Whiskey Business

How Small-Batch Distillers Are Transforming American Spirits

By: Tom Acitelli

Narrated by: Barry Abrams

Discover the underdog story of the improbable rise of small-batch distilling in America. This bracingly written, fast-paced work traces the relationship of Americans to spirits such as bourbon, scotch, vodka, gin, and rum. And it presents the full story of a plucky band of entrepreneurs who disrupted the nation's conception of how those libations could appear and taste - and how much they could cost.

Tom Acitelli weaves the unlikely triumph of the small-batch distilling movement into other major trends, including a neo-Prohibitionism that nearly croaked the entire thing, America's re-embrace of cocktails, and the twin rises of craft beer and fine wine. He also expertly delves into the controversies currently wracking American spirits, ones that threaten to tank the movement at the moment of what should be its greatest triumph.

©2017 Tom Acitelli (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Tom Acitelli cuts through the myths and outright falsehoods about craft distilling with a compelling, comprehensive account of the industry's earliest days, and its eventual emergence as a revolutionary force in America's changing culinary tastes." (Clay Risen, author of American Whiskey, Bourbon & Rye)

Good Listen

This was a great history lesson on American spirits, beer and wine. I recommend it.

mispronounciation

there are quite a few words that the narrator butchers. very distracting from an otherwise great story

Fun listen

Overall really good! The timeline can be a little messy and jump around, but really the worst part is some mispronounced words and some VERY distracting post edits of just one or two sentences in a completely different voice.

First book I have ever returned

His research was mediocre at best and he just bashes anything he doesn’t like or know