--- product_id: 18399390 title: "The Birth of Bourbon: A Photographic Tour of Early Distilleries" price: "$72.25" currency: USD in_stock: true reviews_count: 10 url: https://www.desertcart.us/products/18399390-the-birth-of-bourbon-a-photographic-tour-of-early-distilleries store_origin: US region: United States of America --- # The Birth of Bourbon: A Photographic Tour of Early Distilleries **Price:** $72.25 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Birth of Bourbon: A Photographic Tour of Early Distilleries - **How much does it cost?** $72.25 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.us](https://www.desertcart.us/products/18399390-the-birth-of-bourbon-a-photographic-tour-of-early-distilleries) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description 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. Review: A beautiful photographic tribute to times long ago! - Living in the Detroit area, I am all too familiar with the photography genre of "ruin porn" and the obsession with collapsing, abandoned, and otherwise vandalized buildings and their contents, i.e., the old Michigan Central train station that was recently purchased by the Ford Motor Company. Birth of Bourbon sounded to me like it would be a similar effort, and I suppose it is, to some extent, with its dust and rust and webs. But when I received the book and started to flip through the pages, I was transfixed by the real beauty that was in the photos, and the desire to connect them to the bustling distilleries in long ago times. While I purchased the book to speak to my bourbon history pursuits, I've found myself, several times, just flipping through the pages and taking in the magnificence of the photos. If you're interested in the history of bourbon and distilling, this book needs to be on your shelf; if you're just looking for something to flip through, you won't be disappointed either. Review: Bourbon Lovers Unite - Bought this as a gift for my boyfriend who has an extensive bourbon collection and enjoys history. This is a photo book with captions, but very interesting. Great coffee table book. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #1,081,963 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #229 in Whiskey #691 in Alcoholic Spirits #13,259 in U.S. State & Local History | | Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 168 Reviews | ## Images ![The Birth of Bourbon: A Photographic Tour of Early Distilleries - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61haTjgvvTL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A beautiful photographic tribute to times long ago! *by K***L on November 4, 2018* Living in the Detroit area, I am all too familiar with the photography genre of "ruin porn" and the obsession with collapsing, abandoned, and otherwise vandalized buildings and their contents, i.e., the old Michigan Central train station that was recently purchased by the Ford Motor Company. Birth of Bourbon sounded to me like it would be a similar effort, and I suppose it is, to some extent, with its dust and rust and webs. But when I received the book and started to flip through the pages, I was transfixed by the real beauty that was in the photos, and the desire to connect them to the bustling distilleries in long ago times. While I purchased the book to speak to my bourbon history pursuits, I've found myself, several times, just flipping through the pages and taking in the magnificence of the photos. If you're interested in the history of bourbon and distilling, this book needs to be on your shelf; if you're just looking for something to flip through, you won't be disappointed either. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Bourbon Lovers Unite *by M***A on January 19, 2022* Bought this as a gift for my boyfriend who has an extensive bourbon collection and enjoys history. This is a photo book with captions, but very interesting. Great coffee table book. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Beautiful Images Bring Back Sweet Memories *by B***N on November 5, 2016* Astonishing images from a time that is gone by, but is hopefully being re-awakened. Peachee's photographic technique and skills produce images which are a delight to the eye, and which give insight into Kentucky's distilled spirits industry of a century ago. I accompanied my children, then aged eight and five years old, on a tour of the operating Old Taylor Distillery exactly fifty years ago this past summer. The three of us visited again recently, expecting to see deserted ruins, to find to our joy that the beautiful old edifice is being re-vitalized! It is heart-warming to study Peachee's images of Old Taylor, and to realize that this venerable showplace is being lovingly rejuvenated and re-opened as Castle and Key Distillery. I can't wait! Old Taylor is but one of numerous pioneering bourbon operations which Peachee presents in this book, a wonderful text on Kentucky's signature industry. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.us/products/18399390-the-birth-of-bourbon-a-photographic-tour-of-early-distilleries](https://www.desertcart.us/products/18399390-the-birth-of-bourbon-a-photographic-tour-of-early-distilleries) --- *Product available on Desertcart United States of America* *Store origin: US* *Last updated: 2026-07-24*