Privacy Policy
Last updated: April 26, 2026
This Privacy Policy describes how Beginner’s Guide to Whiskey (“we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, and shares information about you when you visit www.beginnersguidetowhiskey.com (the “Site”) and purchase products through our online store.
Who We Are
This site is operated by Sam Green, author of Beginner’s Guide to Whiskey: Traditions, Types & Tastes of the Ultimate Spirit, based in Los Angeles, California.
Contact: info@beginnersguidetowhiskey.com
What Information We Collect
When You Place an Order
When you purchase a book through our store, we collect:
- Your name and billing/shipping address
- Email address
- Phone number (if provided)
- Payment information — processed securely by PayPal; we do not store your card details on our servers
- Order details, including which product you purchased and any personalization or inscription requests
When You Sign Up for Our Newsletter
If you subscribe to our mailing list, we collect your email address. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in any email we send.
Automatically Collected Information
When you visit the Site, we may automatically collect:
- Your IP address and browser type
- Pages you visit and time spent on each page
- Referring website or search terms that brought you here
This information is collected through standard web server logs and is used only to maintain site security and understand general traffic patterns.
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Process and fulfill your orders, including shipping books and writing personalizations
- Send order confirmations and shipping notifications
- Communicate with you about your purchase if an issue arises
- Send newsletters and event announcements (only if you subscribed)
- Improve the Site and our offerings
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.
Who We Share Your Information With
To fulfill your order and operate our store, we share necessary information with the following trusted service providers:
PayPal — handles payment processing. Your payment details go directly to PayPal and are subject to PayPal’s Privacy Policy.
ShipStation — manages order fulfillment and shipping. Your name and shipping address are shared so your order can be packed and mailed.
Your chosen shipping carrier (USPS or equivalent) — receives your name and address to deliver your order.
Mailchimp — manages our newsletter mailing list, if you have subscribed. Your email address is stored on Mailchimp’s servers and is subject to Mailchimp’s Privacy Policy.
Dreamhost — our website hosting provider. Your data passes through their servers as part of normal site operation.
All third-party providers are contractually required to protect your data and may only use it to provide services to us.
How Long We Keep Your Information
- Order records — we retain your name, address, and order details for a minimum of 7 years for tax and accounting purposes.
- Newsletter subscriptions — we retain your email address until you unsubscribe.
- Web server logs — typically retained for 30 days.
Your Rights
Depending on where you live, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:
- Access — request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
- Correction — ask us to correct inaccurate information
- Deletion — request that we delete your data (subject to legal retention requirements)
- Opt-out — unsubscribe from our newsletter at any time
To exercise any of these rights, email us at sam@beginnersguidetowhiskey.com. We will respond within 30 days.
California residents: Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), you have the right to know what personal information we collect, request deletion of your data, and opt out of the sale of your data. We do not sell your personal data.
EU/UK residents: Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), our lawful basis for processing your data is (a) contract performance for order fulfillment, and (b) legitimate interest for site security. For newsletter communications, our lawful basis is your consent.
Cookies
Our Site uses cookies — small text files stored on your device — to:
- Keep your shopping cart intact as you browse
- Remember your preferences
- Understand how visitors use the Site (analytics)
WooCommerce sets cookies that are strictly necessary for the shopping cart and checkout to function. You can disable cookies in your browser settings, but this may affect your ability to complete a purchase.
Data Security
We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information. Payments are processed by PayPal using industry-standard encryption. Our site is served over HTTPS. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Third-Party Links
Our Site may link to third-party websites such as Amazon, LoveScotch, Bookshop.org, and BookAuthority. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites and encourage you to read their privacy policies.
Children’s Privacy
Our Site is not directed at children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the “Last updated” date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this page periodically.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your data, please contact:
Sam Green info@beginnersguidetowhiskey.com Los Angeles, California