Bourbon

Greetings, fellow connoisseurs of liquid history! Professor Barnaby Ellison Thatch here, inviting you to join me in my parlor for an extraordinary journey through America's most distinguished spirit. In "Bourbon: America's Spirit," we'll explore Kentucky's limestone-filtered origins, decode the mysterious alchemy of charred oak barrels, and navigate bourbon's tumultuous legal battles from Prohibition's dark days to today's protected status. From Reverend Elijah Craig's legendary burnt warehouse to

Bourbon & The Law: From Prohibition to Protection: Professor Thatch chronicles bourbon's complex legal journey from early taxation battles through Prohibition's devastation to modern regulatory protection. The episode examines how bourbon survived the dark years through medicinal permits and bootlegging networks, then emerged from Prohibition to gain specific legal recognition and protection. From the 1964 regulations that defined bourbon's essential characteristics to international trade

Barrel Magic: How Bourbon Gets Its Flavor: Delving into the science of bourbon aging, Professor Thatch explains how charred American oak barrels function as chemical laboratories, transforming clear corn whiskey into complex amber spirit. The episode explores the selection and seasoning of oak, the chemistry of charring, and the intricate processes by which bourbon extracts vanilla, caramel, and spice flavors from wood. From seasonal temperature cycles that drive barrel breathing to the molecular

Born in Kentucky: The Origins of Bourbon: Professor Thatch traces bourbon's birth in Kentucky's unique geological and cultural landscape, where Scottish and Irish settlers adapted their whiskey-making traditions to American corn and limestone-filtered water. The episode explores how early pioneers like Jacob Spears, Reverend Elijah Craig, and Evan Williams transformed frontier necessity into distinctive American spirit, while Kentucky's climate and geography created natural aging conditions