Book Review: The Bourbon Drinker’s Companion
When I decided to become a whiskey hobbyist, I chose to build my knowledge through books. I read blogs, listen to podcasts, and waste time on social media. There’s just something about holding a book in my hands that helps me soak it all up. As of this moment, I’ve entered 478 books into my head regarding beverage alcohol history. Most of my library relates specifically to American whiskey and general American alcohol history. While I’ve sorted through a daunting number of books, they all seem to run together at a certain point where one book is just rehashing 15 books before it. I now crave new releases that add something fresh to the conversation. Colin Spoelman has entered the chat with The Bourbon Drinker’s Companion: A Guide to American Distilleries, with Travel Advice, Folklore, and Tasting Notes. Here, Spoelman of King’s County Distillery provides his insight on the current state of American whiskey as both an industry professional and enthusiast.
If you’ve read other bourbon books before, it’s probably easiest to start with what this book is not. If you’re looking for a blind regurgitation of clever and expensive marketing strategies and stories, look elsewhere. In a breath of fresh air, Spoelman clearly values authenticity. There are plenty of excellent whiskeys on the market that lack authenticity, and Spoelman has no qualms about calling them out. There are actors in the American whiskey industry who engage in practices that also need to be called out, but those with sway tend to steer clear of stepping on toes for one reason or another. Spoelman remains respectful, but he’s also blunt in pointing out actions and practices within the industry that need to be highlighted for the wrong reasons. When necessary, The Bourbon Drinker’s Companion names names. While working my way through the text, I came across several passages that led me to take a photo and send it to friends, generating responses such as “Wooooooow!” We’re all whiskey drinkers, but we don’t mind a bit of tea.
While Spoelman enjoys a spot of tea as well, his latest book is not solely as a tea party. The gossip is interesting, but he spends far more time and effort highlighting people and distillers who are doing things worth discussing for the right reasons. Who is being authentic? Who is giving modern consumers a taste of historic styles of whiskey? Which whiskeys are a result of extreme attention to detail? Which distilleries are blazing new trails by thinking outside of the proverbial box? Spoelman has plenty of justified praise to go around as he takes readers on a tour of American whiskey grouped by region. The text doesn’t go into extreme detail on many distilleries, however Spoelman gives a good rundown on the prominent distilleries in each part of the country. If you’re interested in finding a small distillery to experience that isn’t yet on your radar, this book is a good place to look.
As The Bourbon Drinker’s Guide takes readers on a distillery road trip, numerous whiskeys are highlighted. However, Spoelman isn’t so much interested in providing tasting notes or ratings as are expected with a traditional review. Instead he chooses to investigate other factors such as whether or not a bottle is a good value based on price. Is there something unusual about this whiskey? How honest and transparent is the brand? Could this bottle be overrated? Spoelman also provides insight on bottles that he considers to be a hidden gem.
There are plenty of books that provide a means to fill your head with facts about whiskey that can be shared with your bourbon buddies. If your desire is to the smartest guy at the bar or your local bourbon society meeting, this isn’t particularly the book for you. If your goal is to increase your ability to have a meaningful conversation with people regarding whiskey, this book will be of great interest to you. Colin Spoelman has a knack for description language. At times, I felt myself getting a bit emotional as he talked about whiskey and what it can mean to people. It’s a thought-provoking book.
I didn’t walk away from this book with a lot of new factoids to share, but I did depart with a better understanding of what makes whiskey wonderful and a desire to have that conversation with others.
A / $28 [BUY IT NOW FROM AMAZON]
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