The Iraq vet redefining mindfulness, one bourbon at a time

Iraq war combat veteran Fred Minnick hosts a bourbon tasting dinner at Cordelia, a restaurant in Cleveland's historic district, as part of a tour for his new book, Bottom Shelf: How a Forgotten Brand of Bourbon Saved One Man's Life . Dustin Franz for NPR hide caption toggle caption Dustin Franz for NPR Stay up to date with our Politics newsletter, sent weekly . Fred Minnick was forever changed by his tour to Iraq over two decades ago. Like many veterans, it took him a while to find the best way to cope with what he would learn was PTSD. Vets often find a new sense of peace and purpose that helps them heal; it can be charity work, or sports or gardening or yoga. Minnick found bourbon. "I want you to put a thimble-sized amount on your tongue," Minnick told a room full of enthusiasts at a fancy restaurant in Cleveland's historic district earlier this year. He was there to spread his message of bourbon tasting as a life-affirming meditation. Around 30 people attend the bourbon tasting dinner. Minnick shared his message of bourbon tasting as a life-affirming act of mindfulness. Dustin Franz for NPR hide caption toggle caption Dustin Franz for NPR "You can pull flavors out of your life in the glass, and that is the whole purpose of taste mindfulness," he told them. They listened intently, each holding one of the three snifters apiece arranged on the table. …