I recently received a copy of this book from Maggie Kimberl. It is an interesting book filled with information on searching for old spirits of all types. He does tell people to contact me if they are looking for information on old labels, but he does not put my name in the index, so it is hard to find. I will occasionally send people information on old bottles if I know them, but otherwise, I would not bother unless it is an interesting bottle that intrigues me.

Dusty Booze: In Search of Vintage Spirits. Aaron Goldfarb. New York, New York, Abrams Press, 2024. Contents, Index, 285pp.

This book looks at the ins and outs of collecting full bottles of old spirits. It starts with a discussion of the glut in spirits that happened from the 1970s up to the early 21st century and the reasons for the over-abundance of whiskey in that period. The author then discusses the rise in the secondary market in spirits and the changing laws that made this market a legal market in some states. It is still an illegal market in many states as selling spirits without a license and paying the taxes is considered bootlegging. The next section of the book discusses old bottles of spirits other than Bourbon. This includes Rum and Tequila as well as spirits used in cocktails. The final section discusses the future of spirit collecting.

The book is full of sidebars which discuss individual subjects such as how to decipher old labels to date bottles and how to look for fake or counterfeited bottles. The latter is a real problem in the secondary market as some bottles can bring extraordinary prices, making them the object of people who want to make a quick buck. The book ends with and index and a list of places where you can find vintage bottles in your area of the country. This list may become out of date quickly as more states pass laws that allow the sale of vintage bottles.

I found the book to be interesting, but since I am not an active collector, of little use to me. Still, I am glad to add it to my library shelves. I am sure I will look at it from time to time.

Photos Courtesy of Michael Veach