Editor’s Note: This book was provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. This in no way, per our editorial policies, influenced the final outcome of this review.
What would you do if you won the lottery tomorrow? Admit it, you’ve fantasized about it. We all have. Would you quit your job? Would you travel the world? Would you take up new hobbies, like writing, or collecting spirits? Well, fortunately for you, you don’t have to win the lottery to do any of these things. This is the life of acclaimed travel writer Mike Gerrard. Mr. Gerrard is the author of dozens of guidebooks for a variety of countries, a connoisseur of fine food and spirits, and in his spare time is now an accomplished writer. A genuine renaissance man.
In his new book, Cask Strength: The Story of the Barrel, the Secret Ingredient in Your Drink, Mr. Gerrard embarks upon a story of the wooden barrel, detailing the history of a device which, after you’re done reading the book, appears to rank alongside the discoveries of the wheel and fire in their importance to the human race. Think this is an exaggeration? Perhaps by a bit, but the barrel has undisputedly had a tremendous impact on human trade, preservation of food, human exploration of the world, war, the consumption and creation of alcohol, and has been around since at least 3000 B.C., appearing in Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Mesopotamia.
Of course, the book is not predominantly about the history of the barrel, but is instead about the use of the barrel in the alcoholic beverage industry. Do you like Scotch? There’s a ton of discussion about how barrels impart their flavor or are used in barrel finishings. An economist? Welcome to a 101 on the barrel trade and forest management. Are you a dendrologist? There is a whole section on Oak trees. Do you like beer, whisky, whiskey, bourbon, wine, tequila/mezcal, rum, gina, vodka? There is a chapter for each. There is something for everyone, along with interviews and quotes from business owners, distillers, industry experts, and hobbyists.
While barrel centric, I ultimately learned more about various spirits and the spirit industry than I did about barrels themselves. I think the point which Mr. Gerrard makes is that alcohol and barrels are beyond interrelated; they are codependent. The vast majority of spirits in the world exist and have evolved because of the wood barrel. Maybe initially thought of as a storage device, when alcohol (in almost any form) was placed into a wood barrel, something miraculous happened: it came out even better than when it went in (at least, most of the time). From this simple fact exploded the spirit of discovery, until now there are thousands of people globally whose entire job is to find new ways to use barrels to create new and exotic flavors.
For the casual reader, Cask Strength doesn’t read like a textbook. It is full of interesting stories from interesting people, weaving whimsy and humor through a thorough education on spirits. Take Toby A. Tyler, master blender at One Drop Rum in the Bahamas. While pursuing good rum aged in tequila barrels, he’s had the privilege of befriending Mick Jagger of the Rolling stones. I was particularly enthusiastic about the interview with Miles Munroe, Westward Whiskey’s lead distiller and blender, hailing from my hometown of Portland, Oregon.
As I read Mr. Munroe’s interview, I was struck with an overarching, and perhaps unintended, theme of Mr. Gerrard’s book, which is something I’ve seen in other contexts: the spirits industry is a community and a way of life. Each distiller, cooper, barrel vendor, blender, etc. loves the craft, the culture, and the camaraderie inherent in helping one another make something greater themselves, a product that is the result of generations of work. And, after turning the last page, I was reminded that it’s never too late to quit your job and take part in the great art of making good spirits.
Details: Published July 11, 2023 by Matt Holt Books. $26 US, 240 pages.
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Impression: An easy read and something you can finish in a plane ride, Cask Strength: The Story of the Barrel, the Secret Ingredient in Your Drink is a fun book full of information for the uneducated consumer, the enthusiastic hobbyist dipping his toes in the water, and even the seasoned whiskey veteran.
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