Iconic Spirits: An Intoxicating History
by
Mark Spivak
- Hardcover: 256 pages
- Publisher: Lyons Press (November 6, 2012)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0762779268
- ISBN-13: 978-0762779260
Over the past decade, the cocktail culture has exploded across America.
Bars and lounges have become the Broadway theater of mixology, with
bartenders resurrecting classic pre-Prohibition cocktails and dazzling
customers with their creations. Consumers, in turn, are recreating these
cocktails at home, and spending unprecedented amounts on upscale bar
gear. With more and more emphasis on quality ingredients, the number of
small-batch spirits is increasing all the time, and craft distilling has
become popular as an offshoot of the locavore movement. In Iconic Spirits, Mark Spivak, wine and spirits guru and host of the NPR show Uncorked!,
explores the history and cultural significance of twelve iconic spirits
and reveals how moonshine invented NASCAR; how gin almost toppled the
British Empire; how a drink that tastes like castor oil flavored with
tree bark became one of the sexiest things on earth; how cognac became
the "it" drink of hip-hop culture, and much more. To top it all off,
Spivak then offers the most tantalizing cocktail recipes from the era in
which each spirit was invented.
Mark Spivak is an award-winning writer specializing
in wine, spirits, food, restaurants and culinary travel. He was the
wine writer for the Palm Beach Post from 1994-1999, and since 2001 has
been the Wine and Spirits Editor for the Palm Beach Media Group, as
well as the restaurant critic for Palm Beach Illustrated. His work has
appeared in National Geographic Traveler, Robb Report, Ritz-Carlton,
Continental, Art & Antiques, Newsmax, Dream of Italy and Arizona
Highways. From 1999-2011 he hosted Uncorked! Radio, a highly successful
wine talk show on the Palm Beach affiliate of National Public Radio.Mark began writing Iconic Spirits after becoming fascinated with the untold stories behind the world’s greatest liquors. As a writer, he’s always searching for the unknown details that make his subjects compelling and unique.His latest book is Iconic Spirits: An Intoxicating History.
Visit Mark’s website at http://www.iconicspirits.net.
Become a fan of Mark Spivak at Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mark.spivak.3
Pick up your copy of Iconic Spirits at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Iconic-Spirits-Intoxicating-Mark-Spivak/dp/0762779268/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344434224&sr=1-1&keywords=iconic+spirits
Reader Review . . .
Man has always found a way to ferment and/or distill for liquid consumption, and many of those beverages have a fascinating history. In his book Iconic Spirits: An Intoxicating History, Mark Spivak tells the story of how many of the spirits that are popular today came into being. From the origins of Jagermeister and Grey Goose to the myths and legends surrounding absinthe, the author chronicles the ingredients that make up the cocktails of popular culture. With cocktail recipes ending each chapter, this book will be of use to those who wish to connect with their inner bartender.
As a good Southern girl, I already knew the basic story of how moonshine and rum-running influenced the origins of NASCAR, but Mr. Spivak told the tale nicely and with more detail than I had heard before. The connection between cognac and hip-hop was interesting, as well.
Recommended for adults who want to know a little more about what they have been drinking, or for history nerds like me.
4 stars
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Pump Up Your Book book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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KINDLE FIRE HD GIVEAWAY!!!!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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BOOK GIVEAWAY!!!!
For reasons unknown, I received 2 copies of Iconic Spirits: An Intoxicating History and I've decided to share the wealth with one of you! I'm doing a short Rafflecopter giveaway ending 2/7/13. Enter now to win!!!
2013 A-Z Reading Challenge
Do you love to read? You know I do! Escape with Dollycas Into a Good Book is hosting a reading challenge for 2013.This challenge will run from January 1st, 2012 until December 31st, 2013.
You
can join anytime. It’s an alphabet challenge!!! The challenge is to
read one book starting with every letter of the alphabet.
So there are two different ways you can set up your own A-Z Reading Challenge.
A - Make a list on your blog from A-Z. Throughout the year, as you go along, add the books you are reading to the list. Towards the end of the year, you can check and see which letters you are missing and find books to fit.
OR
B - Make a list now of 26 books, picking one for each letter of the alphabet. For example: A – The Azalea Assault B- Blue Monday C – Crops and Robbers D – A Deadly Grind etc.
Books can be read in any order and all formats – print – e-book – audio – are acceptable for this challenge!
So there are two different ways you can set up your own A-Z Reading Challenge.
A - Make a list on your blog from A-Z. Throughout the year, as you go along, add the books you are reading to the list. Towards the end of the year, you can check and see which letters you are missing and find books to fit.
OR
B - Make a list now of 26 books, picking one for each letter of the alphabet. For example: A – The Azalea Assault B- Blue Monday C – Crops and Robbers D – A Deadly Grind etc.
Books can be read in any order and all formats – print – e-book – audio – are acceptable for this challenge!
Ready to join??
Sign up at Escape with Dollycas Into a Good Book and grab the button.
Non-bloggers you can join too! Just keep track any way you wish and enter a link below if available or sign up in the comment section. You can even set up a special shelf on Goodreads to help you keep track!
Need some help finding titles to match the alphabet – Jandy’s Reading Room has a wonderful list to get you started.
Here is my list:
B
C CHRISTMAS WITH THE FIRST LADIES - COLLEEN CHRISTIAN BURKE
D THE DILEMMA OF CHARLOTTE FARROW- OLIVIA NEWPORT
E
F
G
H
I ICONIC SPIRITS: AN INTOXICATING HISTORY - MARK SPIVAK
J
K KILLER RATINGS - LISA SEIDMAN
L TO LOVE A WOLF - BK WALKER
M MY NAME IS MARY SUTTER - ROBIN OLIVEIRA
N NEVER LET YOU GO - ERIN HEALY
O
P PERIL: FROM JACKBOOTS TO JACK BENNY - PEARL GOODMAN - 4 STARS
Q QUEEN OF THE AIR: A TRUE STORY OF LOVE AND TRAGEDY AT THE CIRCUS - DEAN JENSEN
R RAISING CUBBY-JOHN ELDER ROBISON
S
T THE POSTMISTRESS-SARAH BLAKE
U UNCONQUERED: THE SAGA OF COUSINS JERRY LEE LEWIS, JIMMY SWAGGART, AND MICKY GILLEY - J.D. DAVIS
V VANISHED-IRENE HANNON - 5 STARS
W
X
Y
Z
I will be updating my list and will keep it posted on here. Check back to see what I've read, and comment and let me know when you join the challenge. Here's to a year of good reading!
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It is impossible to keep a straight face in the presence of one or more kittens. ~Cynthia E. Varnado
4 comments:
I love history and this book sounds like a good tonic for that! Thanks for the giveaway!
It really is an interesting book. I enjoyed reading and reviewing it.
Book Sounds interesting...I'll give it a try. Thanks for giving such a helpful review:)
Incredible giveaway!
Pit Crew
Michelle
I'd like to read this! Thank you for the giveaway!
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