Article Review: Bourbon to Bullets

Check in here for reviews of whiskey related books and other materials

Moderator: Squire

Article Review: Bourbon to Bullets

Unread postby bourbonv » Mon Nov 01, 2004 7:34 pm

Bourbon to Bullets: Louisville's Distilling Industry during World War II by Aaron Purcell. The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society: Winter 1998, pp 61-87. Illustrated.

This is a very good article on the distilling industry's role in the total war that the United States fought against the Axis powers during the Second World War. There is a reason that Louisville has "Rubbertown" in its south western corner of the county - Synthetic Rubber production needed high proof alcohol and Louisville was were the distilleries were. This article discusses that role as well as the other war products that were using alcohol. Alcohol was important for antifreeze, munitions, medical needs and many other products. Purcell discusses these things in the article, going into some detail as to how these things were used and how much alcohol was needed for their production. He also discusses some related fields of production. Schenley Distilleries played a leading role in the production of penicillin. They had a major production facility in Lawrenceberg, Ind. in the 1940's. This all grew out of their knowledge of cultivating yeast for distilling.

This is a very good article for those interested in the history of the industry. Purcell has done a very good job of research and has written a very intersting article.

Mike Veach
User avatar
bourbonv
Registered User
 
Posts: 4086
Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2004 7:17 pm
Location: Louisville, Ky.

Return to The Library

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 14 guests