Pacult, F. Paul
Kindred Spirits

Hyperion, ISBN 0-7868-8172-0, Canada $ 22.95, First Published 1997, 468 Pages, 23 x 12,5 cm, Paperback

THE COSTOMER’S BIBLE OF DISTILLED SPIRITS AND FORTIFIED WINES

What are the different regional characteristics of Scotland's famous single- malt scotches? 
What small distillers make the best single-barrel bourbons? 
Which American brandies are successfully challenging the French classics?
What qualities should you look for when assessing a premium vodka?
What is the proper way to drink port- and should there be sediment in the bottle?

Millions of people have begun to investigate the world of premium and super-premium liquors, and have discovered that it is as easy to become as passionate about a truly superior American Bourbon as they once were about a great Bordeaux. But until now, there has not been a single-volume reference work that explains how to appreciate the finer points of each of the different spirits and, more importantly, how to find the best products in the bewildering array found on retailers' shelves.

For the past several years, F. Paul Pacult has provided initiates, seasoned connoisseurs, and industry insiders with opinionated, colorful, and authoritative assessments of spirits and fortified wines in his quarterly newsletter, the Spirit Journal. In Kindred Spirits, Pacult brings together for the first time over 1,200 of the Journal's reviews of whiskeys, Scotches, Bourbons, Sherries, Ports, brandies, Cognacs, Armagnacs, rums, gins, vodkas, tequilas, and liqueurs- each of which offers a vivid, remarkably detailed, and unbiased evaluation of the product at hand and awards the spirit a one- to five-star rating. Kindred Spirits also includes information on how and where various spirits are produced; how they should be served; and advice and guidance on how amateurs can learn to judge and appreciate each of the categories of spirits.

Written by the country's most prolific, accomplished, and respected spirits journalist and authority, Kindred Spirits is an essential guide to one of life's most affordable- and satisfying-luxuries. 

F. PAUL PACULT is the founder and editor of F Paul Pacult’s Spirit Journal and has also written for The New York Times Magazine, Playboy, Connoisseur, Wine & Spirits, Country Inns, Sky, and Men's Journal. He also co-hosts the weekly callin radio program The Happy Hour.