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

Kate Hopkins (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 26, 2009

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.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Prompted by the legend of a man, Mr. Disposable Income, who paid over $70,000 for a rare bottle of single malt Scotch whisky, Hopkins and her friend Krysta hit the road on a quest to parse the spiritÖs immense appeal—and to look for the perfect shot of whiskey. Part road-trip memoir, part history and part handy tasting guide, HopkinsÖs search takes them to Ireland, Scotland, Pittsburgh (the authorÖs hometown), Kentucky and Canada. Hopkins, a popular blogger who goes by the moniker The Accidental Hedonist, has an easy, friendly tone, and her book often reads like a series of blog posts, albeit longer and well-researched. This works well when Hopkins gives historical context—how blended whiskeys overtook traditional whiskey in popularity, the story of the Whiskey Rebellion in western Pennsylvania and how Prohibition decimated the U.S. whiskey industry. But the casual tone can make the first-person narrative sound a bit like two American coeds on a whiskey-bingeing spring break (Hopkins and her companion are in their early 40s and 30s, respectively). Still, this is a pleasant and informative read. (June)
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From Booklist

Perhaps hoping for the next Julie & Julia (2005), the Accidental Hedonist blogger has written a book—but despite her blog’s popularity, her authorial skills are a work in progress. The setup is simple: with a friend, Hopkins visits whiskey-producing regions on the “Right Side” of the Atlantic (Ireland and Scotland) and the “Left Side” (the U.S.), interspersing her travelogue with whiskey history. The word hedonist is misleading: the duo visits dram shops and tours distilleries while Hopkins transcribes painfully uninteresting exchanges (“Krysta clapped, saying ‘Yay!!!’ . . . ”). As for the history, would-be hedonists aren’t likely to expect quite so much information about eighteenth-century British tax law. There may be an audience for this apart from the blog’s followers, but one suspects Hopkins doesn’t know who that might be. Neither authoritative enough for the connoisseur nor entertaining enough for the neophyte, this will work best for readers who want a general history of the drink—if they skim over the attempts to make it interesting. To quote the author’s own rhetorical flourish: “Meh, not so much.” --Keir Graff

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; First Edition edition (May 26, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312381085
• ISBN-13: 978-0312381080
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.2 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,012,151 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kate Hopkins (1967 - Present) was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She currently resides in Seattle, WA.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Travel + History + Good Drink = Bliss May 27, 2009

By Tara C.

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

The publisher's description of "part travelogue, part distillery guide, and part history book" is accurate but lacking. This book is fun! My curiosity grew to interest and giggles while reading 99 Drams. Ms. Hopkins kept her book an easy read by balancing the density of history with whiskey tasting notes and anecdotes from her visits to renowned distilleries.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A dram fine book July 25, 2011

By R. Allen

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Very enjoyable read, especially with a dram of Redbreast or Bushmills nearby. I'm proud to say that my cabinet is now filled with several brands of whiskey that I savour with new appreciation, thanks to Kate. What a wonderful journey. Well done and highly recommended for those wishing to graduate beyond Jack Daniels.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars my husband loved it so much.... February 4, 2010

By Matthew B. Schmidt

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

That we are planning a whiskey tour this year!!!
He says that it's a very down to earth written book, not snobbish like many wine books, tons of information and I've heard him laugh a lot while reading the book.
Happy reader.