Multihyphenate Fred Minnick Uncovers The Mystery Behind A Bourbon Brand’s Downfall
Shares Harrowing Fight For Purpose In New Book Bottom Shelf: How A Forgotten Brand Of Bourbon Saved One Man’s Life
Out February 17, 2026 Via Sourcebooks
Pre-order Bottom Shelf on Amazon HERE
Lauded by NFL Hall of Famers Terry Bradshaw and Jared Allen, award-winning actor and entrepreneur Ian Somerhalder, GRAMMY Award nominated country artist Dierks Bentley and more.
One of the world's most influential spirits tastemakers, Fred Minnick has introduced the timeless traditions of bourbon and whiskey to a new generation through books, podcasts, events and more. Now, he’s turning the lens inward, sharing the harrowing journey that led him to become the world-renowned multihyphenate he is today.
Minnick’s new book “Bottom Shelf: How a Forgotten Brand of Bourbon Saved One Man's Life,” out February 17th via Sourcebooks.
Part spirits industry exposé, part memoir, the book’s dual narrative explores the lost legacy of the once-iconic bourbon brand Old Crow, while also sharing a deeply honest look at how Minnick’s tasting practice helped him out of the darkest chapter of his life.
Pre-order the book:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Givington's (signed copies available)
When Minnick tasted a rare Old Crow bottle from 1969, the idea for "Bottom Shelf" was born. The 19-year spirits industry veteran started chasing the true story of this once iconic brand -- only to discover an untold mystery and scandal that forever changed the author's feelings toward Old Crow. He'd even once confessed to the BBC that Old Crow was his all time favorite bourbon, a comment that skyrocketed its secondary market prices from $40 to $700 almost overnight. In the book, he tells the story of how Old Crow went from a super-premium bourbon to a dusty, unwanted bottom shelf dweller.
In this eyebrow-raising read, Minnick uncovers the forgotten history of a bottle once revered by presidents, poets and distillers alike, while also vulnerably diving head-first into how his journey in spirits became his fight to rediscover meaning and purpose in his life after trauma.
While he’s now the world’s foremost bourbon/whiskey expert, a bestselling author, podcast host, journalist, husband, father and more, Minnick was once a veteran, struggling to cope with the mental battles of PTSD upon returning home from the Iraq War.
In “Bottom Shelf,” he shares how a mindfulness practice with barbecue potato chip during a therapy session at the VA (Veterans Affairs) led him on a career-building tasting journey. It’s a heart-wrenching, yet hopeful look at the intimate moments of his mental health struggles and his redemption story.
“Bottom Shelf” is both a love letter to bourbon’s forgotten history and an unflinching look at one man’s mental health journey. For whiskey fans, military veterans, and anyone who’s ever looked for meaning in rock-bottom moments, this book offers something powerful.
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See what celebs are saying about “Bottom Shelf”:
“Fred Minnick doesn’t just know bourbon -- he lives it. But this book ain’t just about whiskey. It’s about heart, healing and finding meaning in the most unexpected places … like an old bottle of Old Crow. Fred’s story is powerful, honest and full of soul. I’m proud to call him a friend -- and even prouder to recommend this book.”
— Terry Bradshaw
NFL Hall of Famer
“An intoxicating mix of memoir and mystery, Bottom Shelf proves
that the most powerful legacies are the ones we almost lose.”
— Ian Somerhalder
Award-winning actor, entrepreneur and philanthropist
“Fred Minnick has long been bourbon’s most trusted voice. With Bottom Shelf,
he shows us the man behind the palate, unearthing not just a forgotten whiskey,
but the truths that shaped him, and I’m proud to call him a friend.”
— Dierks Bentley
GRAMMY Award-nominated country artist
"Bottom Shelf is authentic and vulnerable. As someone who
supports Vets, it makes me proud of my friend to be able to put his story
out for people to read. Not all are willing to."
— Jared Allen
NFL Hall of Famer
“From the first page, this is an honest, fascinating
and moving discovery not just of the great American spirit that is bourbon,
but of the great American spirit within Fred himself.”
— Graham McTavish
Actor and #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of 'Clanlands'
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ABOUT FRED MINNICK:
Minnick is a world-renowned spirits authority, veteran, entrepreneur, bestselling author, podcast host and member of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, known for his influential contributions in bringing the storied history and culture of bourbon to the mainstream. In 2021, he co-founded the American Spirits Council of Tasters and initiated the inaugural ASCOT Awards, celebrating the finest spirits globally. With his award-winning series, The Fred Minnick Show, Minnick adeptly merges bourbon culture with entertainment, featuring engaging tastings and interviews with a diverse array of guests. Notable episodes include conversations with athletes such as Peyton Manning, Terry Bradshaw and Charles Woodson, as well as musicians including Dierks Bentley, Jelly Roll, Mick Fleetwood and Lindsay Ell, and actors such as Cole Hauser, Ian Somerhalder and Graham McTavish. He also co-hosts Fourth & Neat, the high-energy, sports-meets-pop culture podcast with Pro Football Hall of Famer Jared Allen.
A Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Minnick has penned several authoritative books on spirits, including Bourbon Curious, Bourbon, Rum Curious, and Whiskey Women. His expertise has been showcased on various media platforms, including the Today Show,Bravo, Top Chef, The History Channel, Moonshiners, CBS Mornings and more.
For more information on Minnick and The Fred Minnick Show, visit fredminnick.com.
ABOUT SOURCEBOOKS:
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