Bourbon, An Introduction for the Inquisitive Drinker

Bourbon, America’s native whiskey, has played a role in the life and economy of the nation for more than 200 years. Whiskey taxes funded a new nation. Settlers in the Ohio Valley were given land incentives to make it. Federal laws were enacted to ensure its quality. Today bourbon is responsible for some $10 billion of its native state Kentucky’s economy. In this course, participants will learn about bourbon’s history, what makes it a special whiskey style, how it is made, and its continuing place in American culture.  Both weekly tastings and a session at a Louisville distillery will be included.

Susan Reigler
Award-winning journalist Susan Reigler has written seven whiskey books, including, most recently, Kentucky Bourbon Country: The Essential Travel Guide, 3rd ed. and Which Fork Do I Use with My Bourbon? Former restaurant critic and beverage columnist for the Louisville Courier-Journal, she is a contributing writer to Bourbon+, American Whiskey Magazine, and LEO Weekly, and is a bourbon columnist for Food & Dining and Covey Rise magazines. Reigler is past president of the Bourbon Women Association, and she has hosted tastings and been featured in whiskey festivals throughout the United States. She is a Certified Executive Bourbon Steward and a member of the Order of the Writ.

If you have questions or would like additional information, contact the Lifelong Learning office at (812) 941-2436 or lifelong@ius.edu. The Lifelong Learning program reserves the right to cancel a class if there is insufficient enrollment, in which case all fees will be refunded.