As an author I know a thing or two about what it takes to write a
book. While talent and command of the subject matter are helpful, passion and
dedication are absolutely essential. Fortunately for mankind, F. Paul Pacult
has an abundance of it all.
His
latest work, Kindred Spirits 2 (2008 © Spirits Journal, Inc.), is a tour de force providing a fascinating in-depth look at 2400 brands of
whiskey, brandy, vodka, tequila, rum, gin and liqueur. For anyone who has ever
sipped, swirled and spat, Kindred Spirits 2 falls somewhere in historical significance between the
corkscrew and church key.
After
20 years as the publisher and sole contributor of the esteemed Spirit
Journal,
Pacult has developed himself into an amazing resource. I've been privileged to
have judged spirits with Paul, and I can say without reservation that his
talents, capabilities and knowledge are absolutely extraordinary. When a spirit
hits the glass, his senses slip into a gear the rest of us don't have. It's as
if he becomes one with the alcohol and learns it secrets and hidden talents, as
well as its flaws, weaknesses and criminal record.
Pacult
understands what distillers were attempting to achieve and whether they did so.
His reviews delve into the very heart and soul of the spirit. Not only is he
the undisputed authority on the subject of alcohol and distillation, he is an
exceptionally gifted writer. His reviews have substance and style; his writing
precise and delightfully entertaining, especially since he refuses to
equivocate. When Paul doesn't care for a product, he tells you why in no
uncertain terms. Simply put, Pacult is in a league of his own.
About
the author I can only say this. After 30-years in the business, I've never met
an individual with so many reasons to take himself too seriously, but doesn't.
His work appears in scores of publications and newspapers around the world, and
high among his considerable professional accomplishments, he and Anthony Dais
Blue founded the now prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition. That
Paul is a prince of a human being makes it easy to be an avid fan.
Kindred Spirits 2 may well be the literary buy of the century and is guaranteed to stimulate hair growth and improve ones social status. Kudos Paul.
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