This book will save you money the very first time you visit the liquor store! Especially if you like to try new stuff like scotch and rum. Excellent descriptions of all the most commercially available booze in this book guide you toward the bottles you'll enjoy the most.

I've already helped a handful of my friends with this book over the phone. It's a total blast to read them the descriptions :) and they're always happy with their purchases!

i think of it like an Encyclopedia Liquoria

I'm compelled to echo the thoughts of those before me. If you fancy yourself a fan of spirits, then you must keep this book within reach of your bar! Heck, I'd put it in the glove compartment of my car if I thought it would fit!

It goes without saying you should also consider subscribing to the author's quarterly Spirit Journal. Don't wait another ten years to get the reviews when you can receive new ones every few months, not to mention the always excellent featured article!

To Life!

JP

encyclopedic, thorough, with a little humor thrown in.

a must-read before you buy any spirit.

my palette is not nearly as good as f. paul, but i try to focus on each glass of spirit with his analytic approach, and use his tasting notes to try to train my palette, educate my nose and taste buds.

i don't always agree with him, but i can use him as a pretty consistent barometer of what i will or won't like.

most important point: let that glass of high class booze "air -out" for 10-15 min before you even start drinking. it does really help with bringing out more subtle tastes.

one negative point: still need those 1997-2000 reviews

Kindred Spirits 2 was worth waiting for! We use them constantly in our liquor stores. Since we can't taste all the products, we let Paul Pacault do the work for us. We wore out the original Kindred Spirits and anxiously awaited the second volume with all the new products included. A must have! Our customers love this book and we suggest they get one of their own. You will love the descriptions! Thanks Paul.

Paul Pacult really understands his stuff. He is honest and straightforward in his reviews. The reviews are easy to understand and should be used as the source if you are in the biz or not.

I recommend people use this book when looking for a new product to try and buy.

Kay Olsen

Paul Pacult's rainbow of 2400 spirit reviews, "Kindred Spirits 2", is eminently useful and very entertaining. Pacult is independent and of impeccable integrity and authority. This isn't some snobby book that lauds all the expensive fancy quaffs and denigrates the familiar favorites. He sniffs out the gems regardless of price and debunks overpriced rarities that are past their prime. (This doesn't mean that some of the top ranked items aren't expensive; sadly the marketplace is what it is). The reviews are single paragraph paragons of brevity - but never lacking in descriptive detail. Pacult knows his craft and has a well developed palate and vocabulary. His reviews are instructive, insightful, sometimes moving, and often funny. Time after time I find his reviews spot on. I can't think of single instance where I thought he was just flat out wrong. This is quite a new experience for me with liquor reviews.

It's ridiculously ambitious to attempt a book that reviews the full spectrum of spirits spanning whiskey (scotch, irish, bourbon, rye and more), brandy (cognac, armagnac and much more), vodka, tequila, rum, gin, grappa, cachaça, slivovitz, eau de vie, and liqueurs - but "Kindred Spirits 2" does a credible job. The VAST majority of spirits I know are included. It's virtually impossible to be completely comprehensive, however, and I noticed a few omissions such as Jägermeister, Sortilege (an obscure but amazing maple liqueur from Quebec), and some manner of Kummel Caraway. There seems to be only a single listing for an Akvavit (but it's a cracker). All the Springbank malts are covered, except the 21, my personal favorite. You could nit pick any attempt. However, the deep strength overall more than compensates. The reviewed selections are eclectic - highbrow and lowbrow. There are many single cask and limited editions included - as well as standards and classics. The vast breadth makes for both interesting reading and a definitive reference. In addition to the listings of reviews there are brief section introductions that orient the reader, a brief FAQ (Appendix A:) and a listing of the authors 111 favorite spirits regardless of type (Appendix B:). Appendix B: is the only place where Mr. Pacult ranks hierarchically within a given star level. This is the land of the 5 stars and they're all great - but Pacult takes a stand on which is better than which. This is a lot of fun - but it's the most slippery ground and it's here that I find I disagree with him most - but it's a happy disagreement. Everything on this list is KILLER. Degrees of love is a happy debate.

The real power and magic of this book comes in discovering these highest rated five star gems. I recently attended a tasting of the top ten from Appendix B: and found the experience utterly astounding. Virtually every selection was revelatory and blew away my preconceptions of what these various types of spirits were (e.g. the bourbon tasted so good it almost wasn't recognizable as bourbon - don't even get me started on the Rum Agricole - an amazing variant I had never even heard of). The flavors were huge and complex - transcending expectations. Mr. Pacult's taste preferences emerged - sweetness, purity, floral and citrus notes, huge long finishes. I find myself heartily in accord. Incredibly, 6 of the 10 retail for under $100 a bottle. The big lesson of this book is that artistry and genius are not synonymous with rarity and cost. This is a great desk reference - but it can be far more; a gateway to epicurian experience (especially if you have to courage to use it to go beyond your "comfort zone" (i.e. try types you don't normally drink)). Using this book as a guide will save you a ton of money in bad choices. Much more importantly than this, it will expose you to the best spirits the world has to offer - highlight experiences you might otherwise disastrously miss. Many of these lofty spirits will be surprisingly affordable - and many will utterly blow you away. My highest recommendation.

Paul Pacult's rainbow of 2400 spirit reviews, "Kindred Spirits 2", is eminently useful and very entertaining. Pacult is independent and of impeccable integrity and authority. This isn't some snobby book that lauds all the expensive fancy quaffs and denigrates the familiar favorites. He sniffs out the gems regardless of price and debunks overpriced rarities that are past their prime. (This doesn't mean that some of the top ranked items aren't expensive; sadly the marketplace is what it is). The reviews are single paragraph paragons of brevity - but never lacking in descriptive detail. Pacult knows his craft and has a well developed palate and vocabulary. His reviews are instructive, insightful, sometimes moving, and often funny. Time after time I find his reviews spot on. I can't think of single instance where I thought he was just flat out wrong. This is quite a new experience for me with liquor reviews.

It's ridiculously ambitious to attempt a book that reviews the full spectrum of spirits spanning whiskey (scotch, irish, bourbon, rye and more), brandy (cognac, armagnac and much more), vodka, tequila, rum, gin, grappa, cachaça, slivovitz, eau de vie, and liqueurs - but "Kindred Spirits 2" does a credible job. The VAST majority of spirits I know are included. It's virtually impossible to be completely comprehensive, however, and I noticed a few omissions such as Jägermeister, Sortilege (an obscure but amazing maple liqueur from Quebec), and some manner of Kummel Caraway. There seems to be only a single listing for an Akvavit (but it's a cracker). However, the deep strength in all the major popular areas more than compensates. The reviewed selections are eclectic - highbrow and lowbrow. There are many single cask and limited editions included - as well as standards and classics. The vast breadth makes for both interesting reading and a definitive reference. In addition to the listings of reviews there are brief section introductions that orient the reader, a brief FAQ (Appendix A:) and a listing of the authors 111 favorite spirits regardless of type (Appendix B:). Appendix B: is the only place where Mr. Pacult ranks hierarchically within a given star level. This is the land of the 5 stars and they're all great - but Pacult takes a stand on which is better than which. This is a lot of fun - but it's the most slippery ground and it's here that I find I disagree with him most - but it's a happy disagreement. Everything on this list is KILLER. Degrees of love is a happy debate.

The real power and magic of this book comes in discovering these highest rated five star gems. I recently attended a tasting of the top ten from Appendix B: and found the experience utterly astounding. Virtually every selection was revelatory and blew away my preconceptions of what these various types of spirits were (e.g. the bourbon tasted so good it almost wasn't recognizable as bourbon - don't even get me started on the Rum Agricole - an amazing variant I had never even heard of). The flavors were huge and complex - transcending expectations. Mr. Pacult's taste preferences emerged - sweetness, purity, floral and citrus notes, huge long finishes. I find myself heartily in accord. Incredibly, 6 of the 10 retail for under $100 a bottle. The big lesson of this book is that artistry and genius are not synonymous with rarity and cost. This is a great desk reference - but it can be far more; a gateway to epicurian experience (especially if you have to courage to use it to go beyond your "comfort zone" (i.e. try types you don't normally drink)). Using this book as a guide will save you a ton of money in bad choices. Much more importantly than this, it will expose you to the best spirits the world has to offer - highlight experiences you might otherwise disastrously miss. Many of these lofty spirits will be surprisingly affordable - and many will utterly blow you away. My highest recommendation.

Paul Pacult's rainbow of 2400 spirit reviews, "Kindred Spirits 2", is eminently useful and very entertaining. Pacult is independent and of impeccable integrity and authority. This isn't some snobby book that lauds all the expensive fancy quaffs and denigrates the familiar favorites. He sniffs out the gems regardless of price and debunks overpriced rarities that are past their prime. The reviews are single paragraph paragons of brevity - but never lacking in descriptive detail. Pacult knows his craft and has a well developed palate and vocabulary. Time after time I find his reviews verify what (little) I know - or educate me on nuances of what I thought was totally familiar or (more often) expose me to something totally new in often surprising and funny ways. I can't think of single instance where I thought he was just wrong. This is quite a new experience for me with liquor reviews.

It's terribly ambitious to attempt a book that reviews the full spectrum of spirits spanning whiskey (scotch, irish, bourbon, rye and more), brandy (cognac, armagnac and much more), vodka, tequila, rum, gin, grappa, cachaça, eau de vie, and liqueurs - but "Kindred Spirits 2" does a credible job. The vast majority of spirits I know are included. It's virtually impossible to be completely comprehensive, however, and I noticed a few omissions such as Jägermeister, Sortilege (an obscure but amazing maple liqueur from Quebec), and some manner of Kummel Caraway. There seems to be only a single listing for an Akvavit. However, the deep strength in all the major popular areas more than compensates. The reviewed selections are eclectic - highbrow and lowbrow. There are many single cask and limited editions included - as well as standards and classics. The vast breadth makes for both interesting reading and a definitive reference. In addition to the listings of reviews there are brief section introductions that orient the reader, a brief FAQ (Appendix A:) and a listing of the authors 111 favorite spirits regardless of type (Appendix B:).

The real power and magic of this book comes in discovering his highest rated five star gems. I recently attended a tasting of his top ten (from Appendix B:) and found the experience utterly astounding. Virtually every selection was revelatory and blew away my preconceptions of what these various types of spirits were. The flavors were huge and complex - transcending expectations. Mr. Pacult's taste preferences emerged - sweetness, purity, floral and citrus notes, huge long finishes. I find myself heartily in accord. Incredibly, 6 of the 10 retail for under $100 a bottle. The big lesson of this book is that artistry and genius are not synonymous with rarity and cost. This is a great desk reference - but it can be far more; a gateway to epicurian experience. Using this book as a guide will save you a ton of money in bad choices and will expose you to the best spirits the world has to offer. My highest recommendation.

Paul Pacult's rainbow of 2400 spirit reviews, "Kindred Spirits 2", is eminently useful and very entertaining. Pacult is independent and of impeccable integrity and authority. This isn't some snobby book that lauds all the expensive fancy quaffs and denigrates the familiar favorites. He sniffs out the gems regardless of price and debunks overpriced rarities that are past their prime. The reviews are single paragraph paragons of brevity - but never lacking in descriptive detail. Pacult knows his craft and has a well developed palate and vocabulary. Time after time I find his reviews verify what I know - or educate me on nuances of what I thought was totally familiar or (more often) expose me to something totally new in often surprising and funny ways.

It's terribly ambitious to attempt a book that reviews the full spectrum of spirits from whiskey, brandy, vodka, tequila, rum, gin, grappa, eau de vie, and liqueurs - but "Kindred Spirits 2" does a credible job. The vast majority of spirits I know are included. It's virtually impossible to be completely comprehensive, however, and I noticed a few omissions. But only a few: the only significant spirits I drink that were omitted are Jägermeister, Sortilege (an obscure but amazing maple liqueur from Quebec), Kummel Caraway. There seems to be only a single listing for an Akvavit. However, the deep strength in all the major popular areas more than compensates. The reviewed selections are eclectic - highbrow and lowbrow. There are many single cask and limited editions included - as well as standards and classics. The vast breadth makes for interesting reading. In addition to the listings of reviews there are brief section introductions that orient the reader, a brief FAQ (Appendix A:) and a listing of the authors 111 favorite spirits regardless of type (Appendix B:).

The real power and magic of this book comes in discovering his highest rated five star gems. I recently attended a tasting of his top ten (from Appendix B:) and found the experience utterly astounding. Virtually every selection was revelatory and blew away my preconceptions of what these various types of spirits were. The flavors were huge and complex - transcending expectations. Mr. Pacult's taste preferences emerged - sweetness, purity, floral and citrus notes, huge long finishes. I find myself heartily in accord. Incredibly, 6 of the 10 retail for under $100 a bottle. The big lesson of this book is that artistry and genius are not synonymous with rarity and cost. This is a great desk reference - but it can be far more; a gateway to epicurian experience. Using this book as a guide will save you a ton of money in bad choices and will expose you to the best spirits the world has to offer. My highest recommendation.

Kindred Spirits 2 is an incredible, unique resource for spirit lovers everywhere. Page after page, KS2 delivers engaging, hard-hitting insights about individual spirits across the full product and geographic range. White or brown spirits; consumed before, during, or after meals; familiar names or rare products, Paul Pacult covers it all with encyclopedic professionalism. It is probably impossible to find such a valuable reference book anywhere else.

I have used individual issues of Spirit Journal (from which the KS2 reviews come) to compare my impressions with Paul's for familiar spirits and to identify some new spirits to try. But the real power of KS2 (as a Spirit Journal review summary) lies in helping readers build better spirit inventories and expand their knowledge of individual spirit categories.

As soon as I received KS2, I went through my personal spirit inventory and identified areas where quality could probably be improved cost-effectively. I bought several new spirits (like a different everyday blended scotch), tasted them side-by-side with my current spirits, and replaced several current spirits. There are also clearcut improvement areas for me in white spirits, cognac, and brandy. These changes will be made easily and quickly, because of the confidence I have in the integrity of Paul's reviews.

KS2 can also be used to develop a better spirit inventory for a public restaurant/bar or a private club. The potential payoff is big. Such a wide-ranging spirit audit and improvement program would not be possible without a resource like KS2.

I found KS2 so useful that I just ordered another copy to give to a very demanding spirit lover as a birthday present. Of course, I renewed my subscription to Spirit Journal so I will be up-to-date until KS3 is published.

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 Spirits 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.

F. Paul Pacult's "Kindred Spirits 2" is a 8 year compilation of his reviews printed in his Spirit Journal. Often entertaining and always usefull, no one should ever buy any distilled product without first checking out Paul's review. Save yourself time, money and bad spirits by letting Paul do the legwork for you. The book is organized in an easy to read manner. First each distilled product gets it's own chapter. Then within the product everything is listed alphabetically. Each product gets a 1 to 5 star rating, along with a "Not recommended" to "Highest recommendation" verbal rating. Each rating also has the year it was tasted and rated.

The reviews are detailed and give Paul's reasons for rating a spirit the way he does. I will use this book as a valuable resource before ever again buying a bottle of Vodka, Gin, Scotch, Bourbon, Rum or Brandy.

With over 2400 reviews in its encyclopedic 644 page expanse Kindred Spirits 2 covers just about every distilled product out there.
For the price of one, certainly two mistakes this book provides the means to avoid those costly mistakes and buying of regrettable bottles.Saves you a lot of money and time trying to find something decent to drink.Paul has sampled all these potions so you don't have to,or I should say so you can focus in on those you want to.While no one will agree with anyone on everything,this is a major body of work that is an invaluable reference on thousands of spirits so you can see what is out there and try them for yourself.
Paul is a highly entertaining and evocative writer,capturing the essence of what he has tasted and reducing it to literary form. A masterwork that is also an entertaining read,it will probably be THE reference for years to come.