99 Drams of Whiskey: The Accidental Hedonist's Quest for the Perfect Shot and the History of the Drink

Kate Hopkins

May 2009 · Sold by St. Martin's Press

About this ebook

Kate Hopkins knew there had to be more to whiskey than using it as a mixer. She had an unquenchable thirst to learn more about "the drink" and set out on an ambitious itinerary researching its history. Combining comprehensive research with informal narrative, Hopkins entertains and educates the readers on whiskey's place in the history of the world. She visited historians and pub owners, went to distilleries owned by corporations who sell thousands of gallons per day, and artisans who sell thousands of gallons per year, and interviewed the aficionados and the common drinkers, because one of the best aspects of whiskey is not just its taste, but the stories about the drink that are told around the bar. As an added bonus, she discusses the fine art of distilling, the proper ways to drink whiskey, and provides tasting notes on different brands, all in the hope of discovering the best shot of the liquor.

Ratings and reviews

A mix of history, uninteresting travelogue, and tasting notes from a small, random selection of whiskeys. The whole "searching out the best whiskey in the world" concept is just silly. Hard to get through.

About the author

Ex-stand-up comedian KATE HOPKINS's food blog The Accidental Hedonist has been named one Time Magazine's 50 Coolest Websites. She also writes a food column for Seattle's alternative weekly The Stranger and lives in Seattle, Washington.