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Boozehound: On the Trail of the Rare, the Obscure, and the Overrated in Spirits
by
Jason Wilson
Part travelogue, part spirits history, and part recipe collection, "Boozehound" is a journalistic excursion into lesser-known, forgotten, and misunderstood spirits for adventurous imbibers of liquors, bitters, and elixirs from around the world.
As a teenager, Jason Wilson pilfered shots from a dusty bottle of sambuca discovered in his parents' pantry. Today, he's a "Washin...more
As a teenager, Jason Wilson pilfered shots from a dusty bottle of sambuca discovered in his parents' pantry. Today, he's a "Washin...more
Kindle Edition
Published
(first published September 21st 2010)
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This was an entertaining book about, well, booze! Specifically rare, local spirits from all around the world. Granted, you have to have a particular interest in this for this book to be interesting (and you have to accept the fact that you'll never try 90% of the rare, exotic, and expensive spirits that the author gets to try, him being a "lifestyle" journalist who writes about spirits for a living). The only reason I give it 3 stars instead of 4 is that it's just kind of a narrow topic. But if...more
It would be easy to dismiss Jason Wilson as a spirits snob. His rants about populist vodka and adoration of the obscure certainly rings of snobbishness. But that's just on the surface. Sprinkled throughout the length of the book, Wilson admits to all sorts of un-hip, un-snob likes and dislikes. And while he may be friends with some true snobs, I think his own self-applied label is spot-on: geek.
Geeks are great. Geeks have strong opinions for one reason only - they're really into things. If a ge...more
Geeks are great. Geeks have strong opinions for one reason only - they're really into things. If a ge...more
Wilson's Boozehound is a great introduction to the joy that can be had by drinking well. It takes the form of a sort of travel memoir focused on spirits (and interspersed with recipes), and Wilson's experiences seem to make him the perfect person to pitch the subject. Perhaps most importantly, he succeeds in avoiding pretension, which can be offputting to readers not already immersed in the subject. He introduces topics at the neophyte level, so the reading is appropriate for any one, but there...more
Really enjoyed this. Wilson has an enjoyably tongue-in-cheek approach to his subject, an admirable lack of pretension and willingness to mock sacred cows (and himself), and a good sense about the essential good fortune of working as a spirits writer. While there are plenty of anecdotes that start off in one exotic locale or the next, occasionally leaving the impression that the job is nothing but travel and drinking and other first world problems, he's aware of that issue and balances it with pl...more
Wilson could've gone the pompous ass route here -- fortunately, he manages to avoid that altogether. Instead, he explains why it's important to drink the good stuff (you get what you pay for). I appreciated the travel narrative aspect for each liquor: Norway for akavit, Netherlands for gin, Italy for vermouth, etc. As a matter of fact, I've never even had vermouth before, but was scouting the local liquor stores for some of the ones he recommends! He gives drink recipes at the end of each chapte...more
Jason Wilson is a very good writer, not some tacky lifestyle-mag scribbler. But he writes without the whiff of snobbery that often hangs around "serious" beer and spirits reviewers. He's a guy, in other words, that you'd want to have a beer (or whiskey, or akvavit...) with. This alcoholic tour of the world taught me a little about liquor, and has already convinced me to spend some serious cash on a few of the spirits he praises in the book, but Boozehound is mostly just a collection of good drin...more
This book would make an excellent gift for anyone who enjoys stepping outside of the box when it comes to imbibing. It is a wonderful introduction into a large variety of alternative beverages from the obscure and hard to find to the easily available but often under-rated. The drink recipes that follow each chapter help whet the appetite, and made me want to rush out to my local store to start picking up ingredients. Best of all, the narrative voice was friendly and approachable- I felt more lik...more
Spirits writers are, pardon the pun, usually dry in nature; it's all terroir this, tannins that. Jason Wilson writes about these things, but in a personable way that makes them readily understandable to laypersons. This is, for all intents and purposes, a biography and travelogue with drink recipes -- and goddamn if it doesn't make you want to stock up on absinthe and Luxardo, while taking a bat to the flavored vodka aisle. Strongly recommended, even for intermittent drinkers. Have rarely read b...more
I loved this book. It's definitely more lifestyle journalism than a primer on the spirits industry, but as such it is a completely enjoyable and fun read. The writer has great admiration for liquor, and the history of the many spirits and cocktails- without taking it overboard to the land of pretension that seems to be an easy fate for so many others in the industry.
The writing actually made me laugh out loud. It's not quite subversive, but it's a fun read on America's (arguably) favorite pasti...more
The writing actually made me laugh out loud. It's not quite subversive, but it's a fun read on America's (arguably) favorite pasti...more
Jason Wilson's column is always enjoyable in the Post, and it's fun to read him championing obscure liquors and bashing on vodka. So of course I enjoyed this book, which is just that, plus a bit more personal anecdotes. It's going to cost me quite a bit to stock up my liquor cabinet with some of his recommendations, with Calvacados first up.
My only complaint is his worship of Derek Brown, who is a great bartender who owns a cool faux-speakeasy, but that complaint is only based on an inside joke,...more
My only complaint is his worship of Derek Brown, who is a great bartender who owns a cool faux-speakeasy, but that complaint is only based on an inside joke,...more
An enjoyable, though insubstantial, book on spirits. As a self-professed lover of "old man drinks" I was excited to read this. The author, a spirits critic, has a refreshing lack of pretension while trying to convince Americans to enjoy foreign drinks. Most of the spirits he talks about aren't so much exclusive as they are obscure in the US. I don't share his fondness for such herbal liquors as Grappa and Aquavit, but reading his stories has made me more likely to try them again! Highly recommen...more
I bought this one for my boyfriend the cocktail hobbyist. The top of the fridge used to be big enough for this one of many hobbies - but now I only have myself to blame. He enjoyed the book immensely, so I picked it up and also found it enjoyable. Lots of fun little anecdotes sprinkled with cocktail recipes. It will rapidly become dated by its pop-culture references, but it made me laugh. And a homemade Singapore sling is a nice thing to come home to.
I have long wanted to learn about liquor, but all the books I have picked up were pretentious tomes talking down to suburbanites like myself. (Yes, I know I have terrible taste in wine… and I admit it - I have no idea what is in a Tom Collins… so just get over it!)
This book is part travel memoir, part spirit review, part cocktail recipe book. Each chapter takes you on a journey through the author’s past and attempts to educate the reader about how to taste and understand the flavors in various o...more
This book is part travel memoir, part spirit review, part cocktail recipe book. Each chapter takes you on a journey through the author’s past and attempts to educate the reader about how to taste and understand the flavors in various o...more
The more books I read by columnists, the more I recognize the simple fact that they can't write in anything other than a column format, even if that column is 15 pages long. One of the last chapters in which he covered tequila, eau de vie and brandy felt especially truncated.
While you could consider this a history of spirits, this is not for someone who has little knowledge about them. Wilson will often refer to terms he hasn't explained or give incomplete explanations.
While you could also cons...more
While you could consider this a history of spirits, this is not for someone who has little knowledge about them. Wilson will often refer to terms he hasn't explained or give incomplete explanations.
While you could also cons...more
If ever you needed a book to push you beyond your cocktail comfort zone, this is it. Wilson makes a compelling case for exploring and pursuing the rare, forgotten and oft under-appreciated spirits that lend more variation to the barshelf landscape than any number of whipped cream or cotton candy infused vodkas ever could. Who knew that neon red cherry had no business in a Manhattan?
In his biweekly spirits column for the Washington Post and in Boozehound, Wilson relentlessly pushes readers to leave their comfort zones. Among his passions are obscure brandies (pisco, grappa), herbal spirits (aquavit), bitter liqueurs (Cynar artichoke liqueur), and crème di violette...(read more)
Truly a book worth a toast. Wilson writes his way through amusing and informative tales of sambuca (including a bottle that ended up with a broken pencil in it), absinthe, grappa, rum, cognac, aquavit and the like. The stories seemed a bit less entertaining by the end. But had i been even partially keeping up with the writer's drinking advice, i surely wouldn't have noticed.
Enjoyable. He's no Tolstoy, but I now want to try every type of liquor/liqueur/tasty beverage he mentioned, based on his passion for good booze and his descriptions of many obscure or lesser-known drinks. Yes, I love cocktails with benedictine, chartreuse or campari, but I never thought of adding calvados or aquavit to anything...intriguing!
Some of the information in this book is also available on the spirits column archives at the Washington Post website.
I highly recommend both the book and the Washington Post spirits column.
I read the library copy but this book is definitely worth buying.
This book really opened my eyes about how little I know about spirits.
I highly recommend both the book and the Washington Post spirits column.
I read the library copy but this book is definitely worth buying.
This book really opened my eyes about how little I know about spirits.
This was really an enjoyable read, far more so that I expected. I was afraid the author was going to be snobby and pretentious or only try and sell the reader on what he liked or what was prohibitively expensive. Instead, he's pretty down to earth, witty, and writes in a very casual style for the average person. I learned a lot about history (of places in the world and generalized history as well as specifically to spirits), almost without realizing it. I'm not a big drinker of spirits, but he r...more
Jan 08, 2011
Sydney
added it
I liked this book - I found Jason Wilson's writing to be witty and spirited (pun intended) but i still don't feel like I understand any of the beverages that he described. That criticism noted, I really enjoyed the first chapter about the lameness of vodka and quote from it on a regular basics in my everyday life.
If you have any interest at all in this topic (older, stylish and/or unusual liquor, mixers and drink recepies from around the world and how US Prohibition took most of them away from us), this is an incredible book to keep in your bar.
I just bought my first bottle of Genever!
I just bought my first bottle of Genever!
I've enjoyed Jason Wilson's column so I thought I had to get this book. I'm so glad I did! Who would have thought that a non-fiction book about drinking liquor would be so hard to put down? I've started making a list of drinks I want to try after hearing their descriptions.
Fun read. He is funny and I learned a lot about spirits, maybe now I will be able to order something less boring than a gin and tonic when I go out! Sometime this week I am going to visit the bar where my friend works and have her make me a couple of his drinks.
May 21, 2013
George
is currently reading it
I'm really looking forward to reading this having read some of his columns through the years. I imagine I'll find much to ponder and a little bit to challenge vociferously. Thanks to Briar and Michelle Jones for such a thoughtful gift.
My favorite part is where he meets the monks who make Chartreuse, made from a secret blend of 130 herbs, flowers and spices dating back to a alchemical manuscript titled "An Elixir of Long Life" ... The full recipe is only known to two Carthusians - each of whom knows only half the formula, and both of whom have taken a vow of silence" - complete with recipes
I really enjoyed this book for its overview of unique spirits and the breezy way it was written. Not for everyone but if you enjoy imbibing or work in the bar business this is a very interesting book.
Both entertaining and educational, I enjoyed the hell out of this book. Both a mix of experiences and handy history and knowledge, Wilson is an advocate for a better understanding of what goes into your glass without making you have to become a snob to do it. In fact, quite the opposite.
An awesome trip through the world of unusual spirits. Makes me want to expand my palate beyond beer and wine with interesting things like creme de yvette, chartruse, calvados, and grappa.
A fun read that made me want to drink cocktails and down shots of European bitter liqueurs. Too bad British Columbia has really lame liquor laws and many of the bottles aren't available here (or are more than double the cost stated in the book). Sigh.
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JASON WILSON is the drinks columnist at the Washington Post, the series editor of The Smart Set, and the author of Boozehound: On The Trail of the Rare, the Obscure, and the Overrated. He teaches at Drexel University.
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11. Juni, 13:46 Uhr