Published by Penguin Publishing Group May 2015
Source: courtesy of the publisher
When I was pitched this book, I knew immediately it was one that my husband would enjoy. I was right!
Publisher's Summary:
In this savory history of bourbon whiskey, journalist Mitenbuler recounts the journey of this archetypal American libation: distilled from a mix of half corn and half rye, wheat, or other grain, and aged in charred-oak barrels. The narrative follows from bourbon’s backwoods origins, through its patriotic ascension in the late 18th century over British-associated rum, to its modern maturity (after a flirtation with gangsterism during Prohibition) as the creature of multinational corporations. Mitenbuler engagingly explores the science and lore of whiskey-making and the resulting subtleties of taste, both lampooning the new wine-style whiskey connoisseurship and wallowing in it (let the “concentrated bursts of honey, spice and vanilla flavors unwind on your tongue,” he murmurs). But bourbon’s convoluted cultural associations fascinate him just as much: its protean links to cowboys, blue-collar joes, and Wall Street bankers, and the fake advertising backstories about rugged individualist founders sprouted from Kentucky hollers. Mitenbuler’s prose is relaxed and mellow with a shot of wry; his entertaining, loose-limbed narrative revels in the colorful characters and droll hypocrisies of capitalism at its booziest.
The Big Guy's Thoughts:
A very interesting book that outlines how bourbon shaped and has been a huge part of American history since before the American revolution. I was amazed how much the growth of this country and bourbon production, sale and consumption was integrated with many points in history and in many circles of society, high and low.
Many of the fathers of our country including Jefferson and Washington had stills and whiskey was thought to have medicinal qualities, so they provided rations to their fighting men in the field. Lewis and Clark carried significant whiskey rations on their legendary trip across America. Mitenbuler goes through the entire history of America from the not only the American Revolution but our Civil War where whiskey was thought to improve fighting skills. Obviously used as a pain killer in the gory field medical hospitals, but i would imagine to summon up courage to go into battle in the first place as well.
Mitenbuler spends a good deal of time discussing whiskey and prohibition and the beginnings of moonshiners which was the humble beginnings of America's beloved sport of NASCAR auto racing. Mitenbuler reviews a great deal of history over the various whiskey brands, families and companies rise and fall through history before and after prohibition. There were quality issues that brought about government regulation for safety of our fine American beverage and also the oak barrels and charcoal aging process developed over the years.
So the book covers the vast impact that whiskey has had on American society from the settlement of our country, through our wars, the business side of it's development through today's resurgence across the globe.
Having enjoyed some of the spirits myself, good and bad through my personal history, I really never thought of whiskey having this much impact on our society in the past and to this day. A very enlightening read.
We recently discovered that a relative likes bourbon. Up until then we had always bought him Scotch whisky, so we gave him a bottle of bourbon for his birthday this month. Hubby sometimes enjoys a Whisky Mac(Scotch Whisky and ginger wine). There's obviously a lot that can be written about American whiskey and I can understand why this book would be an interesting read.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that there are so many different kinds of whiskey. Which is, these days, about as far as my interest in whiskey goes. I used to be a fan in my college days but now I tend to go for something that doesn't curl my hair when I drink it!
DeleteI'm not much of a whiskey drinker myself but I love the idea of learning how important it was throughout American history. The Jack Daniels distillery is very near us (ironically in a dry county) and this has me wanting to go up and visit!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was young we toured the Jack Daniels distillery and it really is quite interesting. They had us stick our heads over a vat of fermenting ingredients and sniff - my sinuses were clear for 3 weeks. Back then they even passed out capsules that released that same smell when you snapped them. The best allergy medicine ever!
DeleteHow cool to get your husband to write this post! I will take a picture of this book and send it via Direct to a friend in San Diego who loves her whiskey.
ReplyDeleteI've been able to get my hubby to do a few reviews. He loves the chance to get to read the books I get pitched but he's always so slow about getting them read that I'm never sure I'll get a review out of him.
DeleteThis does sound interesting! My father would have especially liked this one.
ReplyDeleteI thought it might be kind of a slow read (especially for a person who already reads slowly), but my husband knocked it out pretty quickly (for him) so I know it's more than dry facts.
DeleteWhat a fascinating read. I love reading about liquor histories.
ReplyDeleteIt's always surprising how much history there is to the various liquors, isn't it?
DeleteOh, this sounds like something I would absolutely love to read. I adore quirky history like this!
ReplyDeleteAlways fun to read about interesting things in history, isn't it? Nothing like the way we teach our kids about it.
DeleteDo you think a non-reader would find the writing style engaging? or should just get it for me and see if my hub will pick it up....
ReplyDeleteWell, my hubby does like to read but has a hard time sitting down and reading so he generally doesn't read more than a couple dozen pages in a day. This was interesting enough that I found him reading more often than usual.
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