On May 4, 1964, Congress designated bourbon as a distinctive product of the United States, and it remains the only spirit produced in this country to enjoy such protection. Its history stretches back almost to the founding of the nation and includes many colorful characters, both well known and obscure, from the hatchet-wielding prohibitionist Carry Nation to George Garvin Brown, who in 1872 created Old Forester, the first bourbon to be sold only by the bottle. Although obscured by myth, the history of bourbon reflects the history of our nation. Historian Michael R. Veach reveals the true story of bourbon in Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey. Starting with the Whiskey Rebellion of the 1790s, he traces the history of this unique beverage through the Industrial Revolution, the Civil War, Prohibition, the Great Depression, and up to the present. Veach explores aspects of bourbon that have been ignored by others, including the technology behind its production, the effects of the Pure Food and Drug Act, and how Prohibition contributed to the Great Depression. The myths surrounding bourbon are legion, but Veach separates fact from legend. While the true origin of the spirit may never be known for certain, he proposes a compelling new theory. With the explosion of super-premium bourbons and craft distilleries and the establishment of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, interest in bourbon has never been higher. Veach shines a light on its pivotal place in our national heritage, presenting the most complete and wide-ranging history of bourbon available.

Beer culture has grown exponentially in the United States, from the days of Prohibition to the signing of HR 1337 by then-President Jimmy Carter, which legalized homebrewing for personal and household use, to the potential hop shortage that all brewers are facing today. This expansion of the culture, both socially and commercially, has created a linguistic and cultural turn that is just now starting to be fully recognized. The contributors of Beer Culture in Theory and Practice: Understanding Craft Beer Culture in the United States examine varying facets of beer culture in the United States, from becoming a home brewer, to connecting it to the community, to what a beer brand means, to the social realities and shortcomings that exist within the beer and brewing communities. The book aims to move beer away from the cooler and taproom, and into the dynamic conversation of Popular and American cultural studies that is happening right now, both within and outside of the classroom.

Bourbon Backroads can be read in the traditional way; simply retire to an armchair and read about how distillers made that bright amber liquid in the cut-glass tumbler standing on your side table. Or, one can use the book as a guide to visit and experience the places where bourbon's heritage was made. Kentucky is strewn with the landmarks of bourbon's long story: distilleries long-standing, relict, razed, and brand new, the grand homes of renowned distillers, villages and neighborhoods where laborers lived, Whiskey Row storage warehouses, river landings and railroad yards, and factories where copper distilling vessels and charred white oak barrels are made. Throughout the nineteenth century, distilling changed from an artisanal craft practiced by farmers and millers to a large-scale mechanized industry that practiced increasingly refined production techniques. Distillers often operated at comparatively remote sites - the "backroads" - to take advantage of water sources or transport access. As time went on, mechanization and the steam engine shrank the industry's reliance on water power and permitted relocation of distilleries to urban or rural rail-side sites. This shift changed not only our ability to consume bourbon but also how we engage with the industry and its history. Blending several topics - tax revenue, railroads, the mechanics of brewing, geography, landscapes, and architecture - this primer and geographical guide presents an accessible and detailed history of the development of Kentucky's distilling industry and explains how the industry continues to thrive.

With easy to follow clear instructions, this book contains more than 30 recipes for making liqueurs and infusions, featuring a wide range of tastes and ingredients from blackberries and chili to Turkish delight and chocolate. This is the essential practical guide for anyone wanting to explore the world of spirited infusions, whether to create the most amazing bespoke drinks collection, make the most of seasons fruits and foraging trips, or host sparkling cocktail parties.

Drink deliciously and magickally with this exquisite compendium of potent mystical beverages, with witchy wisdom from author Shawn Engel and expertly crafted cocktails from mixologist Steven Nichols. For thousands of years, witches young and old have concocted mysterious potions to heal, to divine the future, to get in touch with the energies of the planet-and just to have fun. In this enchanting compendium of 40 drink recipes, mystical maven Shawn Engel shares her thoughts on what to imbibe for power, energy, and amusement. Written in tandem with the award-winning cocktail writer and developer Steven Nichols, this collection presents a broad range of drinks for every purpose. Whether it's a trio of beverages celebrating the energies of the maiden, mother, and crone (with notes of pomegranate, fig, and smoke respectively), or an eminently sippable mint-based money magick brew for prosperity, this book is a party with a purpose. Not only are these drinks fun and shareable, they also contain ingredients with ancient magickal significance. For example, the 'Keep it Hexy' is not only a delicious vodka-based cocktail perfect for kick-starting a memorable evening, it also contains black pepper to return a hex to sender, sage to cleanse an evil eye, and blackberries for protection. All recipes include energetic properties and plenty of information about magickal ingredients and why they've been used to address certain ills for millennia; some even come with invocations and rituals to amplify their power.

"Although he logged thousands of miles in the preparation of this guide, what Jay Brooks really brings to the table is a lifetime steeped in California craft beer. As I've learned through the years, when Jay tells you where to go and what to drink there, you're wise to listen closely." --Stephen Beaumont, coauthor of "The World Atlas of Beer" (with Tim Webb)

• The definitive guide to the region's 161 breweries and brewpubs
• Each brewery profile includes types of beer brewed at each site, special features, available tours, and the author's pick of the best beer to try
• Covers the Central Coast area around Santa Cruz north to the border of Oregon, including San Francisco, San Jose, and Sacramento

Uncle Billy's Wine Guide for Novices is not intended for wine experts and others that consider themselves extremely knowledgeable about wine. This book is for the rest of us who want to learn more about the pleasures of enjoying wine and talking intelligent about it. About 8% of wine consumers consider themselves extremely knowledge about wine. Of these, about 3% consider themselves wine experts. This leaves the rest of us, about 92% who want to learn more about wine but don't want to become experts. Humor is scattered throughout the book to make your reading more enjoyable. The goal is to help you become more knowledgeable about wine and have fun doing so. And remember: "Always drink the wine you enjoy, and enjoy the wine you drink." William Allan Kritsonis, PhD, Author