Congratulations on your enrollment in Modern Thirst University’s Bourbon Appreciation program! We believe you will enjoy your time at MTBU, and find it rewarding both educationally and socially. We here at the University encourage social interaction between students, as well as between faculty and students, and faculty and faculty. After all, this is about drinking.
Please make use of all our facilities, including our applied science labs (bars), research stations (distilleries), and our numerous athletic fields (beer pong tables nation-wide).
But it’s not all fun and games at MTBU (I’m looking at you, intramural leagues!) There are, of course, studies to be completed. Please read below for your list of required textbooks and optional reading materials. Because we are a modern University, and saving you money on books allows you to buy more research product (bourbon), we have provided Amazon Kindle buying options whenever possible.
Required Reading
These are the essentials. There are a lot of options for those who want to take their knowledge of bourbon to the next level, but these are the standard textbooks that you need to read.
The first is by Bourbon Historian Michael Veach. Mike is not only the single most knowledgeable man I’ve ever met on the topic of bourbon, he’s a genuinely nice guy. His book “Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey: An American Heritage” is the standard by which others are most often judged.
If Michael’s book is the #1 required piece of reading material, Charles “Chuck” Cowdery’s “BOURBON, STRAIGHT: The Uncut and Unfiltered Story of American Whiskey” is #1A.
Michael Veach also suggested these be added to the required reading list, and as he is the foremost bourbon professor in the country, we will follow his curriculum:
And for our American Literature department, instructors have reminded us that Bourbon-Centric Fiction is still part of the curriculum. Please enjoy James Markert’s “The Angel’s Share.
So you’ve got the basics down from the required textbooks, eh? Ready to focus your studies? Think of these as required reading for your specific fields of study.
Specific Histories and Anecdotes:
Fred Minnick is another of the more well-known bourbon writers. In addition to being one of the premier American whiskey judges on the planet, he’s an accomplished, active writer who tackles very interesting, sometimes neglected topics of bourbon lore. “Whiskey Women” illustrates the incredible roll women played and continue to play in the birth and growth of the American Whiskey industry. I highly recommend reading this, if you read no others beyond the required list.
You like Chuck Cowdery’s required book listed above? He’s not done, and you’re not done with Chuck.
Another excellent source:
This one is a little pricey, and not available in Kindle format, but it’s a fantastic compilation of known histories of Kentucky Bourbon Distilleries:
Lest we forget, Bernie Lubbers is actually known as the “Whiskey Professor:”
Think of this as the ‘applied science’ part of your studies.
Bourbon Curious is a recent release by Fred Minnick. While there may be some parts you skim over, there are countless facts and figures about mash bills, entry proofs, etc. that are invaluable resources:
And more reading:
Lastly, we highly encourage our students to make use of the reading materials on hand. In addition to a huge array of reviews, we also have a wide selection of reference materials here at the MTBU Campus Library. We have reading materials touching on everything from proper glassware, to hosting a bourbon tasting in your own home, to different bourbon and whiskey mash bills.
So congratulations on enrolling in Modern Thirst Bourbon U, we hope you enjoy your studies!
Thank you,
The Dean
Library Resources:
Unboxing the Ultimate Whiskey Sampler from TheBroBasket.com
Looking for the perfect holiday gift for the whiskey lover in your life? Check out TheBroBasket.com. It’s like giving flowers, but for whiskey drinkers!
Twenty Whiskies for the Shelf – Part 2
Part 2 of our “Twenty whiskies to have on your shelf” series
Twenty Whiskies for the Shelf – Part 1
Part 1 of 2- Twenty whiskeys we believe you NEED to have on your shelf.
Book Review: Bourbon Justice: How Whiskey Law Shaped America
Bourbon Justice: How Whiskey Law Shaped America is the first book by Brian Haara. Highly recommended for bourbon fans and legal-beagles alike.
Video: Tasting Bourbon 101
Tasting Bourbon is a simple art. Want to know how we do it? Check it out.
Video: Barrel Char in a Jar Kit
ModernThirst takes a look at Barrel Char in a Jar home aging and flavoring kit.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Guide to releases and batches
A handy guide to navigating through all the releases of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof.
Buffalo Trace Antique Collection Stagg/WLW/Handy Releases by Year and Proof
A handy guide for George T. Stagg, William Larue Weller, and Thamas Handy Sazerac Releases by year and proof.
Bourbon Sample Bottles
Ever wondered where to get those little glass bottles everyone seems to be using to store and trade whiskey samples? Here’s our quick run down on standard bourbon & whiskey sample bottles with purchase links.
Bourbon and Whiskey Mash Bills – September 2015
ModernThirst’s list of bourbon and whiskey mash bills updated for September, 2015
The Essential Bourbon Reading List
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