My book Vodka: How a Colorless, Odorless, Flavorless Spirit Conquered America (Lyons Press) comes out July 1, but the first review has just arrived:
From Publishers Weekly (content restricted):
Vodka: How a Colorless, Odorless, Flavorless Spirit Conquered America
Victorino Matus. Globe Pequot /Lyons, $26.95 (272p) ISBN SBN 978-0-7627-8699-2
In his first book, Weekly Standard senior editor Matus serves up a detailed history of one of the world’s most popular clear alcohols. Tracking the white spirit from its humble roots as a topical Russian medicine to its current status as, he argues, America’s single best-loved liquor, Matus covers every base possible along the way. Intriguing personal interviews with industry big shots and craft-distillery upstarts comprise the bulk of the text, placing faces on giant corporate stills like Grey Goose while also giving a voice to the industry’s smaller distillers like Tito’s Handmade Vodka. The story is fascinating, but each chapter reads more like a discrete essay than a part of a larger narrative. Still, the finished product goes down nice and smooth, providing great insight into the vodka industry in its current state. (July)
Reviewed on 05/23/2014
As more reviews come in, I’ll post them or provides links on this site. At least I hope more reviews come in. And no, I probably won’t run the pans.