What do you think?
Rate this book
99 Drams of Whiskey: The Accidental Hedonist's Quest for the Perfect Shot and the History of the Drink
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.
320 pages, Paperback
First published May 26, 2009
13 people are currently reading
415 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
June 18, 2010
I found this to be a complete delight. There are some reviews that really put this down, I have a feeling they might be a whiskey snob. I actually am not a fan of whiskey, yet after reading this book I might have to try it again. The descriptions of the whiskeys were playful and actually was giving me a memory that I could identify. Very delightful read that hinted a bit about history & culture but mainly a trip full of delightful memories as well as some self-discovery. A really fun read.
November 5, 2009
Part travelogue, part history book, part shopping list.
A thoroughly enjoyable account of a journey through the distilleries of Ireland, Scotland, the US and Canada with alternating chapters on the political and social history of the drink. Scattered throughout are useful reviews and tasting notes that will ensure this book has a permanent home on my reference shelf.
A thoroughly enjoyable account of a journey through the distilleries of Ireland, Scotland, the US and Canada with alternating chapters on the political and social history of the drink. Scattered throughout are useful reviews and tasting notes that will ensure this book has a permanent home on my reference shelf.
January 6, 2010
Kate is a very funny writer, and has done her research on whiskey. If you enjoy the drink, you'll enjoy this book. Fun descriptions of various distilleries around the world coupled with a very interesting history. Her descriptions of the whiskeys she tastes on her journeys are classic. A fun, quick read.
June 23, 2009
I really enjoyed this book. Unlike other books on history, this isn't a dry read. History is laced with a girl field trip spanning several countries drinking whiskey.
A very fun read and you learn a lot about the making and types of whiskey.
A very fun read and you learn a lot about the making and types of whiskey.
February 4, 2010
If you are an amateur whiskey drinker (raises hand), this is a good place to start. A little history + travelogue of whiskey land + descriptions of whiskey = good introduction to a drink that I want to have right now.
February 9, 2010
A really nice intro into the whiskey world. A mix of travel writing, tasting notes and history.
Some of the travel anecdotes are a little boring, but the research and pontificating on whiskey culture are interesting.
This book may lead to an expensive whiskey habit.
Some of the travel anecdotes are a little boring, but the research and pontificating on whiskey culture are interesting.
This book may lead to an expensive whiskey habit.
June 16, 2010
Light but education travel-log/whiskey tasting journal following the history of whiskey across Great Britain, Ireland, Scotland and North America. If nothing else, I'm inspired to replicate the itinerary!
July 19, 2012
99 Drams of Whiskey was so fun! I feel like I learned a lot about this most loved beverage and was inspired to pick some up myself to try it on its own, rather than in a whiskey sour as usual. It was a tad slow at times, but Hopkins was a charming narrator so it wasn't too bad.
June 8, 2009
the perfect vacation book! So we go to Ireland, Sctoland, Canada and the U.S. in search of the perfect dram! A Fun book, lots of good info. The only problem? She didn't go to Islay!
Read
February 8, 2010Absolutely loved this book. Fascinating glimpse into the world of whiskey, with enough detail to keep your attention, but not overwhelm.
February 24, 2010
Let's just say that this booked turned my passing taste for whiskey into an insatiable thirst.
December 22, 2010
Better than I had predicted.
February 17, 2012
In reality, I give this book 2.5 stars, but because my wife recommended it to me, I rounded up.
I love whiskey and I jumped at the chance to read more about it in the hope of learning more. And I did learn more, it just wasn't as much as I had hoped to in 270 pages.
Hopkins does one thing really well throughout this book: she's a natural storyteller. While she tries too hard to be funny at times, the genuineness in her stories tend to balance that out.
What she does not do well is cover history. The historical aspects of this book felt rushed and not researched deeply enough. It's clear that the focus of this book is her trips to Ireland, Scotland, Canada and the U.S. to learn about whiskey, but the other half of the book is supposed to be about the history of the drink.
This made for a disjointed read, as half of the book flowed well (the stories) and the other half felt forced and not very enjoyable (the research).
If you want to read one person's trip through whiskeys on both sides of the Atlantic, then pick up this book and ignore the historical portions; you'll be doing yourself a favor.
I love whiskey and I jumped at the chance to read more about it in the hope of learning more. And I did learn more, it just wasn't as much as I had hoped to in 270 pages.
Hopkins does one thing really well throughout this book: she's a natural storyteller. While she tries too hard to be funny at times, the genuineness in her stories tend to balance that out.
What she does not do well is cover history. The historical aspects of this book felt rushed and not researched deeply enough. It's clear that the focus of this book is her trips to Ireland, Scotland, Canada and the U.S. to learn about whiskey, but the other half of the book is supposed to be about the history of the drink.
This made for a disjointed read, as half of the book flowed well (the stories) and the other half felt forced and not very enjoyable (the research).
If you want to read one person's trip through whiskeys on both sides of the Atlantic, then pick up this book and ignore the historical portions; you'll be doing yourself a favor.
August 24, 2009
What a wonderful book. Not only is it a great idea for a vacation, to visit whiskey distilleries, but it is a great history of the whiskey making and distributing.
September 13, 2009
Made me want to drink some Whiskey! (OK,lots of things make me want to go drink whiskey...)
July 17, 2010
Fun to read. Good reading on a trip to Ireland.
April 2, 2012
Great book to read in preparation for a trip to Ireland as well as Kentucky, Scotland...
January 2, 2010
Perfect armchair travel and drinking book for a home-bound vacation.
August 15, 2023
I am not a great drinker in any way when it comes to alcoholic beverages. I do however enjoy my whiskey once in a while. I also like reading a book almost about any subject but this one should have been a no brainer. So I got myself a nice glass and started reading.... when I finished I was none the wiser, not entertained and basically bored. This is a travel book about 2 women chattingt and sometimes they have a drink and basically that is it. No laughs, No revelations and No adventure basically just boring.
February 1, 2019
Fun read, but organized poorly and presented too haphazardly. A good editor would have tightened this up a bit.
The descriptions of the whiskeys were cute. Not sure why there weren’t more.
Book couldn’t decide what it wanted to be. Travelogue? History book? Guide? This may appeal to some readers; I would have preferred Hopkins had chosen one and done it well.
The descriptions of the whiskeys were cute. Not sure why there weren’t more.
Book couldn’t decide what it wanted to be. Travelogue? History book? Guide? This may appeal to some readers; I would have preferred Hopkins had chosen one and done it well.
November 20, 2019
A delightful, light travelogue, recalling a good faith effort to uncover the mystique of Whiskey. I enjoyed Hopkins' light touch and companionable writing...it's almost as if we were along for the road trip. The book goes into the history of whiskey without being pedantic or obsessive. Really a nice read...not too long, not too short.
March 29, 2018
The second half of this book was much more engaging than the first half for me. it felt more researched than the first half, and was more story-telling than the first half.
Great bibliography to go learn more.
Great bibliography to go learn more.
August 4, 2021
I did learn some things I wanted to know from this book, but at what cost. Every moment in this author’s company was tooth grinding.
November 11, 2022
A light humorous way to learn more about whiskey and distilleries.
March 9, 2017
I enjoyed the adventure though by the end the book became more of a summary to me than a travelouge. Her wit and style made it enjoyable even during the boring parts and for someone who is looking to get started in the whisky adventure this is a good place to start.
August 9, 2010
The author (Kate Hopkins) and a pal (Krysta) tour the world learning about whiskey. Or, to be more accurate, they tour the major players in the whiskey world---Ireland, Scotland, Canada and the United States. This book is the result.
The book alternates between two narratives---The first is the travelogue, with anecdotes about the many distilleries they visit, the people they meet, the whiskey they drink, and so forth. The second narrative is the history of whiskey, which Hopkins does a great job of telling.
The history portions of the book cover the advances in the distilling process, the whiskey business, and the legal and social aspects of whiskey production and consumption. A lot of this was new to me, and Hopkins presents it in a lively and interesting manner, with none of the dry feel of somebody who merely reciting the facts.
Hopkins describes many of the whiskeys that she and Krysta sample during their travels. Unlike some books, Hopkins doesn't get into the business of trying to rate and rank them on some comparative scale. Rather she describes the tastes, and doesn't hesitate to point out the drinks she particularly liked. But she also argues that the enjoyment of a whiskey (as with the enjoyment of many things) can depend as much on the time and place and company as on the specifics of taste---an opinion I thoroughly agree with!
This was an enjoyable and informative book, and I've recommended it to several of my whiskey-drinking friends. The only disappointment is that after repeatedly mentioning the pictures that Krysta was taking at various stops on their tour, we don't get to see any of them in the book.
The book alternates between two narratives---The first is the travelogue, with anecdotes about the many distilleries they visit, the people they meet, the whiskey they drink, and so forth. The second narrative is the history of whiskey, which Hopkins does a great job of telling.
The history portions of the book cover the advances in the distilling process, the whiskey business, and the legal and social aspects of whiskey production and consumption. A lot of this was new to me, and Hopkins presents it in a lively and interesting manner, with none of the dry feel of somebody who merely reciting the facts.
Hopkins describes many of the whiskeys that she and Krysta sample during their travels. Unlike some books, Hopkins doesn't get into the business of trying to rate and rank them on some comparative scale. Rather she describes the tastes, and doesn't hesitate to point out the drinks she particularly liked. But she also argues that the enjoyment of a whiskey (as with the enjoyment of many things) can depend as much on the time and place and company as on the specifics of taste---an opinion I thoroughly agree with!
This was an enjoyable and informative book, and I've recommended it to several of my whiskey-drinking friends. The only disappointment is that after repeatedly mentioning the pictures that Krysta was taking at various stops on their tour, we don't get to see any of them in the book.
June 6, 2012
Based on the subtitle I thought this book would be 2 parts travelogue and 1 part history, but in reality those proportions are reversed, much to the book’s detriment. For confirmation of my assumption, I asked my wife, who said that based on the cover and subtitle she would guess the book would be 70% travel and 30% history.
The 70% that’s about the history of whiskey is dry and not so well written. The 30% where the author describes the various distilleries she visits and the inserts breaking down the flavors and smells of the many whiskeys she tastes are entertaining and worth the read. Too bad only a third of the book was good.
Quotes:
When one thinks of whiskey, one should think “distilled beer,” the same way that one should think “distilled wine” when one thinks of brandy.
I asked simply, “Is there any whiskey that you can recommend?”
“Sure, sure,” he said. “Blackadder Single Malt from Highland Park, ten years old.”
“Really?” I asked. “Why is that?”
“Because I got to clear them off my shelf so I can put other bottles up,” he said.
Several bourbons and Scotch whiskeys were sold by pharmacies in America, chief among them Laphroaig, so heavily peated that regulators in America couldn’t imagine anyone drinking it of his own free will.
June 6, 2010
It's a little surprising how much I enjoy reading about whiskey, when it is not my favorite spirit, by a long shot. Thanks to having read a couple of other books on the subject in the past year and having visited Scotland and Ireland, much of the first half of this volume was a retread for me, but worth reading because it included more of Hopkins' blogger-style humor than the back half. That second part discussed whiskey-making in the US and Canada and was new information, although presented with what seemed like greater self-consiousness--I think it was easier for Hopkins to shrug at the marketing and find it amusing in other countries than back here, where it causes her to reflect too much on American stereotypes. But learning about bourbon and more modern whiskey-making attempts was very interesting and I'm hoping to pick up a bottle of one of the bourbons she tasted. One of the best things about the book were the sidebars reviewing specific whiskeys--more of those would have been even better.
December 21, 2024
It is amazing the things you walk by in life and don't realize the history that lies behind it. That is the case with whiskey. I walk right by it in the store never realizing the long history behind it. That it got it start in Ireland and then Scotland or the other way around. Its beginnings in the USA and Canada. The difference between the types of stills, single malts and blends. To color or not to color. Drink it neat or with water. The bottom line is, whichever way you like it. This is a very well written book. Very thorough. Kate Hopkins covers so much and then goes even deeper. The honesty and the humor are throughout. Who owns what brands is interesting too. A very enjoyable read.
PS. I thought I would do what the author does and taste it and tell my husband what I taste. She tastes all kinds of things from vanilla, to raisins to who knows what. She describes how it feels whether its oily, finishes quick or slow and the residual flavor in her mouth. I just shivered and said "blah". I couldn't distinguish a thing and I was comparing a Johnny Black and an Islay single malt.
PS. I thought I would do what the author does and taste it and tell my husband what I taste. She tastes all kinds of things from vanilla, to raisins to who knows what. She describes how it feels whether its oily, finishes quick or slow and the residual flavor in her mouth. I just shivered and said "blah". I couldn't distinguish a thing and I was comparing a Johnny Black and an Islay single malt.
March 29, 2014
The book was okay. At times, I wish that an editor had been a little more harsh, if nothing else to remove the incorrect homonyms, sentences that were obviously rewrites of the ones following them (which hadn't been removed), and things like that. The factual/historical sections often repeated information from earlier in the book, and made causal claims that had me wincing. My main problem with the book, however, was simply the writing style. The author is a blogger - a well-known one, from what I gather - and at times the book's style just seemed too blog-y to me.
However, all that being said: it's not a bad book. Although the editorial problems will never go away and the repetition in the factual sections is there to stay, these are not really make-or-break issues. My main dislike of the book came from the author's writing style; if you are already a fan of her blog, or don't dislike the style as I did, then you are likely to find this a highly engaging, informative basic introduction to the history of whisk(e)y.
However, all that being said: it's not a bad book. Although the editorial problems will never go away and the repetition in the factual sections is there to stay, these are not really make-or-break issues. My main dislike of the book came from the author's writing style; if you are already a fan of her blog, or don't dislike the style as I did, then you are likely to find this a highly engaging, informative basic introduction to the history of whisk(e)y.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews