Bourbon, Straight: The Uncut and Unfiltered Story of American Whiskey [Paperback]

Charles K. Cowdery (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2004

Bourbon, Straight: The Uncut and Unfiltered Story of American Whiskey, follows the trail of America whiskey-making from its 17th century origins right up to the present day. In it, readers will discover the history of the American whiskey industry, how American whiskey is made and marketed, the differences among various types of American whiskey (bourbon, rye, Tennessee) and how they compare to other world whiskies.

Readers also will meet the many fascinating characters who have made American whiskey what it is today, whether they be famous, infamous or largely unknown.

All major producers and brands are discussed. The book includes a complete tasting guide with 35 detailed product reviews.

Bourbon, Straight: The Uncut and Unfiltered Story of American Whiskey, is for fans of American whiskey, but also for readers who just enjoy a good tale steeped in American culture and heritage.

Bourbon, Straight is richly detailed, clear, authoritative, insightful, independent and fun to read.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Charles K. Cowdery, author of Bourbon, Straight: The Uncut and Unfiltered Story of American Whiskey, writes about American Whiskey for The Malt Advocate and WHISKY Magazine. He wrote, produced and directed the public television documentary "Made and Bottled in Kentucky," and is editor and publisher of The Bourbon Country Reader, the only publication dedicated exclusively to American whiskey. As a marketing professional, he has worked in and around the American liquor industry for more than 25 years. His other books include Blues Legends (Gibbs Smith), 20 profiles of notable blues musicians. He is also a marketing copywriter and attorney, and lives in Chicago, Illinois.

Product Details

• Paperback: 284 pages
• Publisher: Made and Bottled in Kentucky; 1 edition (August 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0975870300
• ISBN-13: 978-0975870303
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #44,507 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #98 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Drinks & Beverages > Spirits

More About the Author

Charles K. Cowdery is the author of BOURBON, STRAIGHT: The Uncut and Unfiltered Story of American Whiskey (Made and Bottled in Kentucky, 2004). He writes about American whiskey for The Malt Advocate, WHISKY Magazine and other publications; and is editor and publisher of The Bourbon Country Reader, the only publication dedicated exclusively to American whiskey. He is a Kentucky Colonel (Patton, 206) and a member of the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame (2009).

Online, Cowdery blogs about American whiskey and other subjects at The Chuck Cowdery Blog (chuckcowdery.blogspot.com).

Cowdery's first contribution to broader bourbon awareness and understanding was the public television documentary "Made and Bottled in Kentucky," which he wrote, produced and directed for the commonwealth's bicentennial celebration in 1992. That production was underwritten by grants from Kentucky Educational Television and the Kentucky Distillers Association.

As a marketing professional, Cowdery has worked in and around the beverage alcohol industry for more than 30 years, including nine as a Kentucky resident. During that part of his career, he worked on major marketing projects for Brown-Forman, Beam Global and Diageo.

A resident of Chicago since 1987, Cowdery is a freelance journalist, marketing copywriter, scriptwriter, and attorney-at-law. His other book is Blues Legends (Gibbs Smith, 1995), which profiles 20 notable blues musicians. He does speaking appearances on both subjects, bourbon and blues.

Born and raised in Mansfield, Ohio, Cowdery has a B.S. degree from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) and a J.D. from the DePaul University School of Law (Chicago, Illinois).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Going to Church, November 20, 2004

By 

Charred Barrel Hugger "Bourbon drinker" (US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bourbon, Straight: The Uncut and Unfiltered Story of American Whiskey (Paperback)

If you want to see advertising for bourbons, this isn't the book for you. But if you want the story of the bourbon industry, then this is like going to church. You'll get the plain and simple message from the author. This book is now part of my liquor library as the new starting point for my knowledge of bourbon. Enjoyed it, five stars.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Aged in the wood., November 12, 2004

By 

Ted Haigh "Dr.Cocktail" (Burbank, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bourbon, Straight: The Uncut and Unfiltered Story of American Whiskey (Paperback)

It isn't hard to tell when a book is written from piles of research material strung together in a daunting mass. It is equally evident when an entire field of study, wed in the wood, is melded through a lifetime of experience, aged into a narrative that flows so naturally, it issues from the very core of the author. The latter is the case here. From a complex history of chemistry and business decisions is distilled a work that is both complete and readable. Mr. Cowdrey is on his turf here, and it shows. Observations in "Bourbon, Straight" are certain, forceful and backed up not just by facts - but by thoughtful deduction only years can (but do not always) provide. That said, the book is no polemic. The wit and dryly humorous wisdom are winning. When describing one particular whisky, Cowdrey murmers "They possess that ineffable (and much overrated) quality known as smoothness." Highly recommended.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just adding my voice to the chorus of praise..., November 16, 2006

By 

scratchline "apbt lover" (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bourbon, Straight: The Uncut and Unfiltered Story of American Whiskey (Paperback)

for Mr. Cowdery's bourbon book. A very accessible introduction to the topic but filled with information that will educate the aficionado as well. Extremely well-written and researched. Simply a pleasure to read. I only hope that a sequel is forthcoming that will collect more of his outstanding reviews of bourbons currently on the market. You just can't do any better if you want to learn about America's native spirit.