Edward Lee's Bourbon Land: A Spirited Love Letter to My Old Kentucky Whiskey is equal parts Bourbon 101, cookbook, and Kentucky story that will have you racing to book a flight to Kentucky for a flight of bourbon as soon as you're finished reading it.
Bourbon is arguably one of the few American items that has European Union-levels of strictness of definition. However, within the families of bourbon, one can find quite the variety, such as sweet tastes, savory notes, and hints of many different elements. Lee explains how these differences came about in good detail. He also walks the reader through Kentucky's bourbon industry and introduces a host of individuals who mix great drinks, taste delicious bourbon, and manage the distilling process at places that range from Jim Beam to startups in Downton Louisville.
Lee also provides over four dozen bourbon-infused recipes like marinades, sauces, and desserts and includes pro tips on how to properly reduce bourbon without getting zapped by fire (good luck!). All told, Bourbon Land is an ode to American ingenuity (and drinking) and Kentucky's creative economy and a well-crafted story of bourbon's impact on life within the Bluegrass state.
MY RATING: 4.5
