Whiskey & Shenanigans

I’ll admit, I approached *Whiskey & Shenanigans* with skepticism. The world of whiskey audiobooks is crowded with either dry reference guides or bro-y manifestos, and I was braced for another round of ‘here’s why my 25-year Scotch is superior.’ Instead, Gross delivers something rarer: a guide that’s *actually* funny, *genuinely* useful, and—crucially—short enough to finish before your second pour. The book’s structure is smart, bouncing between quick-hit tips (how to order without sounding like a poseur), myth-busting (no, you don’t *have* to add water), and outright silliness (the bit about whiskey-themed pickup lines had me laughing into my glass). It’s the kind of listen that rewards both casual sippers and enthusiasts—though if you’re the latter, be warned, Gross gleefully pokes holes in some sacred cows. Bentley’s narration is a standout. He avoids the trap of over-performing the humor, letting the material breathe while still landing the punchlines with a wink. His pacing is spot-on, especially in the denser sections (like the breakdown of mash bills), where he keeps things lively without rushing. My only critique? The audio mix occasionally buries a few of Gross’s more sarcastic asides under Bentley’s smooth delivery—you’ll catch them on a relisten, but first-time listeners might miss a zinger or two. And while the book’s brevity is a strength, I wished for a deeper dive into global whiskeys beyond the American/Irish/Scotch trifecta. Still, for the price of a decent pour, you get an audiobook that’s as entertaining as it is educational—no small feat in a genre that often takes itself way too seriously.