The History of Whiskey in 100 Bottles, Barrels, and More with Robin Robinson

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Jan 6

How Did Whiskey Get Here?

If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve tried more than your fair share of whiskies. You’ve probably got a respectable cache of bottles. But how often do you consider how those bottles came to be? The stories behind the brands? The history of whiskey that brought that bottle, that pour, to your glass?

In this episode of the Whiskey Ring podcast, I welcome Robin Robinson, a self-professed “salesman who can write” ( I’ll call him a whiskey expert and an author, at least), to discuss his new book, The History of Whiskey in 100 Bottles, Barrels, and More.

Robin’s new work isn’t a direct follow-up to his first, The Complete Whiskey Course. Rather, The History of Whiskey examines the inflection points throughout the spirit’s history. From neolithic cucurbits - the first rudimentary pot - to whiskey in the digital age, Robin takes us through 100 short stories of our favorite brown liquor’s journey. Some stories focus on the people who fundamentally changed how whiskey was made (Maria the Jewess, Aeneas Coffee) and how it was marketed (Tommy Dewar, Alexander Walker). Other stories highlight how a single brand can represent the transactional nature of the industry (Golden Wedding Rye) or how a massive conglomerate can save entire countries’ whiskey industries (Pernod Ricard). Producers, farmers, tax men, religion, and politics all have time in the spotlight.

Some stories are be familiar, others more esoteric. All are told with a masterful brevity and wit which I have yet to master.

The single takeaway? Whiskey is a cultural artifact, an amalgam of history, innovation, and individuals all culminating in that beautiful dram.

Adding color to the narrative, Robin shares personal anecdotes about his experiences with whiskey, including how his impersonation of a Scotsman and purchase of a Macallan 12 led him to Talisker, the place where he knew once and for all that he’d join the industry.

Robin remains one of my favorite people to listen to. Whether you read this book or listen to the audiobook (narrated by Robin, of course!), it will be one of your go-to whiskey books for many years to come.