was beyond informative. I mean, if I'm being completely honest I never really thought much about Bourbon.. or any liquor.
That being said, this was a great opportunity for me. For example, when I go to wineries and breweries with my family - we learn about the place and their products. When I went to Boston and toured Sam Adams, we learned the whole process and even got to smell some of the product that goes into it. As well as a little tasting after it.
I don't even drink beer and it was all fascinating to me. So, yeah, I enjoyed everything little thing that I learned today.
July 23, 2020
3.5.5★
The singing, though. 😂
(but an interesting audiobook nontheless)
The singing, though. 😂
(but an interesting audiobook nontheless)
Read
May 31, 2021An entertaining and educational listening experience, looking at the history of spirits in general, and then the scientific, political and cultural context of this quintessential American liquor. Albala's passion and enthusiasm for his subject and history is palpable. A great listen!
September 14, 2020
If you set out to teach me about a topic I'm completely ignorant of, I'm pretty much at your mercy. I don't know enough to evaluate your expertise. I'm pretty willing to trust you in such circumstances. BUT...if you whiff it at pretty much every mention of a tangential subject that I DO know something about, I've gotta be skeptical about everything you say. Albala's handling of anything to do with religion was either biased or just plain bungled. For instance, he spoke negatively of the Reformation's approach to alcohol, but did he mention that Katie Luther brewed beer? Nope. And he disparaged the laws surrounding alcohol consumption in Calvin's Geneva, but did he mention that Calvin's annual salary included 250 gallons of wine? Of course not. Either dishonesty or ignorance colored every mention of Christianity, and either one makes him a poor historian. A title like this would normally get three stars (= I liked it) from me, but I've just gotta take one away over this issue.
June 11, 2020
Who knew the history of bourbon would be so interesting.
I dont even like bourbon or reading about history but this audio book was excellent.
Almost makes me want to go by a bottle just because.
I dont even like bourbon or reading about history but this audio book was excellent.
Almost makes me want to go by a bottle just because.
June 27, 2020
If you are a whiskey drinker you'll really enjoy this informative "all about whiskey" Audible original which is enthusiastically narrated by Ken Alba, who has authored 25 books about food and who is currently a professor at the University of Pacific. Even if you know all about whiskey, you'll probably still find the last seven chapters about the history of whiskey / bourbon in America interesting. The author states that bourbon is "the most characteristic American drink."
Through a series of 10 lectures / chapters, Ken will teach you all about bourbon and the differences between bourbon and other whiskeys, and the differences between bourbon and other liquors such as vodka, brandy, rum, cognac, etc. You'll learn that bourbon has to be made in the USA (and is primarily made in Kentucky) and is made from 51% corn whereas other whiskeys are made from wheat, rye, or barley. The ingredients are a function of the location, which explains why whiskeys made in Scotland (Scotch), Ireland, and Canada taste differently than your Kentucky bourbons. I've settled on Maker's Mark as my current favorite but now want to taste them all. Well, all I can afford, anyway.
The history of bourbon in America is a fascinating story. Whiskey has been around since distillation of corn began in the 1600s, the earliest colonists having brought distillation knowledge (mostly of brandy) to North America. And whiskey took off from there, and peaked in 1990-2011 according to the author during this "golden age of bourbon". The origin on of the name "bourbon" is not clear and this is also addressed in the book. This was a fun lesson and I learned a lot about one of my favorite beverages. This is my favorite of the Audible freebies so far.
Through a series of 10 lectures / chapters, Ken will teach you all about bourbon and the differences between bourbon and other whiskeys, and the differences between bourbon and other liquors such as vodka, brandy, rum, cognac, etc. You'll learn that bourbon has to be made in the USA (and is primarily made in Kentucky) and is made from 51% corn whereas other whiskeys are made from wheat, rye, or barley. The ingredients are a function of the location, which explains why whiskeys made in Scotland (Scotch), Ireland, and Canada taste differently than your Kentucky bourbons. I've settled on Maker's Mark as my current favorite but now want to taste them all. Well, all I can afford, anyway.
The history of bourbon in America is a fascinating story. Whiskey has been around since distillation of corn began in the 1600s, the earliest colonists having brought distillation knowledge (mostly of brandy) to North America. And whiskey took off from there, and peaked in 1990-2011 according to the author during this "golden age of bourbon". The origin on of the name "bourbon" is not clear and this is also addressed in the book. This was a fun lesson and I learned a lot about one of my favorite beverages. This is my favorite of the Audible freebies so far.
July 26, 2020
Dr. Ken Albala is a food history professor from the University of the Pacific in California, and in "History of Bourbon", he takes listeners on a 10 lecture journey into the history of bourbon as a popular American spirit. I have had some bourbon in my lifetime, but I haven't done tons of reading up on its history, so this was a really interesting audio production to listen to.
Albala discusses the etymology of certain words, including "bourbon" and "whiskey", the importance of early bourbon as a commodity to farmers, how Scottish, French, and Irish immigrants grew the industry, and demystifies some of the folklore associated with different bourbon brands. He has clearly visited many distilleries and been on quite a few tours, as well as tried out different bourbons on his own, and he discusses these experiences quite well. The tone is informed but extremely conversational, and he is quite open to various possible ways the bourbon industry could develop, so he does not come off as snobbish at all.
This was fun to listen to and definitely informative! You could hear how excited Albala is about this topic, and I loved the attention to detail. A great listen, even though I did not know a lot about bourbon before listening to this.
I do wish that he had handled Uncle Nearest whiskey a bit better, because I quite enjoy it, but he kind of just leaves it at something to the effect of, "well, it's supposed to be good, but it wasn't at my local liquor store, so I guess it's not easy to find", which I thought was a bit lazy given how much he knows about the huge distilleries. There was a very informative article about Uncle Nearest in "The National"--that magazine on the Amtrak trains--that I read last year, and I think its prevalence as a bourbon contender is extremely important in representing the history of American industries.
Albala discusses the etymology of certain words, including "bourbon" and "whiskey", the importance of early bourbon as a commodity to farmers, how Scottish, French, and Irish immigrants grew the industry, and demystifies some of the folklore associated with different bourbon brands. He has clearly visited many distilleries and been on quite a few tours, as well as tried out different bourbons on his own, and he discusses these experiences quite well. The tone is informed but extremely conversational, and he is quite open to various possible ways the bourbon industry could develop, so he does not come off as snobbish at all.
This was fun to listen to and definitely informative! You could hear how excited Albala is about this topic, and I loved the attention to detail. A great listen, even though I did not know a lot about bourbon before listening to this.
I do wish that he had handled Uncle Nearest whiskey a bit better, because I quite enjoy it, but he kind of just leaves it at something to the effect of, "well, it's supposed to be good, but it wasn't at my local liquor store, so I guess it's not easy to find", which I thought was a bit lazy given how much he knows about the huge distilleries. There was a very informative article about Uncle Nearest in "The National"--that magazine on the Amtrak trains--that I read last year, and I think its prevalence as a bourbon contender is extremely important in representing the history of American industries.
June 20, 2022
I learned several things listening to Ken Albala's lectures on the history of bourbon. Did you know there is a Kentucky Bourbon Trail (somewhat like wine country in California)? I didn't, but now it's on my bucket list. He is a very dynamic speaker as well.
July 11, 2020
Fun and entertaining ! Very interesting history of Bourbon going back all the way to Sumer. Lots of interesting tidbits, I highly enjoyed this audible original !
July 1, 2020
In the last three years I have really gotten into bourbons and scotches, but bourbons being uniquely American is really got me focusing on this.
The book was a great starting point on the history, and how it’s evolved over the last few centuries. But wasn’t quite what I was hoping for. He does make a few book selections at the end of the lecture series which I hope to dive into soon.
But worth a listen if you’re just starting into them. What I find real amazing is the micro brewery’s that have started creating bourbon.
A few that I’ve really enjoyed are the following:
Driftless Glen from Baraboo, WI
Chattanooga Whiskey 1816 Reserve &
Chattanooga Whiskey 1816 Cask from Chattanooga, TN
1792 Small Batch from Bardstown, KY
The book was a great starting point on the history, and how it’s evolved over the last few centuries. But wasn’t quite what I was hoping for. He does make a few book selections at the end of the lecture series which I hope to dive into soon.
But worth a listen if you’re just starting into them. What I find real amazing is the micro brewery’s that have started creating bourbon.
A few that I’ve really enjoyed are the following:
Driftless Glen from Baraboo, WI
Chattanooga Whiskey 1816 Reserve &
Chattanooga Whiskey 1816 Cask from Chattanooga, TN
1792 Small Batch from Bardstown, KY
August 15, 2023
An interesting survey of alcohol going back to the Sumerian's beer production and including the recent "boom" in rare (and hugely expensive) bourbons. The first few chapters could easily be repurposed for a history of pretty much any alcohol. As a bourbon drinker, I especially appreciated the "education you can use" aspect to the lectures. Highlights included the disturbing facts that additives aren't regulated and need not be disclosed (there's no way to know whether "caramel color" is part of your cocktail), and many of the small (and generally expensive) brands buy generic bourbon from a third party producer and differentiate themselves by marketing the heck out of it.
August 7, 2020
If you are into Bourbon this is a great and quick summary. Felt a little light if you wanted to really dig in.
November 5, 2020
This book is really good and would receive 5 stars if not for the introductory chapter. In it, the author, in what I assume is an attempt to assuage some of the negative concerns about alcohol, makes assertions in an authoritative manner to its safety that are false. Other more scientific studies/ sources, such as The Addictive Brain by Thad A. Polk and especially Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker clearly illustrate the harmful and negative affects. The latter stating that professionally, in relation to sleep and essential brain functions, there is zero safe amount of alcohol. I'm not against drinking, but I also understand and accept the consequences in favor of the pleasant feeling/ taste/ etc. when I do enjoy it. Similar to how I continue to feed my addiction to caffeine despite it's severe negatives (see above, and Caffeine by Michael Pollen).
With the above out of the way, the author writes a very amusing and enjoyable story about how whiskey (whisky, spirits, etc.) came to be developed and brought into the USA. The information about seasonal changes moving the drink in and out of the wood of the barrels was fascinating. The various methods of creating whiskey were discussed along with how the flavor profiles change with them. This book has reignited my interest in whiskeys with all the descriptions and processes discussed. I had settled on Rittenhouse Rye (I now know what bottled in bond means) as a favorite on its own or mixed in grapefruit juice and haven't really branched out much in the past few years.
At one point the idea is brought up that citizens were drinking so much in the early days because of disillusionment over the freedoms they expected and didn't receive after breaking away from England. This resonated with my understanding of Gen Z in present day. They tend to express a fatalistic sense of humor (similar to those who served in WWII) and resigned acceptance of how terrible the state of the country and their future outlook is. If the current trend towards craft alcohols is indeed coming to a close like the author speculates, I'm curious to see how the Gen Z group takes to more basic, but greater quantities, of whiskey drinking. Granted, White Claw and other seltzers will probably need to go out of fashion first. Since I write this on the day before the 2020 election, I might be lending these thoughts a lot more gravitas than they deserve.
Regardless, I'm planning to pick up a Scotch, an Irish, a Canadian, and a Bourbon that I haven't had before.
With the above out of the way, the author writes a very amusing and enjoyable story about how whiskey (whisky, spirits, etc.) came to be developed and brought into the USA. The information about seasonal changes moving the drink in and out of the wood of the barrels was fascinating. The various methods of creating whiskey were discussed along with how the flavor profiles change with them. This book has reignited my interest in whiskeys with all the descriptions and processes discussed. I had settled on Rittenhouse Rye (I now know what bottled in bond means) as a favorite on its own or mixed in grapefruit juice and haven't really branched out much in the past few years.
At one point the idea is brought up that citizens were drinking so much in the early days because of disillusionment over the freedoms they expected and didn't receive after breaking away from England. This resonated with my understanding of Gen Z in present day. They tend to express a fatalistic sense of humor (similar to those who served in WWII) and resigned acceptance of how terrible the state of the country and their future outlook is. If the current trend towards craft alcohols is indeed coming to a close like the author speculates, I'm curious to see how the Gen Z group takes to more basic, but greater quantities, of whiskey drinking. Granted, White Claw and other seltzers will probably need to go out of fashion first. Since I write this on the day before the 2020 election, I might be lending these thoughts a lot more gravitas than they deserve.
Regardless, I'm planning to pick up a Scotch, an Irish, a Canadian, and a Bourbon that I haven't had before.
December 7, 2020
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I’m spending the rest of 2020 attempting to clean out everything from clothes to books. I want to start fresh for the new year, you know? I need a fresh start. This year has been so stressful. After getting COVID-19 and dealing with the side effects of it months later, I realized that life is not always guaranteed. You truly never know what is going to happen. Cleaning out everything means going through my audiobooks that I bought while I had a subscription to Audible and when there was audiobook sales. This book is one of the books I had impulsively bought when I was going through a “I miss school and want to listen to lectures again.” phase.
I actually enjoyed this lecture more than I thought I was going too. I confess. I don’t drink a lot of bourbon. In fact, I’m not sure if I have even tried bourbon. I’m too poor to afford that kind of stuff. Anything stronger than vodka messes me up. I can’t even drink whiskey without wanting to just puke, much to the dismay of my dad. My dad enjoys whiskey but I just can’t do it. But that doesn’t mean I’m not interested in learning about alcohol. I’ve always wanted to learn how to mix drinks. It seems like a lot of fun. And learning about bourbon was a lot of fun.
It helped that the lecturer was incredibly excited to teach about bourbon. I could tell that bourbon was a passion for him. He added that extra oomph to the material, which could have come off as dry if it was presented by anyone else that wasn’t excited about bourbon. I could tell he researched quite a bit about bourbon. Several times, he mentioned that he visited the different places where bourbon was made. It added a nice personal touch.
Overall, this was a quick and easy listen. I believe it was only three or four hours. I played World of Warcraft while I listened. I learned quite a bit about bourbon although I’m pretty sure I won’t ever drink it. Regardless, I had fun and I’m going to look up more lectures by Ken Albala because this was a great lecture.
I’m spending the rest of 2020 attempting to clean out everything from clothes to books. I want to start fresh for the new year, you know? I need a fresh start. This year has been so stressful. After getting COVID-19 and dealing with the side effects of it months later, I realized that life is not always guaranteed. You truly never know what is going to happen. Cleaning out everything means going through my audiobooks that I bought while I had a subscription to Audible and when there was audiobook sales. This book is one of the books I had impulsively bought when I was going through a “I miss school and want to listen to lectures again.” phase.
I actually enjoyed this lecture more than I thought I was going too. I confess. I don’t drink a lot of bourbon. In fact, I’m not sure if I have even tried bourbon. I’m too poor to afford that kind of stuff. Anything stronger than vodka messes me up. I can’t even drink whiskey without wanting to just puke, much to the dismay of my dad. My dad enjoys whiskey but I just can’t do it. But that doesn’t mean I’m not interested in learning about alcohol. I’ve always wanted to learn how to mix drinks. It seems like a lot of fun. And learning about bourbon was a lot of fun.
It helped that the lecturer was incredibly excited to teach about bourbon. I could tell that bourbon was a passion for him. He added that extra oomph to the material, which could have come off as dry if it was presented by anyone else that wasn’t excited about bourbon. I could tell he researched quite a bit about bourbon. Several times, he mentioned that he visited the different places where bourbon was made. It added a nice personal touch.
Overall, this was a quick and easy listen. I believe it was only three or four hours. I played World of Warcraft while I listened. I learned quite a bit about bourbon although I’m pretty sure I won’t ever drink it. Regardless, I had fun and I’m going to look up more lectures by Ken Albala because this was a great lecture.
July 30, 2020
I remember first listening to this book when I was visiting my friend for his birthday in the first day of July. His house was in the northwest, and it took me an hour and a half to reach him. The first half of this book is fantastic! It talks about the prehistory of alcohol drinking, making, and later, manufacturing; there's a whole chapter on why alcohol came to be associated with the spiritual; what differs exactly between bourbon and major types of alcoholic beverages, etc...
I really enjoyed the first half, as it serves as more than a general introduction to this sort of topic. Plus, it reminds me of my early readings of ancient Greek culture, medieval rituals and the involvement with wine and drink, the wild west, all very interesting topics I used to read about as a kid. So I think the author did excellently here.
The second half of the book, however, was iffy, and in many segments, horrible (albeit typical) historical investigation. It was about the regulation of wine and the age of prohibition; how prohibition was caused by religious zealotry, how the rich exploited (and paid unfair wages) the workers, and a lot of garbage I tend to read everywhere in history books, very sadly. I really wish had he insisted on talking about this peculiar subjects (seeing as they are quite important for the main topic) to look at differing viewpoints. It's sad that a lot of history and economics hold on still to these fictions. It sounded preachy and unappealing. (a lot of the things he said actually negate some other things he talked about; e.g., He said that there's no way to tell if a company does what it advertises, and then says that the Japanese have sued the companies that did not deliver on what they advertised. Why did they cheat? Because of the laws and regulations on alcohol. What's to be done here? Follow Europe in more regulation. This idea was perhaps repeated three times.)
I was relieved once he dropped the subject and went on to contemporary alcohol production. About American, Irish, and several other whiskeys, and how they are being mixed to mimic vodka cocktails, or flavored gin, etc... Which actually makes one anticipate his next sip of good whiskey! I have to discuss it with my wife however if it was allowed for me to drink in moderation!! (Everything is regulated these days.)
All in all, this is a very nice book. The topic is alluring, the history and the script is wonderful, all but the two segments I mentioned disliking.
I really enjoyed the first half, as it serves as more than a general introduction to this sort of topic. Plus, it reminds me of my early readings of ancient Greek culture, medieval rituals and the involvement with wine and drink, the wild west, all very interesting topics I used to read about as a kid. So I think the author did excellently here.
The second half of the book, however, was iffy, and in many segments, horrible (albeit typical) historical investigation. It was about the regulation of wine and the age of prohibition; how prohibition was caused by religious zealotry, how the rich exploited (and paid unfair wages) the workers, and a lot of garbage I tend to read everywhere in history books, very sadly. I really wish had he insisted on talking about this peculiar subjects (seeing as they are quite important for the main topic) to look at differing viewpoints. It's sad that a lot of history and economics hold on still to these fictions. It sounded preachy and unappealing. (a lot of the things he said actually negate some other things he talked about; e.g., He said that there's no way to tell if a company does what it advertises, and then says that the Japanese have sued the companies that did not deliver on what they advertised. Why did they cheat? Because of the laws and regulations on alcohol. What's to be done here? Follow Europe in more regulation. This idea was perhaps repeated three times.)
I was relieved once he dropped the subject and went on to contemporary alcohol production. About American, Irish, and several other whiskeys, and how they are being mixed to mimic vodka cocktails, or flavored gin, etc... Which actually makes one anticipate his next sip of good whiskey! I have to discuss it with my wife however if it was allowed for me to drink in moderation!! (Everything is regulated these days.)
All in all, this is a very nice book. The topic is alluring, the history and the script is wonderful, all but the two segments I mentioned disliking.
June 22, 2020
Checks all the boxes.
This is a relatively interesting survey course that serves as a good intro to the Roots of this beverage in Colonial America and its growth into the major industry it is today. It covers the terms involved in the distillation process, the historical characters behind the major brands and the evolution of American and World tastes that drive the Market. Its most interesting parts are some of the stories behind the original founders of the brands and I wish there were more of these.
Albala includes the booms and busts experienced by the Distillers and Marketers of the business and finishes with his predictions for the future of Bourbon tastes. If you’re a Bourbon aficionado, you might learn something from this book.
This is a relatively interesting survey course that serves as a good intro to the Roots of this beverage in Colonial America and its growth into the major industry it is today. It covers the terms involved in the distillation process, the historical characters behind the major brands and the evolution of American and World tastes that drive the Market. Its most interesting parts are some of the stories behind the original founders of the brands and I wish there were more of these.
Albala includes the booms and busts experienced by the Distillers and Marketers of the business and finishes with his predictions for the future of Bourbon tastes. If you’re a Bourbon aficionado, you might learn something from this book.
July 9, 2020
You don't have to be a alcohol drinker (I don't drink) to appreciate this read. It is read to you as a course (like it could be taught in a classroom) with some amazing history of how bourbon came to be. Even though I don't drink, I would be real interested in participating in the Kentucky Bourbon Tour. It has 16 distilleries to visit. Even though some are a few hours apart, it would be interesting to visit. And Kentucky is only a few hours away from me (I live in TN). Anyone wanna join me? I will be the DD, so y'all can "enjoy" yourselves. I really enjoyed Ken's voice, he brought me in to his excitement. And he seemed so excited about this subject.
July 5, 2022
I am almost completely ignorant of Bourbon, so this seemed like a good way to gain a basic understanding of the drink and its history.
In this Audible audiobook, Ken Albala, a professor of history, gives a series of lectures following various aspects of the history of bourbon such as where it came from, the regulations governments have imposed on it (this was covered heavily), and some of the variants and brands that have popped up throughout history.
It's kind of repetitive and not terribly engaging, but there are a few bits of knowledge that the bourbon novice can pick up from Albala's lectures.
In this Audible audiobook, Ken Albala, a professor of history, gives a series of lectures following various aspects of the history of bourbon such as where it came from, the regulations governments have imposed on it (this was covered heavily), and some of the variants and brands that have popped up throughout history.
It's kind of repetitive and not terribly engaging, but there are a few bits of knowledge that the bourbon novice can pick up from Albala's lectures.
December 10, 2022
This was a bit dry, no pun intended, so I wouldn't recommend it to people who aren't generally interested in bourbon or micro histories. While I could see the thread of the instructor's reasoning, a large proportion (too much?) of the beginning of the course was about the history of beverages preceding bourbon. The end discussed the importance of marketing, especially in terms of hard liquors, which felt obvious to me, but which people may not have considered previously. I appreciate what I learned, especially about the history of liquor, taxes, and regulation, and I'm vaguely interested in seeing how alcohol trends swing in the future.
December 19, 2020
History of Bourbon is a Great Course book. The first half of the audiobook, definitely feels like a class. It starts with the beginning of distilled beverages, and it is a bit dry (albeit informative). The second half of the course covers more modern distilling and Bourbon history, and it is very interesting. In fact, the knowledge learned has come in handy in several conversations since!
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For more reading recommendations, visit Book Junkie Reviews at www.abookjunkiereviews.wordpress.com
July 4, 2020
A wonderful exploration of, well, the history of bourbon. Albala covers not only how bourbon is made and how it came to be, but also the affects that bourbon (and some of its distant relations) helped shape the history of the world and especially America. He covers taxation, the development of various areas of the United States, politics, advertising, and how the beverage itself has changed. A great book for anyone interested in the spirit of the US.
July 6, 2020
This is actually a 10 lecture series and is maybe more of a class on the history of bourbon and other spirits, but it still was very interesting. I am a newbie to bourbon and started drinking it because I fell in love with Old Fashions and Manhattans. I am branching out more and have some that I like to sip, but don’t know much. This was a very interesting listen both in terms of the knowledge of bourbon and other spirits...I like my alcohol so I was glad for all the knowledge.
August 19, 2023
3.75⭐️
I think this was a great overview on this history of bourbon and I can say that I definitely learned something from this. I liked the approach the author took with going over the role alcohol plays in society and the history of it before bourbon was even a concert. It provided a solid foundation to build off of. His concepts in the last chapter on drinking trends were really interesting and it’s kind of fun to think about them now several years after this was published.
I think this was a great overview on this history of bourbon and I can say that I definitely learned something from this. I liked the approach the author took with going over the role alcohol plays in society and the history of it before bourbon was even a concert. It provided a solid foundation to build off of. His concepts in the last chapter on drinking trends were really interesting and it’s kind of fun to think about them now several years after this was published.
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