What is the main message of Bourbon Empire?

The main message of Bourbon Empire is the fascinating history and cultural impact of bourbon in America.

How long does it take to read Bourbon Empire?

Reading Bourbon Empire takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.

Who is the author of Bourbon Empire?

The author of Bourbon Empire is Reid Mitenbuler.

Economics

Bourbon Empire Book Summary - Bourbon Empire Book explained in key points

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Bourbon Empire summary

Name: Bourbon Empire
Rating: 4.4 (36 reviews)
Author: Reid Mitenbuler

Reid Mitenbuler

The Past and Future of America's Whiskey

4.4 (36 ratings)

14 mins

Brief summary

Bourbon Empire by Reid Mitenbuler explores the fascinating history of bourbon, delving into its origins, rise and fall, and modern-day resurgence. It's a must-read for any spirits enthusiast or history buff.

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Alternative Perspectives Culture US History

Table of Contents

Bourbon Empire
Summary of 6 key ideas

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Key idea 1 of 6

What’s in it for me? Learn the history of a true American spirit and become a bourbon expert.

Greedy lobbyists and US congressmen on the take. Thirsty frontiersmen with stills in backwater swamps. Partying city dwellers willing to risk their lives for a drink. The element that connects them all is bourbon, a distilled spirit that is intimately tied to the history of America.

From bootleggers and bureaucrats to blue-collar workers, bourbon has fueled both greed and thirst. These blinks take you on the adventure that established American whiskey as a potently symbolic drink, with its roots deeply embedded in the nation’s culture. You’ll learn which whiskey is worth your cash and how capitalism tarnished the myth of the small bourbon distillery forever.

In these blinks, you’ll discover

which conditions make American whiskey officially bourbon;
why when the British left, rum dried up and whiskey became popular; and
how the US government tried to poison America’s thirst for booze.

This is a Blinkist staff pick

“Pour yourself a glass of bourbon and read or listen to these blinks. They really give you a sense of the long and gritty history of this most American of spirits.”

– Erik, Editorial Production Manager at Blinkist

Bourbon whiskey is the embodiment of the American spirit and storied history.

How do you like your bourbon whiskey? Served on the rocks, with a twist? Or perhaps just a shot after a long day at work? However you enjoy bourbon, know that it has a long, storied history as the drink of choice for the American people.

There are many reasons why bourbon is a uniquely American spirit.

While bourbon is technically a whiskey, this type of spirit can only be called “bourbon” if it meets the following conditions: It must be distilled in the United States; the grain mixture must be at least 51 percent corn; and it must be aged in new oak barrels.

These rules to protect bourbon’s unique character came about through careful lobbying by the liquor industry. In particular, Lewis Rosenstiel, head of one of America’s largest liquor companies, wanted to give bourbon a special classification to secure it as a distinctively American product.

Through this classification, Rosenstiel knew he could make bourbon a more desirable export product. He spent millions of dollars lobbying overseas, even sending every US embassy a case of bourbon!

In time, his efforts paid off. In 1964, the classification rules were made law and bourbon was on its way to international fame.

While politics made bourbon the spirit it is today, its history with American drinkers runs much deeper.

North American whiskey appears as far back as the seventeenth century when the fiery spirit was supplied to frontier soldiers fighting Native Americans. This whiskey was of questionable quality, but producers at the time weren’t concerned about quality ingredients or proper distilling procedures.

But as settlers began to move into the western territories, new and different corn and grains were discovered and added to the mash recipe. This certainly helped the flavor of this originally simple spirit: what once tasted like gasoline began to refine into what we know as bourbon today.

Thus, bourbon whiskey was on its way to becoming the “American native spirit.”

The bourbon market today is a great illustration of the fight between large and small businesses.

Many popular stories about bourbon whiskey are of families following noble, centuries-old distilling traditions, unconcerned with modern technology. But the reality of the whiskey business tells quite a different story.

The truth is that small, family-run whiskey stills were getting squeezed out of business as far back as the eighteenth century.

The history of bourbon began 400 years ago, with an army distiller in a Virginia swamp.

Captain George Thorpe was America’s first whiskey distiller. Some 400 years ago in a Virginia swamp, he became one of the first thirsty men to distill corn mash into alcohol.

This early whiskey came out tasting more like paint thinner than the bourbon we know today. It’s no wonder that this tipple faced tough competition from the far more palatable Caribbean rum.

The lucrative whiskey industry inspired criminality and poor quality; then Prohibition shut it down.

You might think, after independence, it would be smooth sailing for whiskey producers and drinkers. But the whiskey industry was about to enter a troubling period in its history.

By 1875, newspapers were filled with stories of scandal, corruption, bribery and tax evasion going on in the whiskey industry.

Following the repeal of Prohibition, the industry fell firmly into the hands of the Big Four.

Prohibition’s dry spell ended in 1933, and afterward many Americans celebrated with a glass of whiskey. But they didn’t realize that the world of whiskey had been forever changed.

Before Prohibition, both large and small distilleries operated across the United States. Over half of these distilleries were forced to close after 13 long years of being unable to sell alcohol legally. Even companies that did try to restart their businesses after repeal struggled and often failed.

When vodka arrived in the US market, bourbon fought back by gunning for the luxury niche.

Bourbon in America traditionally was a drink for blue-collar workers. While rich people might enjoy bourbon on occasion, the spirit was primarily seen as the preference of soldiers and hard-working men. But all this started to change when vodka arrived on the market.

Vodka was first imported to the United States in 1946. Early on, the spirit was mostly popular in neighborhoods and cities with large Eastern European populations. But soon cocktail culture began to grow, with one drink emerging as a popular favorite: the Moscow Mule, a mix of vodka, lime and ginger ale.

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What is Bourbon Empire about?

Bourbon Empire (2015) takes you on an exciting journey through time, revealing the complex history of America’s famous corn-based whiskey. Learn how this tipple survived the dry period of Prohibition, numerous corruption scandals and competition from overseas spirits while making its mark in politics and society.

Bourbon Empire Review

Bourbon Empire (2015) takes readers on an enlightening journey through the fascinating history of America's favorite spirit. Here's why this book is definitely worth reading:

Featuring meticulous research and engaging storytelling, it offers a thorough exploration of the cultural, economic, and political forces that shaped bourbon's rise to prominence.
This book provides insights into how bourbon became ingrained in American identity, making it a captivating read for history buffs and whiskey aficionados.
By examining the complex relationship between capitalism, regulation, and consumer tastes, it uncovers the deeper societal implications behind this beloved beverage.

Best quote from Bourbon Empire

Dont believe 90 percent of the tales you read on whiskey bottles, but dont forget to enjoy them either.

—Reid Mitenbuler

Who should read Bourbon Empire?

People interested in what makes a “true” bourbon
Students curious about the role whiskey played in American history
Bartenders, mixologists or anyone exploring the popularity of bourbon

About the Author

Living in New York, Reid Mitenbuler writes about whiskey and US drinking culture for Slate, Whiskey Advocate, Saveur and The Atlantic. The Bourbon Empire is his first book.

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