Kentucky Bourbon: The Early Years of Whiskeymaking [Paperback]

Henry G. Crowgey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2008

Bourbon whiskey is perhaps Kentucky's most distinctive product. Despite bourbon's prominence in the social and economic life of the Bluegrass state, many myths and legends surround its origins. In Kentucky Bourbon, Henry C. Crowgey claims that distilled spirits and pioneer settlement went hand in hand; Isaac Shelby, the state's first governor, was among Kentucky's pioneer distillers. Crowgey traces the drink's history from its beginnings as a cottage industry to steam-based commercial operations in the period just before the Civil War. From "spirited" camp meetings, to bourbon's use as a medium of exchange for goods and services, to the industry's coming of age in the mid-nineteenth century, the story of Kentucky bourbon is a fascinating chapter in the state's early history.

Editorial Reviews

Review

""When I began reading the book, I was a mere consumer of the brown substance known as whiskey. After reading this book I n not only have the pleasure consuming it, I know a little more about how the substance became what it is today. Consumers and historians alike would enjoy reading this book and making it an addition to their library." --William John McDaniel III, Kentucky Beverage Journal" --

""As an imbiber of this tasty product, this reviewer feels this short volume is a must for any Kentuckian interested in our state's heritage." --Karl Lietzenmayer, Northern Kentucky Heritage" --

""The book is the first of its kind to carefully trace the early years of bourbon in Kentucky and to draw from extensive research of 17th and 18th century newspapers, court records, diaries and journals." --Kentucky Alumni" --

""The well-researched book tells the story from its subject's roots and gives an insight to early-day Kentucky." --National Barbeque News" --

""Crowgey got his hands dirty. He read letters from people in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, he dug up long out of print newspapers, scouring both the news and advertisements. He got hold of production and sales figures, government records, and eyeballed maps. In short, he did an awful lot of work in order to enable him to paint a full picture of who made Bourbon, how, where and why...Anyone who wants to claim any knowledge of whiskey in early America should grab hold of a copy." --alcoholreviews.com" --

""The bold taste of bourbon can now be enjoyed by newcomers looking to experiment with the rich flavors of this uniquely American beverage." --Novus Vinum" --

""From cover to cover, this tiny cocktail recipe book offers expanded uses and flavors to an old Kentucky tradition." --Fine Lines" --

""Few know Bourbon cocktails as well as Joy Perrine." --Cheers Magazine" --

""This petite book is filled with all of the bourbon recipes you will likely ever need and goes far beyond the Old-fashioned and Manhattan." --About.com" --

""From classic Kentucky cocktails such as the Mint Julep, to bourbon-inspired desserts...this book supplies recipes for every course." --Okra Picks" --

About the Author

Henry G. Crowgey was professor of history at University of North Carolina-Wilmington.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: The University Press of Kentucky; 1 edition (February 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813191831
• ISBN-13: 978-0813191836
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #739,958 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book on Early Distillers, May 2, 2008

By 

Sean Busick (Athens, Alabama) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kentucky Bourbon: The Early Years of Whiskeymaking (Paperback)

In tracing the history of distilling in Kentucky up to the eve of the Civil War, Crowgey dispels many of the myths and "pleasant legends" that have grown up around this native spirit.

There is, of course, much here for those interested in Kentucky history and the history of distilling. However, through his study of early bourbon making, Crowgey also tells us a great deal about early American agricultural history and the settlement and development of the frontier. Originally published in 1971, this is a wonderful little book that deserved to be reprinted.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Detailed and delightful, February 27, 2008

By 

John Martin "Exploring the worlds of wine, sp... (Houston TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kentucky Bourbon: The Early Years of Whiskeymaking (Paperback)

Crowgey has delivered a thoroughly delightful in-depth and detailed academic-level history of the origins of America's Native Spirit, Bourbon.

If you're looking for mixed drink recipes or techniques on how to make the latest shooter, you're in the wrong place. If you're truly interested in the wheres and whys of the origin of Bourbon, you'll be in heaven.

Crowgey's writing style can get a bit pedestrian at times but the facts and details here come through loud and clear. He debunks some of the myths, he lays out the facts as they were, and we're better Bourbon connoisseurs for having read him.

You can enjoy Bourbon without reading this book, but you'll understand Bourbon better if you do.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars American history, neat, January 15, 2011

By 

VampireCowboy (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Kentucky Bourbon: The Early Years of Whiskeymaking (Paperback)

First published in 1971, this book has aged well. It takes a deep look at the early days of whiskey making in Kentucky, including how important the product was for barter and driving trade and civilization. That's why it's so curious that much information was suppressed from the time - a schizophrenic effort to distance the region from just how important hard liquor was in developing.

It's heavy on the details of wills, bills of laden and store inventories and somewhat light on the narrative exploration the topic deserves. Still (pun intended), I'm sure more has been written and it's nice to see such well-researched history presented. It's an interesting read and the resistance to the excise tax -- perceived as overreach by the federal government -- seems prescient today given the charged political environment.

Lots of great nuggets though, about how this particularly American tradition came to be. Definitely fuels my interest in learning more about the industry and possibly visiting the area for a tour of the "bourbon trail." And it makes me wish we could resurrect the practice of taking a constitutional sip for breakfast:

"... a morning draught of either [peach or apple brandy] was considered as essential to good health as a breakfast."