Category: Book Reviews

Book Review—Tar Heel Lightnin’: How Secret Stills and Fast Cars Made North Carolina the Moonshine Capital of the World

Posted on May 4, 2020 by Brian Haara

Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Books is a joint project of the Rutgers School of Law and the Rutgers School of Criminal Justice that features concise reviews of significant books with a connection to the law, and they asked me to review Tar Heel… Continue Reading “Book Review—Tar Heel Lightnin’: How Secret Stills and Fast Cars Made North Carolina the Moonshine Capital of the World”

Posted on December 13, 2019 by Brian Haara

I previously reviewed The Bourbon Tasting Notebook by Susan Reigler and Mike Veach, which gave us honest reviews of nearly 350 bourbons. Now, following on the success of those tasting notes, Reigler and Veach have joined forces again for The American Whiskey Tasting Notebook,… Continue Reading “Sipp’n Corn Book Review – The American Whiskey Tasting Notebook by Susan Reigler and Mike Veach.”

Posted on August 9, 2018 by Brian Haara

I was hooked from the opening pages of Mead: The Libations, Legends, and Lore of History’s Oldest Drink, Fred Minnick’s seventh book. Fred launches in pure storyteller fashion with rich visual elements: “They looked like your typical Brooklyn bartenders: handlebar mustaches, pink hair, leather… Continue Reading “Sipp’n Corn Book Review—Mead: The Libations, Legends, and Lore of History’s Oldest Drink by Fred Minnick.”

Posted on May 30, 2018 by Brian Haara

Susan Reigler and Mike Veach, two of the most knowledgeable bourbon writers, collaborated a few years ago for The Bourbon Tasting Notebook which gave us honest reviews without debate-inducing rankings or “bourbon of the year” proclamations. Mike and Susan provide their respective tasting notes—which… Continue Reading “Sipp’n Corn Book Review – The Bourbon Tasting Notebook (2nd Edition) by Susan Reigler and Mike Veach.”

Posted on July 14, 2017 by Brian Haara

I’ll admit that—even as a bourbon enthusiast—I was curious about rum. Who better to turn to in order to satisfy this curiosity than Fred Minnick, the authority on spirits? Rum Curious starts with a heft confirming that this is not a side-show book, continues with… Continue Reading “Sipp’n Corn Book Review – Rum Curious: The Indispensable Tasting Guide to the World’s Spirit by Fred Minnick.”