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The Kings County Distillery Guide to Urban Moonshining: How to Make and Drink Whiskey Kindle Edition

by David Haskell (Author), Colin Spoelman (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 428 ratings
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The whiskey companion from Brooklyn’s premier craft distillery—with a how-to guide to home distilling, history, recipes, and more.

A new generation of urban bootleggers is distilling whiskey at home, and cocktail enthusiasts have embraced the nuances of brown liquors. Written by the founders of Kings County Distillery, New York City’s first distillery since Prohibition, this spirited illustrated book explores America’s age-old love affair with whiskey.

It begins with chapters on whiskey’s history and culture from 1640 to today, when the DIY trend and the classic cocktail craze have conspired to make it the next big thing. For those thirsty for practical information, the book next provides a detailed, easy-to-follow guide to safe home distilling, complete with a list of supplies, step-by-step instructions, and helpful pictures, anecdotes, and tips. The final section focuses on the contemporary whiskey scene, featuring a list of microdistillers, cocktail and food recipes from the country’s hottest mixologists and chefs, and an opinionated guide to building your own whiskey collection.
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  1. Print length
    226 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    ABRAMS Books
  5. Publication date
    October 22, 2013
  6. File size
    46899 KB
  7. Page Flip
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  8. Word Wise
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From the Publisher

Explore America's beloved and most notorious spirits.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The moonshining world is notoriously full of orally-perpetuated misinformation and the legitimate whiskey industry is full of marketing lies and half-truths; Spoelman and Haskell have thankfully defied those traditions and released an educational book of honesty and transparency." (Serious Eats)

About the Author

Colin Spoelman, a former rooftop moonshiner from Kentucky, and David Haskell, the great-grandson of a prohibition-era bootlegger from New York, founded Brooklyn’s Kings County Distillery in 2010 to make small-scale batches of moonshine, bourbon, and other whiskeys. Spoelman is a full-time distiller and writer; Haskell is deputy editor at New York magazine.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00G50H7H8
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ ABRAMS Books (October 22, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 22, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 46899 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 226 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 428 ratings

About the authors

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  1. David Haskell

    David Haskell

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Colin Spoelman, a former rooftop moonshiner from Kentucky, and David Haskell, the great-grandson of a prohibition-era bootlegger from New York, founded Brooklyn’s Kings County Distillery in 2010 to make small-scale batches of moonshine, bourbon, and other whiskeys. Spoelman is a full-time distiller and writer; Haskell is deputy editor at New York magazine.

    See more on the author's page
  2. Colin Spoelman

    Colin Spoelman

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Colin Spoelman is Co-Founder and Distiller at Kings County Disitllery, New York City’s premier craft whiskey producer and has written The Guide to Urban Moonshining and Dead Distillers about American whiskey. He grew up in the moonshine (not the bourbon) part of Kentucky and graduated from Yale University.

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
428 global ratings
A phenomenal book about whiskey
5 Stars
A phenomenal book about whiskey
Easy reading and factually correct information about the history & the appreciation of whiskey. Highly recommended reading for anyone interested in all things whiskey related including the production process. 5 stars!
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Top reviews from the United States

SW
5.0 out of 5 stars A wealth of information about the whiskey and bourbon industry!
Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2023
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I love this book and I'm less than 100 pages in! It contains a wealth of information about the whiskey and bourbon industry. The number of large conglomerates that make nearly all the whiskey produced in the USA is an eye opener. I am so much more knowledgeable about this subject now than I ever was before reading this book! I also recommend Dead Distillers by Kings County!
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Amazon Creature
5.0 out of 5 stars Sip Pleasurably from this Book
Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2018
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About five years ago my wife put her foot down and forbade me to cram any more books into my library, which was then besmirching its august paneled formality with about 500 books more than its 1,500 design capacity. Time for Kindle. But sometimes the subject is too basic or important to reside in cloudy obscurity, and I am driven to sneak a real one in. Such was the case here. Because my bar has a similar overcrowded dishevelment with its outrageous assortment of American whiskeys, the topic was too important to relegate ignominiously into an iPhone carried in my back pocket. Not that I actually drink very much, as a long history of severe migraines has forced a severe level of moderation, but there is something about exploring one of the complex scents of caramel with perhaps lilac or licorice and then letting it absorb through the tongue and mucosal lining of the mouth without having to swallow that produces a sensation that demands a top-shelf, flesh-and-blood copy of this book. I was not disappointed, and the book has delivered as much pleasure as the whiskey it extols. I solved the problem of the crowded library by giving my son-in-law some crystal brandy snifters and making room for the book in the bar. It does not have to be read linearly. Flip to the back and there are some great recipes - the reading of which is as enjoyable as the consumption should be. Elsewhere inside is a compendium of fascinating whiskey collections by famous distillers. There is a series of chapters describing the history of some of our great nation's foremost whiskey distillers. If you are inclined toward do-it-yourself projects, there are how-to chapters! Just open the book and read where ever you find yourself. If you are a beer drinker, forget this book. Scotch lovers will find limited pleasure, but
for you Pappy fans, this is a must! And I join another reviewer who begged for canvas reproductions of some of the genealogical charts for framing.
9 people found this helpful
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Kevin Cinq-Mars
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for beginners looking to get an idea of what making whiskey is all about
Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2013
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The book is well written, and goes into depth well beyond what the casual internet search would give you about distilling, moonshine, and whiskey in general.

The first couple of sections on the history of whiskey in the US contain some interesting nuggets of information, but frankly they're a bit boring.

The section about where and how various American whiskeys are made and why they taste the way they do is something everyone who drinks should read.

The sections on distilling are very informative, but perhaps not as thorough as the title might suggest.

All in all, a very good read, but especially for people who know nothing at all about distilling.
2 people found this helpful
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Bill
5.0 out of 5 stars Just about everything Whiskey
Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2013
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I'm not much of a whiskey drinker but neither am I a teetotaler. As a beekeeper I've had some experience with honey having turned to alcohol, though, and I've made a few batches of beer, too. But I've always had a thought of making some 'whiskey'. Even contacted the ATF offices some years back. Now that I've some time available the idea has reemerged and I was surprised to learn of 'The Kings County Distillery'. Kings county is Brooklyn and I'm a native of that N.Y.C. borough.

I decided to read the book before I toured the distillery and found that Colin Spoelman and David Haskell have included more information on the subject of whiskey in their "Guide to Urban Moonshining", than I had hoped for. Their information on the history of whiskey making held my interest as did all about distilling. It isn't a how to book per se, but Included is information on stills and still making, and there are links for purchasing stills and equipment as well as recipes. I enjoyed it all immensely.
20 people found this helpful
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Matt
5.0 out of 5 stars A phenomenal book about whiskey
Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2023
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Easy reading and factually correct information about the history & the appreciation of whiskey. Highly recommended reading for anyone interested in all things whiskey related including the production process. 5 stars!
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Matt
5.0 out of 5 stars A phenomenal book about whiskey
Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2023
Easy reading and factually correct information about the history & the appreciation of whiskey. Highly recommended reading for anyone interested in all things whiskey related including the production process. 5 stars!
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Mark Freeman
3.0 out of 5 stars More about the history and current brands of whiskey than making it yourself.
Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2013
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I really enjoyed this book and burned through it in about 2 days. I learned quite a bit about the various brands of whiskey and the laws surrounding how it is named, etc. My only complaint is that the book is titled "Guide to Urban Moonshining" and only spends one chapter on the subject. There are definitely other resources that offer more information on the subject if that is your goal in learning how. That beings said, the book was a fun read and inspired me to visit my local state store to pick up a bottle of Elijah Craig. I suggest picking up a bottle to sip on while you read this book.
38 people found this helpful
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Larry M.
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a highly informative and thoughtful barrel of information ...
Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2018
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This is a highly informative and thoughtful barrel of information on the current state of whiskey in America. Reminds me of the ancient wisdom that says "when the student is ready the teacher (master) will appear". Have read a lot of books on the topic this year, thankfully Spoelman and Haskell put it all together and it is starting to make some sense to me. I appreciate the authors willingness to put themselves "out there" with informed judgement and direction. The cover and title do not fully reveal the information inside but this one has already found a place on my reference shelf.
6 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Quick service and the book was in good condition.
Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2023
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Quick service and the book was in good condition.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Amy
5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and Fun!
Reviewed in Canada on February 27, 2018
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I ordered this for my husband for Christmas -- He loves it!!! Full of great info and well presented.
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MW
5.0 out of 5 stars Best book I've read in years. Recommended.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 11, 2014
Verified Purchase
A great book. It explains a whole lot of stuff about how to distill alcohol & does it in style.

It starts out explaining that distilling alcohol is illegal (at least in the UK and USA). No really. You can go to jail.

It goes on to explain that it can be dangerous too -- it tells the story of 5 guys in America who blew themselves up trying to make their own moonshine.

Having got the safety briefing out of the way, it goes on to provide a cracking history of moonshine in the south of America, how to do it & explains in great deal all the subtle nuances and details.

For anyone who enjoys a whisky, whiskey or bourboun, this is a brilliant book to have.
One person found this helpful
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Client Kindle
4.0 out of 5 stars Un livre pour les amateurs de l'histoire des spiritueux.
Reviewed in France on December 19, 2013
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C'est bien écrit, par un homme qui à vécu l'aventure de la micro distillation. L'approche est factuelle mais en alternant des petites anecdotes l'auteur s'ouvre à un public plus large (sans être un roman)
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Jessi post
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
Reviewed in Canada on June 8, 2019
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Bought for my boyfriends birthday, and so far he loves it
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Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for distilling nerds
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 8, 2018
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Great book for learning about spirits and their production. Very easy to follow and funny.
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