Kathryn Smith writes about history from her home in Anderson, South Carolina, often bringing her husband, Leo, along on journeys to investigate historical sites and, in the case of this book, bars and distilleries. Previous books include Baptists & Bootleggers: a Prohibition Expedition through the South¿ with Cocktail Recipes, Gertie: The Fabulous Life of Gertrude Sanford Legendre, Heiress, Explorer, Socialite Spy, which won the Benjamin Franklin Gold Award in biography from the Independent Book Publishers Association; and The Gatekeeper: Missy LeHand, FDR, and the Partnership that Defined a Presidency, which was a finalist for the Southern Book Award in biography. She also co-authors the Missy LeHand Mystery Series with Kelly Durham. Kathryn had her first alcoholic drink, a frozen daquiri, while attending a Beta Club convention in high school; a friend smuggled in the blender in her suitcase. Her taste has improved since then.