Author: Albert W. A. Schmid
Albert W. A. Schmid is chef and instructor at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts. He is the former director of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management at Guilford Technical Community College, and is the former director of the Hotel-Restaurant Management and Hospitality Management Departments at Sullivan University’s National Center for Hospitality Studies. He is the author of Burgoo, Barbecue & Bourbon: A Kentucky Culinary Trinity, The Old Fashioned: An Essential Guide to the Original Whiskey Cocktail, The Manhattan Cocktail: A Modern Guide to the Whiskey Classic, the award-winning The Kentucky Bourbon Cookbook, and coauthor of the award-winning The Beverage Manager’s Guide to Wines, Beers and Spirits.
The rumors are true; there are more barrels of bourbon than there are people in Kentucky. In fact, statistics tell us there are nearly two barrels of aging bourbon for every Bluegrass State citizen. With a population of nearly 4.5 million and each barrel yielding close to 200 bottles, it’s safe to say the average Kentuckian doesn’t have to look far for a bottle of amber gold. While Kentucky may be known as bourbon’s home base, for bourbon lovers everywhere, the act of drinking bourbon is about more than just its acquisition. It is a lore and an experience, but most of all it is a legacy. As people across the United States and the world begin to wake up to the allure of Kentucky’s state beverage, bourbon is having its moment—the act of coveting, collecting and savoring bottles is now a worthy passion to pursue.
With budding enthusiasts clamoring to know more about this American-born creation, finding an entry point into the history and culture of the spirit is a task not easily undertaken. Bourbon 101 offers a distinctive and introductory approach to learning about the world of bourbon. Award-winning author Albert W. A. Schmid takes students through a crash-course in all-things bourbon including its history, production, and enduring cultural identity. Schmid introduces new enthusiasts to the lexicon of bourbon and provides a starting point for those wanting to develop their palate and find the bourbon that best suits their own taste. Told through the lens of Schmid’s own experiences and interactions with experts in the bourbon world, the book is as much a handbook as it is a love letter to a beverage that has left an indelible impression on those who’ve dared to take the first sip.
Foreword, by Chris Morris
Preface: America’s Native Spirit
Lesson 1: The Bourbon Tasting Kit & the Bourbon Lexicon – The language of bourbon
Lesson 2: How Bourbon is Made Bourbon’s
Lesson 3: Regulations and Rules – Bourbon’s Old Kentucky Home
Lesson 4: How to Taste Bourbon
Lesson 5: Don’t judge a bottle by the label
Lesson 6: How to order a bourbon
Lesson 7: Bourbon Cocktails
Lesson 8: The Urban Bourbon Trail
Lesson 9: The Bourbon Trail
Lesson 10: Further Reading
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