Book Review: “The Kings County Distillery Guide to Urban Moonshining”
By Richard Thomas
The Kings County Distillery Guide to Urban Moonshining:How to Make and Drink Whiskey is not really a technical manual on how to make whiskey, although a primer on home distilling/micro-distilling is part of this short book. Instead, this is really more of a memoir by the proprietors of Kings County Distillery, David Haskell and Colin Spoelman, a collection of stories and observations drawn from the journey of two men who made the transition from casual whiskey drinkers to the owners of the only active distillery in Brooklyn.
Some have complained that the title is misleading, since so little of the book dwells on the process of making moonshine. Such complaints are justifiable, although they ignore the “and Drink” part of the title, and that is an important part. As a primer for a nascent whiskey fan, who wants to make the move from casual drinking to serious interest in the stuff, the book is first-rate. One walks away from this engaging little work with a good sense of what whiskey is, who makes it, how it is made, and why that is important.
Those who want to build a still from scratch and start making whiskey in their back shed will need another book, but even so, Guide to Urban Moonshining is the sort of work that belongs on the bookshelves of most who like American whiskey and enjoy a pleasant read. Diehard whiskey enthusiasts might enjoy comparing their collections against those of Haskell, Spoelman, and Allison Patel of Brenne French Whisky, and I for one look forward to trying the shrimp and grits recipe tucked into the back.
