For her second studio effort, Ain't No Whiskey, Melissa turned to her husband, guitarist Johnny Leal and his brother, drummer Jimmy. Out of those recording sessions, Melissa Ruth and the Likely Stories was born as the trio worked closely and collaboratively to arrange all of the songs on the 9-track album. Ain't No Whiskey explores themes of desire and satisfaction as Ruth and the Leal brothers draw on their musical backgrounds in blues, jazz, and folk.