There are know-it-alls and there are those who just know.  When it comes to whiskey, writer Fred Minnick falls into the latter category.  His new book, “Bourbon: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of an American Whiskey” takes readers on a journey though the history of America’s native spirit, bourbon.  This is his third whiskey-related book, following “Bourbon Curious” and “Whiskey Women: The Untold Story of How Women Saved Bourbon, Scotch & Irish Whiskey.”  While both of those provided some historical content, the new book is pure bourbon history.

Right off the bat, Minnick dives into the age old question, “who created bourbon?”  It is most certainly not Elijah Craig, who more often than not seems to be credited as the father of bourbon.  You’ll have to read his book to find the answer.  Minnick covers the big tent poles of bourbon’s history, from the Bottled-In-Bond Act to Prohibition, and the Golden Age of bourbon to the current bourbon boom and more.

There is a lot of information held within these pages, and Minnick’s voice guides you through the American spirit’s rich history like a friendly tour guide rather than a boring professor.  Drinking bourbon is great, but when you know how much history is in that glass of brown liquid, it raises the level of appreciation.  This book is a must read for any bourbon fan and history buff.

You can purchase the book here.

Thanks to Fred Minnick and Quarto Publishing for the advanced copy.  As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.