The Distinctive Beverage of the Western World, bourbon is Kentucky's illustrious gift to those who appreciate fine spirits. Although the story of American whiskey is recorded in countless pages of our nation's history, the place of bourbon in the country's cultural record has long awaited a detailed and objective examination. A fascinating, informative chronicle of America's native spirit, The Social History of Bourbon reflects an aspect of our national cultural identity that has long been suppressed and overlooked.