Op-Ed Editor by Day, Whiskey Connoisseur by Night

Ever wonder how someone becomes a whiskey writer?  Or, for that matter, a beer writer or a wine writer?  Clay Risen, deputy Op-Ed editor at The New York Times tells his story here.  In addition to writing for the Times, Risen has written a couple of books and some magazine pieces.

From Drunk Monks to Boozy Brunch: A Brief History of Drinking in The Morning

“It’s 5 o’clock somewhere!” lamely jokes the guy in your office who thinks he’s being naughty for having a light beer at a 3:30 p.m. offsite meeting.

Today his coworkers might snicker at his so-called transgressiveness. Yet for most of history, drinking before 5:00 p.m. was perfectly acceptable, if not necessary. Many people drank in the morning because there was nothing much else to drink. Other beverages — like water — were dirty and could potentially kill you.  Read this delightful history lesson from VinePair here.