A History of Alcoholic Spirits (Hardback)

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

A History of Alcoholic Spirits is an engaging and well-organized exploration of how spirits have shaped societies across history. The book is designed so readers don’t need to read it cover to cover—each chapter focuses on a single spirit and can be picked up independently. The author, Jamie Ryder, traces drinks like gin, rum, bourbon whiskey, vodka, tequila, baijiu, shōchū, and soju, highlighting their connections to political, economic, and cultural shifts while moving from ancient origins to modern revivals.

As a reader, I appreciated how the author balanced familiar Western spirits with lesser-known East Asian drinks, providing insight into traditions often overlooked. I found the most interesting sections show how these spirits exist today, with modern microdistilleries, alcohol tourism, and emerging trends.

Recommendation: I would recommend this book to history enthusiasts, casual readers, or anyone curious about how the world’s most iconic drinks developed and continue to influence culture today.

NetGalley, Adam Burns

I love it when a cookbook - or a cocktails book - bends stories and history with its recipes. This one though is particularly lovely. Instead of your typical short stories, this book gives you some mini-histories on the various hard alcoholic spirits we have also come to know and love. I particularly enjoyed the one about Rum. This is a great book for the spirit or history lover, and a great gift idea!

NetGalley, Tabatha Paine