The State of Bourbon

Cameron M. Ludwick is a bookworm, trivia nerd, and former band geek who still relies on the survival skills she learned at Girl Scout camp to cope with nature. A Kentucky native, she now has bigger hair and lives in Austin, Texas. Blair Thomas Hess is a born-and-bred Kentuckian who once won a sack-the-pig contest at the Trigg County Country Ham Festival. She resides in Frankfort, Kentucky, with her daughter and her picture-taking, bourbon-collecting husband. Together, these long-time friends travel across the Commonwealth of Kentucky, exploring its various wonders and uncovering its best-kept secrets. Follow the adventure at myoldkentuckyroadtrip.com and on Twitter (@MyOldKYRoadTrip) and Instagram (@myoldkentuckyroadtrip).

Acknowledgements





Introduction


Part I: Bourbon Firsts


1. The First Kentucky Bourbon


2. The State's First Bourbon Distillery


3. The First Sour Mash Recipe


4. The First Distillery to Use the Steam-Powered Distillation Process


5. The First Bourbon to Be Bottled and Sealed for Sale


Part II: Kentucky's River Towns


6. Louisville


7. Maysville


8. The Jackson Purchase


Part III: Prohibition and Beyond


9. Prohibition in Kentucky


10. Medicinal Bourbon Permits


11. The Impact of Kentucky Bourbon on WWII


12. The Distiller's Association and the Modern Bourbon Industry





Appendix: A Glossary of Bourbon Terms