An interesting book. Recommended for anyone with an interest in US history, particularly the West; and, of course, anyone with an interest in whiskey.

The book is easy to read, but the information isn't laid out cohesively. I would get bogged down in the details. I did learn a lot though about the subject though.

A fascinating read. Any reader interested in the West, US History, or whiskey will love to pick up this title.

This book should not have been written only about whiskey. There was not enough material there to constitute a book. Most of the time the authors inserted long quotes and after a while my eyes drifted over them. I learned exactly two things from the book. 1. Whiskey was made into cocktails and 2. Utah's mormons even had a whiskey still. Everything else in the book was and has been covered before.

The Golden Elixir of the West by Sherry Monahan with Jane Perkins was received direct from the publisher. Does everyone reading this review have a idea what the golden elixir of the West refers to? Beer? Whiskey? Some of that stuff the snake oil salesman sold to the gullible? Maybe it refers to “all of the above.” It actually refers to whiskey, snd from a historical perspective, this book covers it all, from distillation to distribution to drinks made from whiskey, to its uses, correct or not, all from a old American West perspective. If you have a American whiskey drinker in your house, this book could be a wonderful gift for them, maybe buy two copies because you need to read it as well. Also, anyone wanting to learn old west history would find great interest in this book. Whiskey was one of the first items the federal government seized upon as a overly taxed revenue source, as well.

5 stars

The evolution of the American as precipitated by whiskey is not exactly a history lesson taught in elementary school. This book was ver informative and thoroughly researched, but certainly skews towards history buffs (especially those interested in the west) and whiskey aficionados.