Reddit reviews Bourbon, Straight: The Uncut and Unfiltered Story of American Whiskey

Chuck Cowdery is the author of Bourbon Straight and is one of the more reputable sources for American whiskey news.

TLDR;

Sazerac, the company which owns the Buffalo Trace Distillery (makers of Eagle Rare, Weller, Van Winkle, etc), Barton Distillery, A. Smith Bowman Distillery, and others poached the George Dickel master distiller to run their recently acquired Popcorn Sutton distillery in East TN with the intentions of making aged whiskey rather than just moonshine. Not long after, they also poached his protégé who was again the current Dickel master distiller. Now it looks like they are relocating to Murfreesboro to directly compete with Jack Daniel's and George Dickel.

General

• Tasting Whisky: An Insider's Guide to the Unique Pleasures of the World's Finest Spirits
  
  Bourbon
  
  
• Bourbon Straight: The Uncut and Unfiltered Story of American Whiskey
  
• Bourbon Curious: A Simple Tasting Guide for the Savvy Drinker
  
• Bourbon, Strange
  
  Scotch/Malt
  
  

• Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible
  
• The World Atlas of Whisky
  
• Malt Whisky Yearbook 2017

These two are both great reads

1

2

It wasn't actually named after today's Bourbon County, but an older Bourbon County that housed a major port. Eventually all whiskey that flowed from the port was marked bourbon and the name stuck. (More info on that in this great book). Bourbon is geographically protected, but only in as much as it has to be produced in America.

The state of Kentucky, the Bourbon Trail folks, and Kentucky-based bourbon producers want you to think bourbon (or at least real bourbon) comes from their area. However, bourbon is America's spirit, not just Kentucky's.

I know this isn't what you're asking for, but I'm currently reading Bourbon, Straight: The Uncut and Unfiltered Story of American Whiskey. So far, it is quite engaging and informative, but solely about the American bourbon history and industry. I currently have it via interlibrary loan, but plan to buy it for book shelving and reference at some point!

I'd actually like to find something like this book, but about Scotch Whisky if anyone has read this book and has a Whisky paralleled suggestion.

I've not read any of the suggestions by Ralfy (review ep. 6), as they're not available locally in my libraries, but I imagine they're good ones, and plan to check them out at some point in the future.

I recommend 3 books to get your started.

1. [Bourbon, Straight: The Uncut and Unfiltered Story of American Whiskey] (http://www.amazon.com/Bourbon-Straight-Unfiltered-American-Whiskey/dp/0975870300) by Charles Cowdery
   
   
2. Bourbon, Strange by Charles Cowdery
   
   
3. Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey: An American Heritage by Mike Veach
   
   You'll learn how brands and distilleries were started, shuttered, shuffled, and sold. You'll learn who influenced and inspired brands and names.
   
   The two authors of the three books are arguably the foremost authorities on the subject of bourbon, most especially its history. Besides, the books are phenomenal reads IMO.

WL Weller special reserve is a great wheated bourbon to start out with. Good price and taste profile is sweeter than the ryes (my preference)

I've always been a fan of the 1792 Ridgemont reserve. Rich and velvety is what it says on the bottle and it's spot on.

After that, Old Overholt, George Dickel No 12, Old Grand Dad (Bottled in bond), Old Forester, and Old Fitzgerald are ones I prefer.

Try different bottles to see what your palette prefers.

Also, Bourbon, Straight is worth ordering.

You know what the requirements are? This is worth buying and reading too.