Synopses & Reviews
Inspired by a deep passion for wine, an Italian heritage, and a desire for a land somewhat wilder than his home in southern France, Robert V. Camuto set out to explore Sicilyand#8217;s emerging wine scene. What he discovered during more than a year of traveling the region, however, was far more than a fascinating wine frontier.and#160;
and#160;Chronicling his journey through Palermo to Marsala, and across the rugged interior of Sicily to the heights of Mount Etna, Camuto captures the personalities and flavors andand#160;the traditions and natural riches that have made Italyand#8217;s largest and oldest wine region the world travelerand#8217;s newest discovery. In the islandand#8217;s vastly different wines he finds an expression of humanity and natureand#8212;andand#160;the space where the two merge into something more.and#160;Here, amid the wild landscapes, lavish markets, dramatic religious rituals, deliciously contrasting flavors, and astonishing natural warmth of its people, Camuto portrays Sicily at a shining moment in history. He takes readers into the anti-Mafia movement growing in the former mob vineyards around infamous Corleone; tells the stories of some of the islandand#8217;s most prominent landowning families; and introduces us to film and music celebrities and other foreigners drawn to Sicilyand#8217;s vineyards. His book takes wine as a powerful metaphor for the independent identity of this mythic land, which has thrown off its legacies of violence, corruption, and poverty to emerge, finally free, with its great soul intact.Watch the
Review
and#8220;Fred Minnick gives us an entertaining look at boozeand#8217;s little-known historyand#8212;including its links to childhood medicine, witchcraft, and the eighteenth-century mail order bride business. This book goes down smooth.and#8221;and#8212;A. J. Jacobs, New York Times best-selling author of The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible
Review
and#8220;The known history of whiskey changes with
Whiskey Women. Fred Minnick has dug deep and come up with gold on the tremendous contribution women have made at each step in the history and evolution of this much-storied beverage.
Whiskey Women is a real game changer.and#8221;and#8212;Davin de Kergommeaux, award-winning author of
Canadian Whisky: The Portable ExpertReview
and#8220;The first of its kind,
Whiskey Women chronicles the great contributions of women who, like myself, take enormous pride in our work, furthering excellence in the Whiskey trade. Fred Minnickand#8217;s thought-provoking and passionate portrayal is nothing less than exceptional!and#8221;and#8212;Lauren Shayne Mayer, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America, Ltd.
Review
and#8220;Let me raise my glass and say and#8216;Cheers to Fred Minnick,and#8217; to one of my favorite whiskey cohorts and fellow bourbon magician. Fred takes us on a historical stroll, giving a voice to the women for whom whiskey was a way of life. Iand#8217;ll drink to that.and#8221;and#8212;Lee Anne Wong, former producer of Top Chef and host of the Cooking Channeland#8217;s Food Crawl
Review
and#8220;In the testosterone-laden world of whiskey, Fred Minnick finally gives women their due in his lively and entertaining book. This is an important contribution to the history of whiskey.and#8221;and#8212;Connie Kam, executive vice president of Michterand#8217;s Distillery
Review
and#8220;Brewsters, blenders, bootleggers, moonshiners, distillersand#8212;whatever your favorite spirit, little-known and highly influential women in Europe and the United States have helped create it, sell it, and fight for and against its consumption. In his lively and exhaustively-researched book, Fred Minnick finally brings these fascinating whiskey women to well-deserved light. Slainte!and#8221;and#8212;Caitlin Kelly, author of Blown Away: American Women and Guns
Review
"By coexisting with his subject through four contiguous seasons, Camuto captures an intimate family album that eloquently details the idiosyncrasies, charisma and drive of Sicilian winemakers today."and#8212;Kirkus Reviews
Review
"From the craggy vineyards of Mount Etna to the tiny moscato-producing island of Pantelleria, and from every angle of its wine hierarchy, Mr. Camuto extracts fascinating and illuminating details about Sicily, bringing to life the characters, conflicts and family dynamics that define a culture and its wines. Itand#8217;s a beautiful, enthralling work, eternally wistful and hopeful, much like Sicily itself."and#8212;Eric Asimov, New York Times
Review
"You'd better be ready to open a good bottle of wine and prepare some appetizers before you start readingand#8212;the author's tantalizing writing will drive you to snacking."and#8212;Tracey, Powell's Books
Review
"[Robert Camuto's]and#160;affection for Sicily and its citizens is heartfelt, and his skill and enthusiasm combine to create a captivating portrait of a singular culture."and#8212;Thomas Matthews, Wine Spectator
Review
"[Robert Camuto's]and#160;bookand#8212;half wine book, half travelogueand#8212;is entertaining and enlightening and will certainly pique your interest in visiting Sicily and drinking Sicilian wines."and#8212;Jordan Mackay, chow.com
Review
"Camuto does a good job of evoking the beauty and mystery of the island, and captures some dozen winemakers in profiles that range from the very brief to the very detailed. . . . Through his eyes, I enjoyed meeting Giusto Occhipinti of COS, Diego Planeta, Frank Cornelissen, Marco de Bartoli and others."and#8212;S. Irene Virbila, Los Angeles Times
Synopsis
Best All-Time Booze Book, Eater.com2013
GOLD Winner for Women Studies, ForeWord Reviews 2014
Silver, Independent Publisher Award in Women's Issues
Finalist, Spirited Awards
Shortly after graduating from the University of Glasgow in 1934, Elizabeth "Bessie" Williamson began working as a temporary secretary at the Laphroaig Distillery on the Scottish island Islay. Williamson quickly found herself joining the boys in the tasting room, studying the distillation process, and winning them over with her knowledge of Scottish whisky.
After the owner of Laphroaig passed away, Williamson took over the prestigious company and became the spokesperson in America for the entire Scotch whisky industry. Impressing clients and showing her passion as the Scotch Whisky Association's trade ambassador, she soon gained fame within the industry.
Whiskey Women tells the tales of women who have created this industry, from Mesopotamia's first beer brewers and distillers to America's rough-and-tough bootleggers during Prohibition. Women have long distilled, marketed, and owned significant shares in spirits companies, including Bushmills, Johnnie Walker, and Maker's Mark. Williamson's story is one of many among the influential women who greatly influenced Scotch, bourbon, and Irish whiskey. Until now their stories have remained untold.
Synopsis
Shortly after graduating from the University of Glasgow in 1934, Elizabeth and#8220;Bessieand#8221; Williamson began working as a temporary secretary at the Laphroaig Distillery on the Scottish island Islay. Williamson quickly found herself joining the boys in the tasting room, studying the distillation process, and winning them over with her knowledge of Scottish whisky.
After the owner of Laphroaig passed away, Williamson took over the prestigious company and became theand#160;spokesperson in America for the entire Scotch whisky industry. Impressing clients and showing her passion as the Scotch Whisky Associationand#8217;s trade ambassador, she soon gained fame within the industry.
Whiskey Women tells the tales of women who have created this industry, from Mesopotamiaand#8217;s first beer brewers and distillers to Americaand#8217;s rough-and-tough bootleggers during Prohibition. Women have long distilled, marketed, and owned significant shares in spirits companies, including Bushmills, Johnnie Walker, and Makerand#8217;s Mark. Williamsonand#8217;s story is one of many among the influential women who greatly influenced Scotch, bourbon, and Irish whiskey. Until now their stories have remained untold.
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About the Author
Wall Street Journal best-selling author FRED MINNICK, once an army journalist in Iraq, writes the award-winning and#8220;American Whiskeyand#8221; column for
TASTING PANEL Magazine and and#8220;Toasting the Huntand#8221; column for Covey Rise. A regular contributor to
Caviar Affair,
Costco Connection,
Whisky Magazine, and
Whisky Advocate, Minnick has widely written about the spirits industry, traveling around the world covering everything from Limoncello in Sorrento, Italy, to Malbec wine in Mendoza, Argentina. Minnick is a member of the Authorand#8217;s Guild and the American Society of Journalists and Authors. Meridith May, publisher of
TASTING PANEL, calls Minnick and#8220;one of the best whiskey storytellers in the business.and#8221;