Bourbon: The Story of Kentucky Whiskey

 

I received a copy of this release from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Title: Bourbon [Boxed Book & Ephemera Set]: The Story of Kentucky Whiskey
Author: Clay Risen
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Release Date: 12.14.22

Publisher's Summary

A visually stunning illustrated guide to the history, craft, and appreciation of Kentucky bourbon

Bourbon, we soon realized, was not just a good drink. It was a drink with a story, from a place, with an unbreakable tie to the people and the land that produced it.

Whiskey expert Clay Risen explores the origins, history, and evolution of America's distilling craft and culture in this luxurious boxed set. From boom to bust and back again, Risen tells the engrossing story of Kentucky whiskey, using interviews, photographs, and archival material to illuminate the singular region where bourbon was born. This meticulously researched book details how bourbon is made, how best to enjoy it, and how to build your own collection, along with profiles of the distilleries and makers that form the landscape of bourbon country.


My Review
I have received some lovely finished copies of books from publishers but the boxed book and ephemera set of Bourbon: The Story of Kentucky Whiskey by Clay Risen might be the best ever. In addition to a slick-paged hardback book full of gorgeous pictures, the set box also includes a drawered section full of maps, original logo stickers, distillery blueprints, and more. 

I knew a little bit about bourbon, the industry, and its communities from a few of my close friends and family members. I knew enough to be wistful of sections and statements like this: 

"Today, bourbon is the most popular, coveted, talked about spirit in America, but not long ago it was a liquor-store wallflower. When I worked in downtown Washington D.C., in the early 2000s, the liquor store around the corner from my office carried A.H. Hirsch Reserve 16-Year-Old, one of the all-time legendary bourbons, for about sixty dollars. Bottles of Willett Family Estate, including near-mythical single-barrel selections such as the Iron Fist and the Velvet Glove, sold for about the same. Even Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 23-Year-Old was going for a few hundred dollars. Though "going" is not quite the right word; no one wanted expensive bourbon, so the bottles sat there, gathering dust."

For those of you who may not know anything about bourbon, the thought of some Pappy just sitting around because no one wanted it is about enough to bring a tear to the eye of current bourbon aficionados. Nowadays, it's not only not sitting around anywhere, but it's also in such demand that it's not easy to get--there are lotteries and allotments.  

This collection would look stunning on a bar cart or beautifully displayed. It would also make a perfect gift for any bourbon lovers in your life.