We’re very proud to welcome Wright Thompson back to Skylark (remotely, of course) for a special event to celebrate the publication of his latest book, Pappyland, which immediately zoomed into the New York Times bestseller lists. Why is this event so special? Because, to celebrate the book’s success, Abel Reels and Penguin Press are giving away an incredible prize - a custom-made unicorn fly fishing reel, adorned with a hand-painted logo of Old Rip Van Winkle. This is a strictly limited edition: only twenty have been made! For more details about Abel Reels, go to the bottom of this post.
To get a link to the event, and to be entered into the drawing for the reel, you need to purchase a copy of the book from us, which you can do either by clicking this link or shooting us an email. Once we’ve processed your order, we’ll send you a link to the online event and enter your name into the drawing.
The conversation will feature Wright Thompson, Preston Van Winkle, and Art Webb, director of marketing of Abel Reels. It will be an unmissable event!
Pappyland is the story of how Julian Van Winkle III, the caretaker of the most coveted cult Kentucky Bourbon whiskey in the world, fought to protect his family's heritage and preserve the taste of his forebears, in a world where authenticity, like his product, is in very short supply. The New York Times Book Review described it as “a soulful journey that blends together biography, autobiography, philosophy, Kentucky history, the story of bourbon’s origins and an insider’s look at how the Van Winkle whiskey is made and marketed . . . Pappyland moves smoothly through the family lore with the subtle nuances of a well-aged bourbon; it has top notes of stoicism and melancholy and a lingering finish of pride, even when recounting the hard times.” Walter Isaacson said: “In Wright Thompson’s beautifully written and delightful book, Julian Van Winkle’s odyssey to make whiskey in the spirit of his beloved Pappy becomes a story about how we keep faith with the past—with our ancestors and with the legacy of a great craft—and how we move on from it. Pappyland is a beautiful antidote to false sentiment; I cherished it.”
Julian Van Winkle III and Wright Thompson
Wright Thompson is the author of two New York Times bestsellers, The Cost of These Dreams and, most recently, Pappyland. He is a senior writer for ESPN. He lives in Oxford, Mississippi with his family.
Preston Van Winkle is the fourth generation member of the Van Winkle family to enter into the bourbon business. He is the great grandson of iconic bourbon maker Julian P. "Pappy" Van Winkle, Sr. and son of the current Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery President, Julian P. Van Winkle, III. He lives in Louisville, KY.
Art Webb, Director of Marketing at Abel Reels, is a veteran of four decades in the advertising agency business and a lifelong fly fisherman. Upon selling his agency in 2017, Art purchased, and for three years ran, Silver Kings — a three time Emmy Award-winning TV show about fly fishing in the Florida Keys. He now resides with his wife in Montrose, Colorado heading up all things marketing-related for Abel Reels, Ross Reels and Airflo Fly Lines.
The prize, y’all.
Abel Reels
Founded in 1988, Abel Reels are legendary. They lay claim to more world record catches than any fly reel in history. And, since their inception, Abel reels have been coveted for their beautiful fit and finish, and a drag system capable of stopping anything that swims. But these reels are more than functional fishing tools. They are hand-crafted works of art, each and every one. A staff of artists located in Camarillo, CA hand "paint" (dye, actually) these reels to artfully reflect the beauty of dozens of different aquatic species from across the globe — not to mention, the occasional, rare and coveted bottle of Bourbon.
