Whiskey book in stores, online

2011-08-31T11:54:00.001-07:00

William M. Dowd
(Photo: Albany Times Union/Paul Buckowski)

Looking for an addition to your book collection or a gift for someone special? Pick up copies of my new book, "Barrels & Drams: The History of Whisk(e)y In Jiggers and Shots," from the New York publisher Sterling Epicure.

The suggested retail price for the hardcover book is $18.95. You can get a copy, often at a discounted price, via such online sites as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart and others, as well as numerous online booksellers in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Many independent booksellers also have it available.

Here are excerpts from several reviews:

• “Bill Dowd knows an awful lot about spirits. So, too, do the estimable scribes he’s included in Barrels & Drams, an outstanding collection of writing about that most beloved and oft-quaffed fortified liquid, whiskey. Tom Wolfe, David Wondrich, Jim Murray and Daniel Okrent are among the 20-plus essayists included in this fun, conversational ride through the history of bourbon, Scotch and Irish whiskey. … And Dowd’s no slouch himself when it comes to spinning a yarn. … Already looking forward to the next edition. But for now, buy ‘Barrels & Drams’.”

– Dan Dunn, The Imbiber.com/Sirius Radio

• “Whiskey enthusiasts and liquor history buffs will really enjoy this collection of stories that tell the story of whiskey’s past. … If there is one history book you want to add to your collection this year, this is the one.”

– Colleen Graham, Ask.com cocktails columnist

• “The book’s small batches of information and easy-to-read format make it the quintessential bathroom compendium. But it also belongs in every tavern and home bar, within easy reach of a two-finger pour of Glenlivet. … Dowd has studded the volume with fascinating trivia and delicious history, from ancient Mesopotamia to the 1791 Whiskey Rebellion in America.”

– Paul Grondahl, Hearst News Service

• “I’m having a blast reading it.”

– Drink.Think.com

• "I particularly enjoyed the essays in the Global Whiskey section, learning about whiskey in India, Japan, and South Africa. ... The book isn't a narrative, nor a text book, and it isn't exhaustive in any one section, but is just a group of essays themed around whiskey. People like me who are into whiskey tend to like to read about whiskey and will probably also enjoy the book."

-- Camper English, Alcademic.com

• "Pour a glass of your favorite brown spirit and settle in for “Barrels and Drams: The History of Whisk(e)y in Jiggers and Shots,” edited by William M. Dowd. This collection of essays introduces us to whiskey and heroes worldwide. We’re educated on what to collect, where to hide it, how to make a blend and the horror of drinking whiskey from plastic."

-- Bloomberg News

2011-04-28T08:54:00.002-07:00

CLICK HERE TO eMAIL US YOUR WINE, SPIRITS, BEER & OTHER DRINKS EVENT INFORMATION -- AND, PLEASE DO IT WELL IN ADVANCE OF YOUR EVENT.

FEBRUARY

February 1-29

20th annual Hot Chocolate Festival
City Bakery
3 West 18th Street
New York, NY 10011
(212) 366-1414

February 23-25

Saratoga Beer Week
Various venues
Saratoga Springs, NY (Saratoga County)

February 24

Free Fulkerson Winey Tasting
The Wine Seller at Harmony House Maretplace
184-190 Remsen Street
Cohoes, NY 12047 (Albany County)
(518) 238-2232

February 24-26

Ice Wine Cocktails
Casa Larga Vineyards
2287 Turk Hill Road
Fairport, NY 14450 (Monroe County)
(585) 223-4210

February 25

4th annual nIce Wine FEstival
New York Wine & Culinary Center
800 South Main Street
Canandaigua, NY (Ontario County)
(585) 394-7070

Classic Cocktails
Institute of Culinary Education
50 West 23rd Street
New York City, NY 10010
(212) 847-0700

February 26

Education Series: Wine & Cheese Pairing
Martha Clara Vineyards
6025 Sound Avenue
Riverhead, Long Island, NY (Suffolk County)
(631) 298-0075

The Food & Wine of South Africa
Astor Center
399 Lafayette Street
New York, NY 10003
(212) 674-7501

MARCH

March 1

7th annual Warmth of Wine
The Century House
Route 9
Latham, NY (Albany County)
(518) 459-2857

March 2

Wine, Dine & Rhyme for Dr. Seuss's Birthday
Deer Run Winery
3772 West Lake Road
Geneseo, NY (Livingston County)
(585) 385-0850

7th annual Wines of the World
Rotary Club of Buffalo / Buffalo Rotary Foundation
Statler City Grande Ballroom
107 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, NY (Erie County)

March 2-4

5th Annual New York Wine Expo
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
655 West 34th St
New York, NY 10001
(800) 544-1660

March 3

Purim Ball
Oceanside Jewish Center
2680 Brower Avenue
Oceanside, Long Island, NY (Nassau County)
(516) 442-2264

March 4

Finger Lakes Wine Tasting for YMCA Invest in Youth
Ravenwood Country Club
929 Lynaugh Road
Victor, NY 14564 (Ontario County)
(585) 742-4940

Education Series: Long Island Wine 101
Martha Clara Vineyards
6025 Sound Avenue
Riverhead, Long Island, NY (Suffolk County)
(631) 298-0075

March 6

Bia Maith Beer Dinner
Brown's Brewing
Revolution Hall
425 River Street
Troy, NY (Rensselaer County)
(518) 273-2337

March 8

Isle of Jura Scotch Tasting Dinner
perry's
30½ Caroline Street
Saratoga Springs, NY (Saratoga County)
(518) 584-9618,

March 10

Spring Craft Beer Festival
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
1255 Hempstead Turnpike
Uniondale, Long Island, NY (Nassau County)

Let's Get Cooking: A Farm-to-Table Wine & Cooking Adventure
Tour departs from La Tourelle Resort and Spa
1150 Danby Road
Ithaca, NY 14850 (Tompkins County)
(607) 233-4818

Westchester Wine Experience
Pace University, Kessel Center
861 Bedford Road
Pleasantville, NY (Westchester County)
(914) 310-0739

Vegetarian Cuisine and Wine
New York Vintners
21 Warren Street
New York, NY 10007
(212) 812-3999

March 11

Education Series: Wine & Cheese Pairing
Martha Clara Vineyards
6025 Sound Avenue
Riverhead, Long Island, NY (Suffolk County)
(631) 298-0075

March 11-12

Frostbite Weekend
Applewood Winery
82 Four Corners Road
Warwick, NY (Orange County)
(845) 988-9292

March 12

Grand Tasting of New York State Wines
399 Lafayette Street
New York, NY 10003
(212) 674-7501

March 14

Cognac Prunier Tasting and Seminar
Post Wine & Spirits
510 Jericho Turnpike
Syosset, Long Island, NY (Nassau County)
(516) 921-1820

Greater Binghamton Unico Fine Wine Dinner
Franks Restaurant
2633 New York 26
Maine, NY 13802 (Broome County)
(607) 765-5763

March 15

Irish Whiskey Class
Chelsea Wine Vault
75 Ninth Avenue inside Chelsea Market
New York, NY 10011
(212) 462-4244

March 17-18

Luck of the Irish Mead Celebration
Montezuma Winery & Hidden Marsh Distillery
2981 U.S. Route 20
Seneca Falls, NY 13148 (Seneca County)
(315) 568-8190

March 18

Education Series: Wine & Chocolate Pairing
Martha Clara Vineyards
6025 Sound Avenue
Riverhead, Long Island, NY (Suffolk County)
(631) 298-0075

Grand Kosher Tasting: Wines, Cognac, Cordials
Post Wine & Spirits
510 Jericho Turnpike
Syosset, Long Island, NY (Nassau County)
(516) 921-1820

March 18-31

Hudson Valley Restaurant Week
Venues in a 7-county region
Hudson Valley, NY

March 21

From Marseille to Monaco: Food & Wine of Southern France
Astor Center
399 Lafayette Street
New York, NY 10003
(212) 674-7501

March 23-25

Cruisin' The Tropics Weekend
Seneca Lake Wine Trail
2 North Franklin St
Watkins Glen, NY 14891 (Schuyler County)
(877) 536-2717

March 24

Obscure Mixology
Institute of Culinary Education
50 West 23rd Street
New York, NY 10010
(212) 847-0700

March 25

19th annual Cuisine Magic
Hotel Albany (formerly Crowne Plaza)
State and Lodge street
Albany, NY (Albany County)
(518) 271-5032

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of Wine Pairing
Martha Clara Vineyards
6025 Sound Avenue
Riverhead, Long Island, NY (Suffolk County)
(631) 298-0075

Wines of The Southern Hemisphere
New York Vintners
21 Warren Street
New York, NY 10007
(212) 812-3999

March 31-April 1

Viva Italia!
Keuka Lake Wine Trail
Penn Yan, NY 14527
(800) 440-4898

APRIL

March 31-April 1

Viva Italia!
Keuka Lake Wine Trail
Penn Yan, NY 14527
(800) 440-4898

April 14

Spring Barrel Tasting
Hosmer Winery
6999 Route 89
Ovid, NY 14521 (Seneca County)
(607) 869-3393

Culinary Mixology
Institute of Culinary Education
50 West 23rd Street
New York City, NY 10010
(212) 847-0700

April 14-15

Tour 'd Tanks
Lake Ontario Wine Trail members
Casa Larga Vineyards, JD Wine Cellars, Young Sommer Winery, Thorpe Vineyards
Williamson, NY, region
(315) 986-4202

April 15

BOOST Fund Foundation Wine Tasting & Auction
CV Rich Mansion
305 Ridgeway
White Plains, NY (Westchester County)
(914) 837-0219

April 27-29

Spring Wine & Cheese Weekend
Seneca Lake Wine Trail
2 North Franklin St
Watkins Glen, NY 14891 (Schuyler County)
(877) 536-2717

MAY

May 4-6

20th annual Wine & Herb Festival
Cayuga Lake Wine Trail
2770 Ernsberger Road
Romulus, NY 14541 (Seneca County)
(800) 684-5217

May 5-6

Berkshire Wine & Food Festival
Columbia County Fairgrounds
Route 66
Chatham, NY (Columbia County)

May 11

Skinny Cocktails
Institute of Culinary Education
50 West 23rd Street
New York City, NY 10010
(212) 847-0700

May 12

Rip Van Winkle Wine and Cheese Festival
Historic Catskill Point - Freightmaster's Building
1 Main Street
Catskill, NY 12414 (Greene County)
(518) 965-5208

May 17-20

Westchester Magazine's Wine & Food Weekend
42, The Restaurant
Three Renaissance Square
White Plains, NY (Westchester County)
(914) 946-5500

JUNE

June 1-2

WineMaker Magazine Conference
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY (Tompkins County)
(802) 362-3981 extension 106

June 8-10

Smokin' Summer Kickoff
Seneca Lake Wine Trail
2 North Franklin Street
Watkins Glen, NY 14891 (Schuyler County)
(877) 536-2717

June 9-10

Barbecue at the Wineries (1st weekend)
Keuka Lake Wine Trail
Penn Yan, NY 14527
(800) 440-4898

June 18

Long Island Hospitality Ball
Crest Hollow Country Club
8325 Jericho Turnpike
Woodbury, Long Island, NY (Suffolk County)
(631) 300-3461

June 23-24

Barbecue at the Wineries (2nd weekend)
Keuka Lake Wine Trail
Penn Yan, NY 14527
(800) 440-4898

June 26-27

The Bar & Restaurant Show
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
11th Avenue & West 38th Street
New York, NY 10001

JULY

July 13-15

Finger Lakes Wine Festival
Watkins Glen International
Watkins Glen, NY (Schuyler County)

July 26-29

The Grapehound Wine Tour
Start at Atwater Estate Vineyards
5055 State Route 414
Burdett, NY 14818 (Schuyler County)
(717) 669-8723

July 27

3rd annual Sampling Soiree
Long Acre Farms and JD Wine Cellars
1342 Eddy Road
Macedon, NY 14502 (Wayne County)
(315) 986-4202

AUGUST

August 11-12

2nd annual Putnam County International Wine & Food Fest
Putnam County Veterans Memorial Park
201 Gypsy Trail Road
Carmel, NY 10512
(800) 557-4185 extension 9

SEPTEMBER

September 8-9

Hudson Valley Wine & Food Fest
Dutchess County Fairgrounds
6550 Spring Brook Avenue
Rhinebeck, NY 12572 (Dutchess County)
(845) 658-7181

September 15-16

Harvest Celebration of Food & Wine
Keuka Lake Wine Trail
Penn Yan, NY 14527 (Yates County)
(800) 440-4898

September 23

23rd annual International Wine Showcase & Auction
The Grandview
176 Rinaldi Boulevard
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 (Dutchess County)
(845) 452-5772 extension 119

OCTOBER

October 26-27

WhiskyFest
Marriott Marquis Times Square
New York, NY

NOVEMBER

November 16-18

Deck the Halls Weekend
Seneca Lake Wine Trail
2 North Franklin Street
Watkins Glen, NY 14891 (Schuyler County)
(877) 536-2717

November 30-December 2

Deck the Halls Weekend
Seneca Lake Wine Trail
2 North Franklin Street
Watkins Glen, NY 14891 (Schuyler County)
(877) 536-2717

DECEMBER

December 1-2

Deck the Halls Weekend
Seneca Lake Wine Trail
2 North Franklin Street
Watkins Glen, NY 14891 (Schuyler County)
(877) 536-2717

NY Drinks Events Calendar

Whiskey book in stores, online