National Read A Book Day Recommendations
Happy National Read a Book Day! Celebrated every September 6, today’s the day to grab a book, sit back and relax, and enjoy the quiet of immersing yourself in a good read.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t make a few reading suggestions of our own! Check out our list below for books that focus on some of our favorite topics, like the world of whiskey, the history of spirits, and the cocktail industry. Plus, each of these books pairs excellently with Brother Justus American Single Malt!
Minnesota 13: Stearns County’s “Wet” Wild Prohibition Days
by Elaine Davis
“Intertwining insights ranging from ethnicity and religious faith to law enforcement, geography, farm economics and regional history, Davis provides a portrait of those whisky-fueled lawless days that offer both a cautionary tale and an entertaining history lesson.”
This is the one that started it all for us! Our Founder & CEO, Phil Steger, already knew he wanted to start a distillery and focus on American Single Malt Whiskey. What he didn’t know was what he should call it – and that’s when he found Brother Justus, a footnote in Elaine Davis’ account of Prohibition in Central Minnesota. Unfortunately, this book is out of print, but you can still find the e-book on Amazon.
Twin Cities Cocktails: An Elegant Collection of Over 100 Recipes Inspired by Minneapolis & Saint Paul
by Peter Sieve, Molly Each, and Mecca Bos
“These signature drink recipes from Twin Cities hotspots pay homage to these vibrant areas. With over 100 recipes and dozens of bartender profiles, you can drink like a local wherever you are.”
This amazing collection of over 100 essential cocktail recipes from Twin Cities bartenders, mixologists, distillery, and more, gives you a taste of the cocktail scene in our great cities. Arranged by neighborhood, you can quickly find the closest cocktail, wherever you are in the area. Find Brother Justus on pages 232-237!
Love & Whiskey: The Remarkable True Story of Jack Daniel, His Master Distillery Nearest Green, and the Improbable Rise of Uncle Nearest
by Fawn Weaver
“This book is a vibrant exploration set in the present day, delving into the life and legacy of Nearest Green, the African American distilling genius who played a pivotal role in the creation of the whiskey that bears Jack Daniel’s name.”
Written by the Founder of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, this book pulls the curtain back on the story behind one of American’s most iconic whiskey brands. Through research, interviews, and sleuthing through long-forgotten documents, the reader will discover an inspiring tale of friendship, resilience, and the impact of giving credit when it’s long overdue. The bond between Jack Daniel and Nearest Green lives on through their descendants, celebrating the contribution of African Americans to the spirits world, so the stories of Nearest Green and his family are woven into the thread of American whiskey culture forever.
Whiskey Women: The Untold Story of How Women Saved Bourbon, Scotch, and Irish Whiskey
by Fred Minnick
“Whiskey Women tells the tales of the women who created the industry, from Mesopotamia’s first beer brewers and distillers to America’s rough-and-tough Prohibition bootleggers.”
Historically, women had great influence over the whiskey industry, but their contributions have been long overshadowed by those of men, largely forgotten to the world. Written by spirits writer and industry competition judge Fred Minnick, this book sheds light on those untold stories, from Mesopotamia’s first brewers and distillers, to America’s Prohibition bootleggers.
Whiskey Distilled: A Populist Guide to the Water of Life
by Heather Greene
“As New York City’s first female whiskey sommelier, Greene introduces audiences to the spirit’s charms and challenges the boys’ club sensibilities that have made whiskey seem inaccessible, with surprising new research that shows the crucial importance of ‘nosing’ whiskeys.”
From the fresh perspective of whiskey expert Heather Greene, this book demystifies the cultural phenomenon of whiskey, through lively anecdotes and easy-to-read information about our favorite spirit! Amidst the whiskey renaissance of the last decade, Greene introduces the spirit to novices, and reignites the love for it in long-time aficionados, through experience, storytelling, and wit.
Imbibe!
by David Wondrich
“Wondrich reveals never-before-published details and stories about this larger-than-life nineteenth-century figure, along with definitive recipes for more than 100 punches, cocktails, sours, fizzes, toddies, slings, and other essential drinks, along with detailed historical and mixological notes.”
History buffs and cocktail connoisseurs alike, rejoice! This in-depth exploration into the history of classic American cocktails is a colorful journey through the evolution of drinking in the United States, complete with more than 100 recipes alongside historical and mixological notes. Originally published in 2007, the latest edition has been updated with new recipes and recently discovered historical information about America’s drinking of yesteryear.
Doctors and Distillers: The Remarkable Medicinal History of Beer, Wine, Spirits, and Cocktails
by Camper English
“In ‘Doctors and Distillers,’ cocktails and spirits expert Camper English reveals how and why the contents of our medicine and liquor cabinets were, until surprisingly recently, one and the same.”
Alcohol and medicine have been intertwined for centuries, evolving in tandem for both healing and enjoyment purposes. Once concocted to cure ailments, medicinal elixirs took the form of our favorite drinks, and scientists began to study the chemistry behind beer, wine, and spirits to inform their work in healthcare. Delve into a fascinating account of humanity’s history in this brilliant read!
The Essential Scratch & Sniff Guide to Becoming a Whiskey Know-It-All
by Richard Betts, with Crystal English Sacca and Wendy McNaughton
“Betts boils down his know-how into twenty pages, cooling our “brown-sweat” anxieties and dividing whiskey into three simple categories: Grain, Wood, and Place. While most whiskey tomes are about as fun as a chemistry lesson, Betts makes the learning slide down easy, reassuring us that this exalted spirit is just distilled beer and, through a nasal romp, helping us figure out which kinds we love best.”
An adult scratch-n-sniff book about whiskey? Count us in! Get your whiskey questions answered and your personal tasting preferences piqued through this “witty kid-style book.”
Whisky Business: A Novel
by Elliot Fletcher
“Opposites attract when a fish-out-of-water actress and a grumpy Scottish whisky distiller are forced to work together to save the business they both love.”
This one’s just for fun – the beach read of the group, if you will! Less informative and more entertaining, sparks fly when spiraling actress April Sinclair returns to her family’s distillery on the Isle of Skye. The last thing she expects to find is Malcolm Macabe, grumpy master distiller, living in the home she just inherited. Can these old acquaintances set aside their differences to save the distillery, or will old memories and new grudges stand in the way?
You May Also Like…
All Things Whiskey, Straight To Your Inbox
Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates.