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174 reviews for:
Pappyland: A Story of Family, Fine Bourbon, and the Things That Last
Wright Thompson
3.76 AVERAGE
174 reviews for:
Pappyland: A Story of Family, Fine Bourbon, and the Things That Last
Wright Thompson
3.76 AVERAGE
I loved everything about this book. Wright Thompson beautifully and brilliantly weaves the memories of his father and his hopes for his daughter's future with the incredible family history of Pappy Van Winkle and his unique bourbon. Even if you're not a bourbon drinker (and I am), this book about meaning, memory, and the things that connect us, is worth every moment.
Not really what I was expecting when I opened up this book. Don't get me wrong it's a fun read, but don't expect a true history and in-depth look at the creation of bourbon. Instead expect a part biography, part memoir, part therapy session with a steady flow of bourbon throughout. While I can see this being read as a somewhat self-indulgent book, the overall point of slowing down and appreciating is not something to look over.
Honestly this book was a bit disappointing. I was hoping for a lot more about the Van Winkle family and their history and instead found a strange mix of the authors life woven in with Julian Van Winkle. There are some good nuggets about bourbon and the legacy of whiskey but you have to dig through long philosophical meandering musings to get there. This probably could’ve been a long magazine article and I’d have gotten just as much from it.
DNF / Skimmed - I wanted to like this book but I don't have time for reading self-important white guys write hagiographic odes to the past and rich white families who embody it. Especially if they don't deal with any of the related issues. Not much on bourbon either really. Best part is the afterward from JVW.
I Rip(van winkled)ped through this book.
The story is about the Van Winkle family and the story of their bourbon, but this is ABOUT family, roots, and legacy. The things we inherit from our parents and pass down to our children, purposefully or not.
As a father to a young girl and with a baby boy on the way, Wright reckoning with his place in the world and the things he wants to set up for his family hit me right between the eyes.
I think Wright Thompson is an incredible writer and I love to read or listen to him talk about everything.
The story is about the Van Winkle family and the story of their bourbon, but this is ABOUT family, roots, and legacy. The things we inherit from our parents and pass down to our children, purposefully or not.
As a father to a young girl and with a baby boy on the way, Wright reckoning with his place in the world and the things he wants to set up for his family hit me right between the eyes.
I think Wright Thompson is an incredible writer and I love to read or listen to him talk about everything.
One of the best books I've ever read. The interweaving of the author's and Julien's lives with the story of the Bourbon is intricate and so well done. I highly recommend.
Like bourbon itself, this book might be an acquired taste. However, since I am a bourbon drinker/lover and fond of a well-told tale, Pappyland gets five stars. Wright Thompson is a helluva writer, and the story behind the best bourbon in the land is one to savor.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
If you are looking for a detailed history on the world’s most sought-after bourbon, this isn’t it. Though you’ll get a decent amount of the story of how Pappy Van Winkle came to be, it is not what this book is about. Instead this is a story about family and friends, risk and reward, time and patience, faith and belief, history and legacy. It’s a beautifully written homage to bourbon itself, the man (and family) responsible for one of the best bourbons, and to the spirit’s place within the culture of the American south. I really enjoyed reading it.