Whiskey making has been an integral part of American history since frontier times. In Kentucky, early settlers brought stills to preserve grain, and they soon found that the limestone-filtered water and the unique climate of the scenic Bluegrass region made it an ideal place for the production of barrel-aged liquor. And so, bourbon whiskey was born.

More than two hundred commercial distilleries were operating in Kentucky before Prohibition, but only sixty-one reopened after its repeal in 1933. As the popularity of America's native spirit increases worldwide, many historic distilleries are being renovated, refurbished, and brought back into operation. Unfortunately, these spaces, with their antique tools and aging architecture, are being dismantled to make way for modern structures and machinery. In The Birth of Bourbon, award-winning photographer Carol Peachee takes readers on an unforgettable tour of lost distilleries as well as facilities undergoing renewal, such as the famous Old Taylor and James E. Pepper distilleries in Lexington, Kentucky. This beautiful book also includes spaces that well-known brands, including Maker's Mark, Woodford Reserve, Four Roses, and Buffalo Trace, have preserved as a homage to their rich histories.

Using a technique known as high-dynamic-range imaging -- a process that produces rich saturation, intensely clarified details, and a full spectrum of light -- Peachee reveals the vibrant life lingering in artifacts from worn cypress fermenting tubs to extravagant copper stills. This lavish celebration of bourbon's heritage will delight whiskey aficionados, history buffs, and art lovers alike.

From horses to tobacco to bourbon, the barn is at the heart of Kentucky's heritage and industry and is a staple of the Bluegrass landscape. In Kentucky Barns: Agricultural Heritage of the Bluegrass, Carol Peachee showcases the barns with exquisite photography.
From elegant Thoroughbred farms to historical treasures like the 1803 stone barn of Runnymede Farm in Bourbon County, Peachee travels across the state to capture and preserve the diverse architecture, heritage, and design that make these structures special. A beautiful tribute to the legacy of the Bluegrass State, Kentucky Barns features nearly 400 full-color photos of both the interior and exterior of these beautiful and functional icons of American culture and industry.

The story of bourbon production is a tale of American innovation, industry, and craft. Join photographer Carol Peachee on a visual journey from farm to bottle, with stunning images of the distilleries, farms, copper, brass, and steel works, cooperages and stave mills, and barrel warehouses that transform corn into liquid gold, while former Maker's Mark President Bill Samuels Jr. and whiskey historian Carolyn Brooks trace the impact of historical industries and production methods on the modern bourbon brand. From the ruins and rusted machinery of early distilleries to the flames of a modern barrel factory, 280 full-color photographs of Straight Bourbon offer a rare glimpse into the creation of America's native spirit.