2026 International Lecture Series / FRED MINNICK

Bottom Shelf: Finding Purpose in American Whiskey
Fred Minnick, Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Award-Winning Podcast Host, and Bourbon Critic

In 2005, Fred Minnick returned home from Iraq broken. Therapy saved his life and taught him a new life skill called “Taste Mindfulness,” which helped him use taste and smell to overcome war trauma.

He then embarked on a 20-plus year journey to study bourbon. From the flavor and how it’s made to the US presidents who influenced bourbon and the laws that helped shaped this country,

Minnick, a Wall Street Journal-bestselling author, will intertwine the true and incredible stories of American whiskey with his own personal anecdotes of becoming the world’s leading bourbon critic.

Minnick is a world-renowned spirits authority, veteran, entrepreneur, bestselling author and podcast host, 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. Minnick has penned several authoritative books on spirits, including Bourbon Curious, Bourbon, Rum Curious, Whiskey Women, and his latest, Bottom Shelf: How a Forgotten Brand of Bourbon Saved One Man’s Life. His expertise has been showcased on various media platforms, including the Today Show, Bravo, Top Chef, The History Channel, Moonshiners, CBS Mornings and more.