The Kentucky Bourbon Cookbook

In his latest, chef and instructor Schmid (The Hospitality Manager's Guide to Wines, Beers and Spirits) presents a collection of seasonal bourbon-based recipes with impressive breadth and depth. Whiskey lovers can start their day with Kentucky Bourbon Pancakes (which, when combined with Blueberry Kentucky Bourbon Syrup, call for a formidable 2 cups of bourbon); lunch on a Wilted Spinach Salad with a sweet and sour orange dressing (generously spiked with a half cup of bourbon); tuck into Chicken with Mustard Honey Kentucky Bourbon Sauce and Kentucky Bourbon Acorn Squash for dinner; and end the day with a slice of fruitcake-like Kentucky Bourbon Cake. Using a combination of sourced, modified and original recipes, Schmid showcases bourbon's versatility; the liquor's inherent sweetness makes it a natural for bread pudding, pecan pie and barbecue sauce, and it's these flavors and applications that dominate, along with standard libations like the Manhattan and Mint Julep. Those with a taste for this uniquely American spirit will find a wealth of possibilities.