Makers & Shakers: A Hidden History of Black Americans in Booze (PB) (2025)

From colorful characters like Cato Alexander, New York's first celebrity bartender, to sad and disturbing stories about Jack Daniel's heirs, Makers & Shakers has a little bit of everything for everyone.

Join Washington, D.C.-based author and producer of ardent spirits Troy Hughes on a historical romp through booze-infused tales about Black Americans. Discover the stories of pioneering Montana moonshiner Bertie Brown and the ill-fated partnership of Diddy and Diageo. Find out about Ripple, the national drink of Watts, and learn how cognac became the unofficial drink of Black America.