Skip to main content

American History By Way of Bourbon

Any way you look at it, bourbon is an essential part of American culture. Whether it’s a mint julep at the recently passed Kentucky Derby, splitting a cheap bottle with your college roommate, or sharing a fine aged glass on the rocks with your father, bourbon surfaces everywhere in the American experience.

Though we tip it back and talk about it a lot, many of us don’t necessarily take the time to appreciate the liquor’s complete history. Luckily, Michael Veach has taken it upon himself to chronicle bourbon’s rich back-story in his new book, Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey: An American Heritage.

Recommended Videos

Veach, a longtime staff member at the Filson Historical Society in Louisville (as well as a 2006 inductee into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame), has spent nearly twenty years studying and analyzing the papers and records of royal families of the bourbon industry and studying the distilling culture to clear up mysteries, dispel myths and answer the questions that any inquisitive mind might have.

The comprehensive work covers bourbon’s history from the Whiskey Rebellion in 1790 up through the present day, where bourbon is considered one of the finest American spirits. In doing so, Veach not only chronicles the progression of bourbon over time, but also provides keen insights and a unique look at the evolving story of America.

Currently, Veach is also at work on a book devoted to bourbon tasting, which should provide a fine companion to this thorough historical look at an All-American drink.

Whether you are a bourbon connoisseur, a newcomer to the world of liquor, or an American History buff, Veach’s Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey: An American Heritage, is a summer read that is well worth your time.

It’s safe to say that a bible on bourbon qualifies as beach reading material.

Matt Domino
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Matt Domino is a writer living in Brooklyn. His fiction has appeared in Slice and The Montreal Review, while his non-fiction…
15 STARS is launching a new award-winning blended bourbon
15 Stars

If you’re a fan of complex, multi-layered blended bourbons, you likely already have a bottle of two of 15 Stars on your bar cart. If not, now is the time to purchase one. That’s because the popular brand just announced the launch of its newest award-winning release in its Artison Collection.

Artisan Collection - Aged 15 and 12 years

Read more
Heaven Hill announced the 2025 release of its popular Grain to Glass whiskey series
Heaven Hill

Recently, Heaven Hill announced the launch of the newest edition to its Grain to Glass series. The 2025 release is a limited-edition small batch Kentucky straight wheated bourbon. When we say wheated bourbon, we really mean it. To say this whiskey has a high percentage of wheat in its mash bill is a major understatement.

Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey

Read more
Using the wrong grind for pour over? Here’s how to get it just right
Fine-tuning the right grind size for pour over brewing
Pour-over coffee

Pour-over coffee is a popular coffee brewing method for coffee drinkers who enjoy controlling each component of the coffee brewing process. With pour-over coffee, you can brew a delicious, rich cup of coffee that's ideally suited to your coffee preferences. But if there's one thing I've learned when experimenting with different brewing methods, size matters. Knowing the right type of grind size to use for pour-over coffee is a must for mastering this unique brewing process.

Selecting the wrong grind size for your coffee brewing method results in a mess all over your kitchen and a cup of coffee that isn't worth drinking. Wondering what grind for pour-over coffee you should use to brew the best cup of coffee? Below, this guide to selecting the best type of coffee for pour-over will help answer all your questions.

Read more