‘Kentucky, Y’all’: A Cornucopia of Culture

"Kentucky, Y'all: A Celebration of the People and Culture of the Bluegrass State" by Blair Thomas Hess and Cameron M. Ludwick

Join authors Blair Thomas Hess and Cameron M. Ludwick on a tour of the Bluegrass State’s food, drink, and rich cultural history. The two have crafted a clever book with a wide appeal. Whether readers are interested in visiting or just want a taste of the South. “Kentucky, Y’all: A Celebration of the People and Culture of the Bluegrass State” supplies recommendations for everything Kentucky.

The 15th state in the Union, Kentucky joined the United States in 1792. Though it wasn’t one of the first 13 colonies, it was a major player in the U.S. expansion to the West during the 19th century. Thousands of people passed through its fields, mountains, plains, and cities. Thousands made (and lost) their fortunes, whether on fried chicken, horse racing, or bourbon. There’s much to discover in the history and culture of the Bluegrass State.

Fried Chicken

Food is a cardinal part of the Kentucky lifestyle. Fried chicken, once a luxury, is now a staple across the state. Thanks to Harland Sanders, Kentucky Fried Chicken is a household name.

Sanders Cafe, the original KFC, then known as Harland Sanders Cafe, is located on Highway US 31E in Corbin, Ky. Brent and MariLynn/CC BY 2.0

Sanders, who earned the honorary title of colonel from the state of Kentucky, invented the fried chicken recipe at age 40, while owner of a service station in Corbin. When the fried chicken became popular, he moved to a restaurant across the street. He began franchising 22 years later, in 1952.

The exact recipe is proprietary, but you can approximate it at home with a mixture of paprika, chili powder, sage, garlic powder, allspice, basil, and brown sugar, among other things.

Other recipes abound in this short book. At less than 200 pages, it’s easy to read in an afternoon or to peruse while enjoying an after-dinner drink. Speaking of drinks, here’s the lowdown on bourbon.

Drinks

Kentucky is bourbon country. This stiff drink reflects Kentucky’s languid air and genteel softness. Like a line-dried cotton sheet, it’s relaxed, unbothered.

What’s not so easygoing are the many requirements for the spirit to be considered authentic “Kentucky Straight” bourbon. It must be over 51 percent corn and aged in charred, new white oak barrels. The barrels, which age for at least two years, rest in “rickhouses” without climate control.

American white oak barrels filled with new bourbon whiskey rest in a rickhouse, giving bourbon its well-known copper color. Bbadgett/CC BY-SA 3.0

The state’s four seasons and limestone-percolated groundwater infuse the drink with the essence of Kentucky. There’s a reason that 95 percent of the world’s bourbon is made in this state. Even the name “Bourbon” stems from the original Bourbon County, Kentucky.

Those who prefer mixed drinks will be pleased by bourbon’s versatility. They can make a hot toddy, an old-fashioned, or a classic mint julep.

Let’s not forget moonshine. It’s sharp, misty, and trickles from the still like the spring water burbling from deep Appalachian aquifers. History abounds here in Eastern Kentucky, where bootleggers challenged prohibition. Thanks to thick old-growth forests offering plenty of hiding places, the region was a convenient place to stow a still. Many coal miners supplemented their meager incomes with moonshine money.

Cultural Cornucopia

Kentucky is a Southern state with variety galore. Rivers, lakes, and wetlands support deer, beavers, and plenty of freshwater fish. From west to east, it offers plains, rolling hills, grassy woodlands, and deep mountains with old-growth forests.

Flat lowlands in the west are exchanged for rolling green hills in central Kentucky. The Smokies hide misty hollers and beautiful mountain views.

The history of the state mirrors its geographical layout. The Appalachian mountains form a gateway around Kentucky’s eastern border. It wasn’t until Daniel Boone established the Wilderness Road and guided settlers through the Cumberland Gap in the late 1700s that Americans settled Kentucky. Settlers passed from the east to the west, establishing towns and farms as they went.

Host a Derby Party

Mage, ridden by jockey Javier Castellano, crosses the finish line to win the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on May 6, 2023. Sam Mallon/Getty Images

The Kentucky Derby is always held on the first Saturday in May. It’s worth a trip to witness  the hats, the horses, and the hustle and bustle; it’s a day to remember.

But if you can’t make it this year—or if you’re too impatient to wait until spring—you can recreate it at home. Make sure you have three important things: a hat, a connection to watch the races (or a recording), and friends to share it with. Forget the cucumber sandwiches and champagne; it’s time for a mint julep and a Kentucky “Hot Brown.” What’s that?

Invented in the 1920s by the Brown Hotel’s chef, Fred K. Schmidt, the Hot Brown is an open-faced sandwich layered with turkey breast, bacon, and tomato slices. After it’s smothered in rich, cheesy Mornay sauce, it’s broiled until the bread is toasty and the sauce is golden brown.

There are many variations, but “Kentucky, Y’all” includes a recipe for the original, now-legendary, Hot Brown.

Chock-full of Recommendations

Whether you’re looking to travel to the Bluegrass State, try a new recipe, or want something new to read, “Kentucky, Y’all” has got you covered. Those not yet tired of Americana should check out the Kentucky state fair. There will be enough fried food to tide you over until next year.

History buffs will find Civil War monuments and battlefields around every other corner. Horse lovers enjoy the middle of the state, while hikers and ATV-enthusiasts can discover amazing trails in eastern Kentucky. Hess and Ludwick could’ve written a couple more chapters on Appalachia. From spoonbread to mining, Eastern Kentucky’s history and culture felt slightly glossed over.

“Kentucky, Y’all” is an ode to the state’s vibrancy and variety. Tuck in for an adventure that will whet your foodie appetite. We can’t promise you won’t want to make a trip to the grocery store after reading.

‘Kentucky, Y’all: A Celebration of the People and Culture of the Bluegrass State’ By Blair Thomas Hess & Cameron M. Ludwick University Press of Kentucky, Sept. 10, 2024 Hardcover: 184 pages

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