Tabasco An Illustrated History

AVERY ISLAND, La., September 15, 2007 – After more than a decade of meticulous and exhaustive research, archiving and cataloguing, McIlhenny Company, maker of TABASCO® brand Pepper Sauce, announces the release of TABASCO®: An Illustrated History (McIlhenny Company; November 2007). The beautifully illustrated volume, which gives an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look into the TABASCO® legacy, contains never before seen images and covers uncharted territory in the history of an American icon – with a little Cajun spice thrown in for good measure.

TABASCO®: An Illustrated History traces the origins of the McIlhenny family, beginning in the early 1800s with the birth of inventor and company founder Edmund McIlhenny and ending in present day Avery Island, Louisiana, where TABASCO® Sauce is still made, much as it was nearly 140 years ago. Stops along the way highlight the wildly adventurous lives of McIlhenny family members and TABASCO's infiltration into pop culture, as well as the places TABASCO® Sauce has traveled since its creation in 1868 (Mt. Everest, Skylab, MREs of American soldiers abroad) and the U.S. presidents who have called TABASCO® a favorite. In fact, President Eisenhower’s own recipe for barbecue sauce, which uses TABASCO® Sauce, is included in this comprehensive book.

“From our humble beginnings through today, TABASCO®: An Illustrated History captures the colorful spirit and unique history of TABASCO® Sauce,” said Paul McIlhenny, president and CEO of McIlhenny Company. “It provides history buffs, TABASCO® fans, food enthusiasts, and people in love with Acadiana with an illustrated history that celebrates it all, and then some.”

Written and compiled by Dr. Shane K. Bernard, historian and curator for McIlhenny Company, TABASCO®: An Illustrated History is the only title currently sanctioned by McIlhenny Company. It includes documents, photographs and illustrations never before seen – including the original hand-written TABASCO® Sauce recipe (c. 1868). The history is complete and authentic, making it the quintessential source on TABASCO® Sauce and the rich culture surrounding it.