Pappyland: A Story of Family, Fine Bourbon, and the Things That Last by Wright Thompson

3.76 AVERAGE

jbmorgan86's review against another edition

4.0
Mash Bill
51% History of the Van Winkle family
15% Memoir about becoming a father
10% Poetic musings on family
10% Poetic musings on the South
10% Poetic musings on tradition and nostalgia
4% Music and sports allusions

Pappyland is the story of the famed Van Winkle family through the lens of ESPN writer Wright Thompson. It is a love letter to the world of bourbon. It is a quick, enjoyable, and informational read.

If you’re looking for a straight biography of the Van Winkles, this isn’t it. This is a more poetic telling of their story along with the author’s own story.
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jcarsrud's review against another edition

4.0
This was a nice sentimental non fiction with Julian Van Winkle of the Pappy Van Winkle bourbon fame.

carriecart's review against another edition

3.0
emotional informative reflective medium-paced
totalityranger's profile picture

totalityranger's review against another edition

4.0
emotional informative reflective medium-paced
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brockdupont's review against another edition

3.75
emotional funny hopeful informative medium-paced

frasedogga's review against another edition

4.75
emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

margereadsanotherbook's review against another edition

3.5
informative reflective slow-paced

lhhrmn's review against another edition

3.0
Second book in a row that was very different from the one I expected! I was afraid this was going to be very heavy on the bourbon history and chemistry and while I lost track of the Van Winkle lineage at some points, Thompson did a fine job of keeping the chapters short and not getting too lost in the weeds of history while writing about his time spent with Julian and, kind of unexpectedly, a lot about his own family (history). Part 3 felt a little long to me -- as if he were repeating a lot of what was covered in parts 1 & 2 or just driving the points further home, so the last 50ish pages were a bit of a slog, but overall, he somehow managed to be both high level and intimate and share a personal journey with us too.

schafer_michael's review against another edition

4.0
informative reflective fast-paced

suesee_queue's review against another edition

4.0
informative inspiring lighthearted fast-paced