Getting into whiskey can be an exciting process. There is a TON of information online that can be incredibly helpful and provide decent direction as you enter into the world of whiskey tasting and collecting. At time though the sheer volume of information flowing through the internet to you can be overwhelming. Also with all things on the internet, much of what one reads is conflicting.
Topic specific books can be a great way to avoid some of the wheel spinning forum information overload can cause. All of the books mentioned below are written by qualified individuals. We won’t get into the authors qualifications, but it suffices to say if you are publishing a book about whiskey with your name on it, you damn well better know what you are talking about.
The list below has some great reads that we think you will find very helpful along the journey.
As per the description on Amazon
“Whiskey lovers will devour this fresh and comprehensive guide to everything there is to know about the world’s whiskeys, including Scotch and bourbon as well as Tennessee, Irish, Japanese, and Canadian whiskeys. You’ll learn about the types of whiskey and the distilling traditions of the regions where they are made, how to serve and taste whiskeys to best appreciate and savor them, how to collect and age whiskey for great results, and much more. There are even recipes for cocktails and suggestions for food pairings. This is the guide no whiskey drinker will want to be without!”
We can honestly recommend this as our favorite. It is the perfect book for one who is new to whiskey as it is not intimidating and does not push one style of whiskey over another. The author is down to earth as demonstrated in his advice for serving guests to “err on the side of egalitarianism and pour flagship bottles, rather than pull out the treasures of your collection.” The authors walks through how to taste whiskey carefully noting that it may not be enjoyable the first time, but with repeated practice, one can learn. Tasting Whiskey also includes a great section on what whiskies are known for what flavor profiles without concluding on what is the best. It’s rare to see that kind of thing in an online forum.
2. The World Atlas of Whisky: New Edition
“Award-winning author and whisky expert Dave Broom explores over 200 distilleries and examines over 400 expressions. Detailed descriptions of the Scottish distilleries can be found here, while Ireland, Japan, the USA, Canada and the rest of the world are given exhaustive coverage. There are tasting notes on single malts from Aberfeldy to Tormore, Yoichi (and coverage of the best of the blends). Six specially created ‘Flavour Camp Charts’ group whiskies by style, allow readers to identify new whiskies from around the world to try. This extrensively updated and extended edition features new material on burgeoning areas, including detailed coverage of many recently opened US craft distilleries, new distilleries in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and discussion of the growing whisky scene in Latin America. With over 200 beautiful colour photographs and 21 colour maps locating distilleries and whisky-related sites, this is a stylish celebration of the heritage, romance, craftsmanship and versatility of whisky” (Amazon.com).
This book is a close second to the one listed above. We find this book is much more of a reference for all types of whiskeys rather than a chapter read, but it could be done either way. It is incredibly well researched and its recent publish date means it has some information regarding some of the newest distilleries to the scene. This book is perfect for those new to the whiskey world as they can experiment with all types of whiskey. The World Atlas of Whiskey makes a great gift and holds its own sitting alone on a coffee table or bar.
3. Michael Jackson’s Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch, 7th Edition
As the Amazon description states
“This seventh edition of Michael Jackson’s Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch continues to provide whisky enthusiasts with all the information, advice, and guidance they need to improve their knowledge and appreciation of single malt whisky.
Fully updated with all the latest significant bottlings, Michael Jackson’s Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch includes an unrivaled A– Z of single malts with background information on the distilleries and tasting notes for more than 1,000 bottlings. It even provides each whisky with an overall score. Michael Jackson, regarded as the world’s foremost authority on whisky until his death in 2007, originally authored this title. His legacy lives on in the 2015 edition edited by world-leading whisky consultants Dominic Roskrow and Gavin D. Smith.
By giving practical advice on buying and collecting malts and interpreting whisky labels, and providing hundreds of color images, Michael Jackson’s Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch can turn any whisky novice into an informed veteran.”
We included this here as this really truly is the reference for Scotch. We recommend this book only after reading the first two on this list as this is more of a reference. If you find that you really love scotch above the others, this is the right reference book for you!
4. Bourbon, Straight: The Uncut and Unfiltered Story of American Whiskey
As Amazon describes, this book
“follows the trail of America whiskey-making from its 17th century origins right up to the present day. In it, readers will discover the history of the American whiskey industry, how American whiskey is made and marketed, the differences among various types of American whiskey (bourbon, rye, Tennessee) and how they compare to other world whiskies.
Readers also will meet the many fascinating characters who have made American whiskey what it is today, whether they be famous, infamous or largely unknown. All major producers and brands are discussed. The book includes a complete tasting guide with 35 detailed product reviews.
Bourbon, Straight: The Uncut and Unfiltered Story of American Whiskey, is for fans of American whiskey, but also for readers who just enjoy a good tale steeped in American culture and heritage.
Bourbon, Straight is richly detailed, clear, authoritative, insightful, independent and fun to read.”
This is the last book on our list. While it is bourbon specific, it functions more of a chapter book read rather than a reference, but it holds its own in terms of the information contained within. It’s entertaining for a fan of any whiskey style and the content is delivered in a concise and simple message. This book is truly a must read for bourbon fans.
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