Having been absent from BE for well over a year, I missed any mention of Mike Veach's book on bourbon. It was published in 2013 and is an excellent and interesting read. In addition to being very readable, it provides a great deal of information on the illustrious history of bourbon and its lore. Since bourbon's history is an integral part of American History, Mike does a first rate job of providing the context in terms of major world events, and the dynamic social changes, affecting bourbon's fortunes and its ups and downs and its efforts to keep itself thriving.
I recommend Mike's book to anyone interested in bourbon and/or American History.