Bourbon Empire
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Average rating3.5
How bourbon came to be, and why it’s experiencing such a revival today Unraveling the many myths and misconceptions surrounding America’s most iconic spirit, Bourbon Empire traces a history that spans frontier rebellion, Gilded Age corruption, and the magic of Madison Avenue. Whiskey has profoundly influenced America’s political, economic, and cultural destiny, just as those same factors have inspired the evolution and unique flavor of the whiskey itself. Taking readers behind the curtain of an enchanting—and sometimes exasperating—industry, the work of writer Reid Mitenbuler crackles with attitude and commentary about taste, choice, and history. Few products better embody the United States, or American business, than bourbon. A tale of innovation, success, downfall, and resurrection, Bourbon Empire is an exploration of the spirit in all its unique forms, creating an indelible portrait of both bourbon and the people who make it.
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Short Review: narrow history books like this are fascinating to me. To people that are intimately familiar with an area, there is always far more nuance and subtlety than the outsider may assume.
Bourbon Empire is interesting in part because bourbon is so interested in communicating a story of history. That story is often exaggerated, or just made up. But the actual history of bourbon is fascinating, even if the stories on the bottles are not always particularly historical.
my full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/bourbon-empire/
It's America's whisky and Reid Mitenbuler traces the history of bourbon back to the first president. Turns out the spirit is closely tied to the country that gave birth to it. Backwoods individualism to corporate shenanigans, outright criminal activities to being an essential staple of war. For a spirit that cultivates it's craft heritage it's become a mass produced product created by only a handful of distillers. It enjoys a rip-roaring, mythic history that makes for an entertaining read.
