Southern Spirits covers “four hundred years of drinking in the American South,” and it doesn’t miss one detail! This is a really interesting book with lots and lots of historical facts, but it feels more like a textbook than a relaxing read. It takes us from first landing in America in the 1500’s though colonization, the Revolutionary War, Civil War, prohibition, and on into the later 1900’s. Not only do we learn about crops to make wine, beer, and spirits, we gain insight into other crops that were more popular, like tobacco. I also very much enjoyed the pictures throughout: vintage shots of advertisements, portraits, and early distillery practices.

This book reads more like a history book that uses the development of alcohol as it’s path. I would prefer a condensed version or one that reads less like a textbook, but this one is manageable in small doses. If you’re a fan of history or really into spirits and their background, this book is for you. More info on the book can be found here and more on the author here.

3/5 Stars

I received a copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.