Bourbon Empire audiobook cover - The Past and Future of America's Whiskey

Bourbon Empire

The Past and Future of America's Whiskey

Reid Mitenbuler

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EconomicsHistory

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Bourbon Empire
Definition & Legalities+
Origins & Early History+
Industry Consolidation+
Scandal & Prohibition+
Post-Prohibition & WWII+
The Vodka Threat & Rebranding+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 7
What specific criteria must a whiskey meet to be officially classified as bourbon?
  • A. It must be distilled in Kentucky, contain 100 percent corn, and be aged in used oak barrels.
  • B. It must be distilled in the United States, contain at least 51 percent corn, and be aged in new oak barrels.
  • C. It must be distilled in North America, contain at least 51 percent wheat, and be aged for a minimum of five years.
  • D. It must be distilled in the United States, contain a mix of rye and barley, and be aged in charred barrels.
Question 2 of 7
Why did Lewis Rosenstiel, head of a large liquor company, heavily lobby the government regarding bourbon?
  • A. He wanted to secure a special classification for bourbon to make it a distinctively American product and a desirable export.
  • B. He wanted to prevent small, family-run distilleries from legally using the name 'bourbon' to eliminate his competition.
  • C. He was trying to ensure that bourbon could legally be prescribed for medicinal purposes during Prohibition.
  • D. He wanted to lower the federal taxes on corn so his distilleries could produce whiskey more cheaply.
Question 3 of 7
What historical event caused American colonists to shift their preference from Caribbean rum to locally produced whiskey?
  • A. The Whiskey Rebellion, which made the consumption of imported rum illegal.
  • B. A massive agricultural blight that destroyed sugar cane crops in the British Caribbean territories.
  • C. The American Revolutionary War, which cut off the supply of imported sugar and depleted rum stocks.
  • D. The introduction of the Eighteenth Amendment, which banned all foreign alcohol.
Question 4 of 7
According to the text, what is the reality behind the diverse array of bourbon brands seen on store shelves today?
  • A. They are mostly produced by hundreds of independent, family-run distilleries using centuries-old traditions.
  • B. About 75 percent of them are actually produced by just four massive companies.
  • C. They are heavily regulated by the government to ensure no single company owns more than one brand.
  • D. Most are actually produced in Europe and imported under traditional-sounding American names.
Question 5 of 7
How did the US government attempt to stop the consumption of bootleg medical and industrial alcohol during Prohibition?
  • A. By heavily taxing all forms of alcohol to make it entirely unaffordable for bootleggers.
  • B. By launching a massive public relations campaign highlighting the dangers of bootleg liquor.
  • C. By deliberately adding poisonous chemicals to the alcohol supply.
  • D. By strictly rationing alcohol only to licensed medical professionals and hospitals.
Question 6 of 7
Why did vodka become a major threat to the bourbon industry starting in the mid-twentieth century?
  • A. Baby boomers viewed vodka as a hipper alternative, and its odorless nature appealed to many drinkers.
  • B. It was significantly cheaper to produce than bourbon because it did not require any grain in its mash.
  • C. The US government subsidized vodka imports to improve relations with Eastern European countries.
  • D. Vodka producers bought out the Big Four bourbon distilleries and intentionally lowered bourbon's quality.
Question 7 of 7
How did the bourbon industry, led by brands like Maker's Mark, respond when vodka began outselling bourbon in the US?
  • A. They lobbied Congress to ban the importation of foreign spirits like vodka.
  • B. They lowered their prices to compete directly with cheap, mass-produced vodka.
  • C. They rebranded bourbon as an expensive, premium luxury drink for the international and domestic markets.
  • D. They began flavoring their bourbons with fruit and spices to make them easier to mix in cocktails.

Bourbon Empire — Full Chapter Overview

Bourbon Empire Summary & Overview

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.

Who Should Listen to 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: Reid Mitenbuler

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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