Book Review: Whiskey Stories: The True Spirit Behind the Labels
Book Review: Whiskey Stories: The True Spirit Behind the Labels
When I decided to embark upon bourbon as a hobby roughly 8 years ago, my knowledge was next to nothing. I opted to pick up a book authored by Clay Risen. In a twist of fate, Risen’s work inspired me to keep reading. In December 2024, I completed my 500th book on the topic of American beverage alcohol history. Your first impression might be shock that 500 such books exist, but I also have over 200 titles waiting on my “to do” list. In the pursuit of 500, I’ve read a lot of the same stories over and over ad nauseam. As such, I find joy and intrigue when I encounter a book that adds something fresh to the conversation. While currently available for pre-order, March 2025 brings the release of Richard Thomas’ Whiskey Stories: The True Spirit Behind the Labels. The title is catchy, but is it simply a rehashing of the same old tropes I’ve read numerous times in other books? Is there any value in this book that isn’t found in countless others?
Whiskey Stories runs for 266 pages with each section consisting of 1 or 2 pages, focusing heavily on American whiskey and the heritage distillers. The brief nature of each section makes the book an excellent choice for those who don’t have the attention to span to sit for long periods of time. While I read the book in two days, it’s highly suitable for reading in 5- to 10-minute blocks of time. However, with such short sections, no single segment goes into a terrible amount of detail. If your goal is to find in-depth discussion on various topics, this isn’t it.
Richard Thomas makes his way through the names and stories associated with all of the major American distilleries. One of the major flaws with many bourbon books is that they simply repeat marketing stories and whiskey lore without any real examination. I’m pleased to discover that Thomas presents the popular myths, but then presents evidence to dispute when applicable. One such example is the discussion of Elijah Craig as the heralded “father of bourbon.” Whiskey Stories points out that the first known written reference to bourbon whiskey did not come until 13 years after the death of Elijah Craig. In a similar discussion, it is pointed out that Evan Williams passed away roughly 10 years prior to the first written written reference. The American whiskey industry loves a good story, but too often, the stories are repeated without pause. Despite very short chapters, Thomas champions the cause of transitioning from whiskey lore to authentic reality.
Whiskey Stories certainly repeats many of the same stories found in countless other books, but it also succeeds in adding new bits of information. It is clear that Thomas has thoroughly researched his content rather than just rewording what others before him have written. While not massive in quantity, Thomas is able to add new tidbits here and there. During my journey of over 500 books, I sometimes find myself losing interest in a book due to boredom. There was never a point where Whiskey Stories lost my interest due to monotony. Even if you’ve read other books on American whiskey, this book will hold your attention.
Part of my fun with books is “live Tweeting” about them. I take to X (aka Twitter) and share interesting factoids from the books with my followers. Some books don’t provide a lot of Tweetable information, while others provide a wealth of content to share. Richard Thomas’ book served a prime example of a book meant to be shared one Tweet at a time. The Tweetable nature of Whiskey Stories translates well into bar trivia to be shared with your friends, and readers will walk away from this book with plenty of fun and interesting bits of information to share with bourbon buddies.
If you’re just now considering picking up your first book on American whiskey or you’ve already read several, Whiskey Stories is worth your time and money. Richard Thomas doesn’t recreate the wheel, but he succeeds in writing a book that adds enough new information and thought to the discussion to be worthy of attention. Thomas’ book is scheduled to release in March of 2024, but is currently available for pre-order on Amazon.
A- / $25 [BUY IT NOW FROM AMAZON]
Whiskey Stories: The True Spirit Behind the Labels
$25
