Calling All Bourbon Aficionados
by Victoria Lafean, Programming Librarian
Bourbon can be a fulfilling hobby, encompassing various aspects like collecting, tasting, learning about its history and production, and even home distilling on a small scale. Many enthusiasts find it a rewarding experience, fostering community and offering opportunities for education and enjoyment. Bourbon is a type of American whiskey, specifically defined by its production methods and ingredients. It must be made in the United States, with at least 51% corn in the grain bill, distilled at or below 160 proof, and aged in new, charred oak barrels. This process results in a whiskey known for its rich, often sweet, and spicy flavor profile, with notes of vanilla and caramel. The Manhattan Public Library is here to help you further this interest, whether it be in our fiction stacks or our non-fiction stacks.
All shelf locations and book descriptions quoted in this list can be found in the Manhattan Public Library catalog located at https://catalog.manhattan.lib.ks.us/polaris/default.aspx.
“Whiskey Distilled: A Populist Guide to the Water of Life” by Heather Greene
“In this lively and authoritative guide, Greene uses bright visuals, an easy-to-read format, and the familiar vocabulary of wine to teach readers about whiskey and encourage them to make their own evaluations. Peppered with wry anecdotes drawn from her unusual life–and including recipes for delicious cocktails by some of today’s most celebrated mixologists—’Whiskey Distilled’ will be enthusiastically greeted by the whiskey curious as well as by journeymen whiskey drinkers thirsty to learn more about their beloved tipple.”
“Pappyland: A Story of Family, Fine Bourbon, and the Things That Last” by Wright Thompson
“This is the story of how Julian Van Winkle III, the caretaker of the most coveted cult Kentucky Bourbon whiskey in the world, fought to protect his family’s heritage and preserve the taste of his forebears, in a world where authenticity, like his product, is in very short supply. Julian Van Winkler III provides a testimony to the challenge of living up to your legacy and the rewards that come from knowing and honoring your people and your craft.”
“Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible, 2024” by Jim Murray
“This is the most comprehensive and thoroughly researched guide to the world’s whiskies ever produced. Honest, forthright and proudly independent, Jim Murray has, for this 20th Anniversary edition, tasted and rated over 4,000 whiskies, shedding light on more than 1500 Scottish single malts, nearly 400 blended scotches and more than 900 American whiskies. ‘Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible’ provides an unrivalled and invaluable source of reference to the consumer, the whisky industry and the drinks trade alike. In terms of whisky, this is, and has been for the last 20 years, the gospel!”
If non-fiction isn’t your cup of tea, oh I mean bourbon, here are some selections from our fiction section:
“The Bourbon Thief” by Tiffany Reisz
“Betrayal, revenge and a family scandal that bore a 150-year-old mystery. When Cooper McQueen wakes up from a night with a beautiful stranger, it’s to discover he’s been robbed. The only item stolen–a million-dollar bottle of bourbon. The thief, a mysterious woman named Paris, claims the bottle is rightfully hers. After all, the label itself says it’s property of the Maddox family who owned and operated Red Thread Bourbon distillery since the last days of the Civil War, until the company went out of business for reasons no one knows.”
“100 Proof Murder” by Mary Ellis
“Travel writer Jill Curtis is in Louisville, Kentucky, on the next stop of her bourbon tour assignment, and is keen to explore the local distilleries with her videographer, Michael Erickson. But the night before Jill’s first tour at Parker’s Distillery, she is shocked to learn that the master distiller, William Scott, has died suddenly of a heart attack – and even more shocked when she discovers William’s daughter, Alexis, suspects foul play. Jill is soon drawn into a deadly blend of rivalry, jealousy, and cold-blooded murder as she attempts to uncover the truth behind William’s unexpected demise.”
“The Bourbon Kings” by J.R. Ward
“For generations, the Bradford family has worn the mantle of kings of the bourbon capital of the world. Their sustained wealth has afforded them prestige and privilege–as well as a hard-won division of class on their sprawling estate, Easterly. As family tensions, professional and intimately private ignite, Easterly and all its inhabitants are thrown into the grips of an irrevocable transformation, and only the cunning will survive.”
We hope that these “Top Shelf” selections will quench your thirst, and bring out the bourbon drinker, or “Tater” as they call themselves, in you.
Manhattan Public Library is a cornerstone of free and equal access to a world of ideas and information for the Manhattan, Kansas community. Learn more at mhklibrary.org.