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  While both of those provided some historical content, the new book is pure bourbon history.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.

Photo credit: Brown-Forman

Old Forester’s annual limited release of their Birthday Bourbon is one that always seem to escape me.  I’ve tried lots of other Old Forester expressions, but never their Birthday Bourbon.  I just can’t find it.

What’s so special about this release?  It comes out each fall to commermorate Brown-Forman founder George Gavin Brown’s September 2nd birthday.  Each release generally comes from one day of production, instead of a batching of several different ages, etc.  Aged 12 years, the 2016 edition of Birthday Bourbon was distilled on June 4, 2004.  All of the 93 barrels this release is comprised of matured on the 5th floor of Warehouse K at the Brown-Forman Distillery in Louisville.  I love the transparency here.  OFBB is bottled at 97 proof for a suggested retail price of $79.99.  Only 2,400 cases are available in the U.S. market.  Brown-Forman says this is the “largest quantity of Birthday Bourbon ever bottled.”

This year’s release of Old Forester Birthday Bourbon carries a rich nose, full of dark caramel, toasted rye spice and orange zest.  There’s a bit of vanilla bean in the background.  The richness of the nose makes it to the palate.  Creme brûlée, cinnamon sugar, and vanilla start things off, with the spice element ramping up into the finish.  There’s slight oak barrel-aged maple syrup and a hint of buttered toasted rye bread that pops up right before the long, sweet, spicy, and slightly citrusy finish.

OFBB is one of the richest bourbons I’ve tasted in a long while.  The journey of sweet to creamy to spicy work wonders here.  This release is much more interesting than Brown-Forman’s standard bottling of Old Forester.  Not that there’s anything wrong with the standard… this one is just that much better.  Like many fall bourbon releases, Old Forester Birthday Bourbon sells out the second it hits shelves.  So, fellow whiskey enthusiasts, if you see it – buy it!

9/10

Thanks to Brown-Forman for the sample.  As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.