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

by Charles K. Cowdery

Bourbon, 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, 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.

Genres: Nonfiction, Booze, History, Food, Food and Drink

284 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2004

Reviews

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

No one would try to refute Cowdery's reputation as one of the most knowledgeable people regarding Bourbon. However, I think he would have benefitted greatly either from a ghost writer or a better editor. So much of the book is fascinating, but there are left turns and tangents galore. A chapter may begin talking about an individual in the whiskey business, then take off into how a particular kind of whiskey is made, then eventually circle back to this individual by the end of the chapter. The book works almost better as a series of essays than it does a complete work, but here it is! I'll probably never set down and read it cover to cover again, but I'll definitely go back to it as a reference point.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good effort and enjoyable to read whiskey lore and the state of the industry circa 2004. So much has changed due to the whiskey craze of the last 5 years. Some chapters drag that go into the genealogy of the families but overall I give it 3.5 but some chapters are 4.5. The reviews are great and the chapter on the Wild West was fascinating. Some parts are dated but that’s to be expected.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful guide to the history of Bourbon and some of the most famous brands. A must read if you're interested in American history, or the alcohol industry.

[William Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you enjoy the taste of bourbon, wish to learn about the distillation process, and want your history told in breezy anecdotes, you will like this book.

Short chapters don’t always flow from one to the next - likely a product of Cowdery’s background in the magazine business.

The final portion of the book is dominated by witty, insightful reviews of several spirits.

All in all, a handy reference. Though I’m from Kentucky, so I may be biased for America’s native spirit....

[Steve Rust · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, quick read. It’s an older book, so it couldn’t capture the current bourbon boom happening now. That also allowed it to focus on the history of bourbon and some of the founding distilleries, people and brands.

[Stephen Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty dated by now, but still very interesting for a general overview of bourbon and its origins. Excellent bibliography which I intend to use.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5…This book has most of the classic bourbon tales, and they are well told. When it gets more topical and brand-specific, it makes you realize how much has changed in the two decades since its publication….but that is instructive as well.

[Austin Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cowdery is one of the greatest bourbon historians out there. Here he tells the interesting, twisting, often looping and recycling story of the USA's only native spirit. The book is a little dated, as it was written *just* before the bourbon boom really took hold in the US, but the information will still be of interest to bourbon lovers. I first started reading Cowdery at his blog and my one small complaint is that the narrative can seem disjointed at times. More a collection of essays/blog posts than a continuous, fluid story. Still interesting, though, and I'll be picking up some of his more recent books.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Suffers a bit from when it was published as so much has happened in the world of bourbon in the last ten years that this volume often feels a bit dated. Furthermore, the organization of the book is a bit haphazzard, making for a bit of a jumpy reading experience. That said, the writing is clear and straightforward and the content is comprehensive and first-rate. It would be interesting to see Cowdery update the book, but as it stands, this is an excellent book for anyone who is interested in getting into the nitty gritty of bourbon history.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

An introduction to the history of Bourbon whiskey, what it is, how it's made, how to taste it and anything else you might want to know. Easy and fun to read. If you have any interest in American history, business history, technology or just booze, you will enjoy this book. Cowdery, writer and publisher of the bi-monthly Bourbon Country Reader, writes with an engaging wit that makes the book seem like a long conversation over a glass of your favorite bourbon.

[Harlan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an extremely authoritative and well researched collection of chapters on various aspects of the bourbon industry. The editing's not great -- it's tedious in parts and redundant in others. And it's rather out of date, in just nine years, due to the recent explosion of smaller bourbon producers. Still, I learned a ton, and I recommend it for those wanting to dive rather deeply into the history of American whiskey.

[Eperdu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book because it was a juxtaposition of history and humor. I am a fan of bourbon and found that I knew nothing about it. In this guide, I was given a walking tour of the past and how bourbon has evolved to where it is today. I think at this point, I love it more than I did before because I know its roots.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well done history of bourbon that clears up a lot of common misconceptions, and separates marketing liberties from what actually happened. Includes profiles of producers and interesting people from the bourbon industry. Well worth reading for those interested in this American spirit.

[Chris Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a truly fantastic book. The history of bourbon, the bios of the key players, the brands and competitors, and the resurgence of bourbon after decades of decline. Great story for bourbon fans, but also for history buffs and maybe even for business students.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everything, and more, that you want to know about America's native drink--bourbon. While the book is interesting and fun to read, I often felt he was trying to cover too much ground. This made the organization look loose.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book about the historical relevance of Bourbon, how it is made, etc. Several reviews of some easy-to-find bourbons, and some not-so-easy to find bourbons round out the book.

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually scanned a few pages of a tasting guide. Good book overall. I wish it were more current.

[Jonathan Rouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to become familiar with the history and legends associated with this uniquely Kentuckian treasure. Also contains a tasting guide for present distillaries.

[Robert Karlen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and informative.

[John Kropewnicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

a short in demanding book about bourbon. The history of interesting but the reviews of various bourbons get tediously similar.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid book on the history of bourbon as well as creation and tasting. Cowdery's style cuts through myths for cold hard facts. Do recommend. Excellent read on the topic.

[Sam Doran · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book on the history of American whiskey.