When Iraq veteran Fred Minnick learned about taste mindfulness in therapy, it marked a turning point — not just in his healing, but in making him one of the nation’s most influential spirits critics.
Minnick has been a storyteller for over a decade. Recent works include tasting guides + spirit histories, but his newest release, “Bottom Shelf: How a Forgotten Brand of Bourbon Saved One Man’s Life,” is revisiting stories of war, PTSD, and his healing journey.
Reflecting on his time overseas is not new for Minnick. He released “Camera Boy: An Army Journalist’s War in Iraq” in 2010, but said it was more of a therapy book rather than something for the public.
This time, Minnick is revisiting his experience with a deeper reflection.
“I’m ready to talk about these things,” Minnick said. “Bourbon gave me a professional purpose. It became a big part of my DNA.”
Minnick said he learned about taste mindfulness in therapy, a sensory-based exercise focusing on taste + smell. This exercise served as a healing technique, a tool that found him a successful beat as a writer, and led him to his favorite “bottom shelf” bourbon — a 1969 bottle of Old Crow.
Fun fact: When Minnick named Old Crow his favorite, the price went $40 to $3,000 almost overnight. He curates the annual Top 100 American Whiskey Ranking, so his opinion undoubtedly holds weight, but it’s still surprising to Minnick.
“To this day, I still don’t understand how I can say something about a bourbon, and it flies off the shelf,” Minnick said.
Minnick will bring “Bottom Shelf” to Lexington as part of the first leg of his national book tour on Saturday, Feb. 21 at Joseph Beth’s. Learn more and shop the book.
At the heart of “Bottom Shelf” is something far more personal — and far more universal — than bourbon.
He found his healing through bourbon, and said the history, unsolved mysteries, and the people behind it gave him a reason to get up every single day.
“Having an activity to help you get past whatever it is that hurts you,” Minnick said. “No one’s going to walk through this Earth without adversity, pain, loss, and heartbreak. It’s OK to reach out for help.”