Story time.

I was pretty late to hop on the Brooklyn train. Let me explain. My first introduction to BK was when I met my then-boyfriend's parents. They lived in Marine Park, a quiet, lovely, perfectly normal Irish-Italian family neighborhood. The houses were typical NYC 'burb: close together, long, narrow. There was an Albanian pizza place around the corner. I familiarized myself with the Q, B and the B2. Again, totally nice, but hardly hip.

A few months later, at the request of my friends, I went to Williamsburg to check out Smorgasburg (I had no clue what this was, but I've attended enough Jewish weddings to get the word play). I was, toooootally baffled. I thought the Bedford stop was going to drop me off at Bed-Stuy, which, come to think of it, is now hip too. Anyway, I experienced what the kids are calling a culture shock.

Safe to say Brooklyn was up to a lot of interesting things, including some serious business in the craft booze world.

Brooklyn Spirits, a new book from Peter Thomas Fornatale and Chris Wertz, captures this business with utmost sincerity and beauty. For those familiar with the Brooklyn distilling & bar world, the book reads like a kaleidoscopic photo album. For those who have yet to discover it, it's like an intoxicating literary treasure chest.

All photos courtesy of Max Kelly

The chapters alternate between cocktail bars and distilleries, wonderfully illustrating how closely knit the industry is. Bars and their suppliers work together to curate the fare we experience when we dine out. Every time I recognize the downright individuality of what I'm drinking, I appreciate it even further.

I think you will, too.

Cheers,

Lizzie