Whisky Book Review: Warehouse H
Why do we love whisky? Is it the taste? Sure. Is it the camaraderie with others who rank among the whisky nerds? Absolutely. But I think what keeps us tied to whisky are stories.
My love of whisky began at a Single Malt Scotch tasting at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA. After tasting Highland Park 12, I was forever hooked. I dove into whisky books and every Highland Park expression I could find. The stories and history of Scotland and Highland Park became an all-encompassing journey through history vicariously lived through the amber liquid within the bottles.
Dominic Guglielmi had a similar transformation. He was forever hooked when a former manager gifted him a bottle of Blanton's Bourbon. The story of this bourbon and its fascinating collectability throughout the last four decades led him on a journey around the world, leading to having one of the most extensive Blanton's collections on the planet. This guy has Blanton's bottles that would sell for tens of thousands at auction. It also led to this book: Warehouse H. I read it, and now I can tell you all about it.
Pros: Excellently written. It is an exciting journey through the history of Blanton's and Buffalo Trace. A comprehensive index for those hunting rare bottles. A well-rounded historical view of how Blanton's has impacted the whisky industry as a whole.
Cons: Honestly, not many. If you spend your days laughing at "taters," then you may roll your eyes at this book. On the other hand, reading may turn you into a "tater," so be careful.
Bottom Line: I 100% recommend this book for every whisky lover's shelf, especially if you're already a fan of bourbon in general or Blanton's in particular.
I'll cut to the chase. I love this book. It's a fascinating look at Blanton's allure. Mr. Guglielmi also dives deep into the history of the Buffalo Trace distillery (the current makers of the bourbon that becomes Blanton's) and how the phenomenon of Blanton's collecting began.
Mr. Guglielmi gave thought to the book's structure, and it shows. It's split into three sections, which are not marked as such, but the content change will be noticeable. First, he outlines the history of Buffalo Trace and the origin of Blanton's. Next, he puts together an exhaustive overview of all the different collectible varieties of Blanton's sold worldwide. Finally, he dives into the controversy and legacy of Blanton's and how it's impacted the bourbon industry.
The writing is clean and crisp, unpretentious. He feels like a knowledgeable friend taking you on a tour of his collection. I learned quite a lot about the inner workings of Blanton's and its history, including some names involved with its birth I didn't know.
I've never chased the "unicorn" whiskies as such. I will try to find extraordinary and rare whiskies for my collection, but only if I'm confident they'll taste delicious and be reasonably priced. I've never chased allocated bourbons like Blanton's or Pappy Van Winkle. To me, the juice isn't worth it. So when I paged through the book, I figured I'd learn the history and skip all the specific bottles. However, I found myself hooked into the middle section. I wasn't aware of all of the Blanton's out there, especially in the international markets, and I found myself hunting some down after reading the book to see how I might acquire them. I must respect a book that can change my mind as I read it. I'm not becoming a Blanton's collector, but I now have a greater appreciation for the special releases. Once again, they all have good stories attached, which increases the appeal.
If you're a Blanton's or bourbon fan, get this book. It's a fun read, looks great on the coffee table, and is worth every penny. If you order from Mr. Guglielmi's website, he'll sign your copy. Warehouse H presents a story worth telling.
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