From the Editors

From grain to glass, <i>Whiskey</i> tells you everything and anything you'll ever want to know about whiskey, from storing and serving whiskey, whiskey cocktails, to pairing whiskey with food. Whether interested in the story behind aromas and flavors, what makes certain distilleries unique or how weather and environment influence taste‹this is the most fascinating illustrated examination of whiskey on the market.
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Customer Response

The romance of whiskey
Thirty years ago many believed whiskey was a doomed drink. Like wines, whiskey, which originated in Scotland and Ireland--"whiskey" comes from a Celtic word--has become a world-wide phenomenon. Michael Jackson, as famous in the whiskey world as the other Jackson in pop, lays out whiskey's allure and history in "Whiskey: the Definitive World Guide," a Dorling-Kindersley book.

Whiskey is the umbrella for Scotch (comes only out of Scotland), Bourbon, and Whiskey. The British Isles, Canada, the United States, and Japan are the biggest makers and producers of Whiskey.

Jackson explains what creates the wide varieties of whiskeys: climate, geology, water, heather, sea breeze and seaweed, barley, peat, and the various phases of the brewing process.

Paging through the Scotland section of the wonderful single malts was a tourist reminiscence of my very limited tour through Scotch country and visits to several distilleries. Sampling Scotch at ten in the morning is a walk on the wild side, trust me.

When Jackson calls his book "definitive," he is spot on. A walk through the Scotland section lists and describes all single malts, as well as blended scotch, including labels, histories, color, nose, body, palate, finish.

Here's an example:
The Dalmore, 12-year-old
Color: Ruby, amber
Nose: Sweet. Black currant jam. Rum and raisin.
Body: Sweet and rich.
Palate: Smooth and long. Super-ripe, basil, menthol. Dried fruits.
Finish: Malt, balanced, oak.

I love this book and have poured through it over and over. There's a world of information for anyone interested in more than just passing knowledge of the whiskey world of scotch, bourbon, and whiskey.

Whiskey: the definitive world guide by Michael Jackson
This is a beautifully executed books with lots of information and stunning pictures. It makes a wonderful gift item
if you are looking for a coffee table book who your favorite sipper.

Opens Up a Whole New World for the Whisky Drinker

Once you have browsed the pages of this book, a whole new world is opened up to the whisky drinker. Though by no means a connoisseur myself, I thought I was at least knowledgeable enough to tell a good one from a not so good one (is there any such thing as a bad one where whisky is concerned), or whiskey with an e as the Irish product is spelt.

Having in my time visited several of the smaller distilleries in Scotland, the most recent being Royal Lochnagar on the river Dee, near Balmoral, I though that I knew some of the less well known brands, but this book has an immense variety to choose from and certainly proves that the whisky available at your local pub or off-licence is merely the tip of the iceberg as far as whisky is concerned. Of course apart from Scotland there are several types of whiskey common to Ireland, with Bushmills being probably the most well-known brand but of course there are many others, Tullamore Dew and Black Bush are just two more of a host of brands.

The book goes into great detail regarding the different types of whisky: Single malt, single grain and blended and the plus and minus points of the multitude of different brands. Many will be surprised to know that it is not only Scotland and Ireland that hold the monopoly on whisky. America of course produce their well know Jack Daniels and Jim Beam bourbons. Canada also produces whisky, as do places as far afield as Japan and India and much closer to home Wales.

This book tells the reader virtually everything they are ever likely to want to know regarding the history of whisky, e.g. the word whiskey is taken from an ancient Gaelic term "uisce beatha" which translates as "water of life". The book also gives some detail of what gives a particular brand its distinctive taste and includes tasting notes for several key whiskies. The whisky industry is still thriving, even though many of the smaller distilleries have been brought under the umbrella of the multi-national brewing companies. For those who long to try something individual and different, it is still there, you just have to look that little bit harder.

An exhilarating journey through the ingredients, craftsmanship, and world development of whiskey
In his book, WHISKEY - THE DEFINITIVE WORLD GUIDE, Michael Jackson takes you through an exhilarating journey of fascination covering the ingredients, craftsmanship, and world development of whiskey. The crystalline palates of passionate contributors add their expertise to Jackson's anthology that includes writings on climactic influences, geological and regional imprints on whiskeys, agricultural ingredients, commercial processing, the traditional art and science of distilling, and the art of nosing and tasting.

You are taken on a whirlwind tour into the development of single malt scotch and scotch blends, bourbon, and whiskeys, with styles that span global continents. Explorations of distilled beverages include selected tastings throughout Scotland, Ireland, Canada, the United States, Japan, Europe, Asia and Australasia. These worldwide destinations are brought to life with superb photographic images and extraordinary architectural graphics.

Further exploration into the enjoyment of whiskey includes whiskey cocktails and culinary creations, matching foods with whiskey, resources for further reading and a listing of major distilleries throughout the world.

For the novice or the connoisseur, WHISKEY - THE DEFINITIVE WORLD GUIDE is an adventure into the realm of spirits. It is impossible to peruse the pages without a feeling of awe, inspired by the magnificence, history, development and flavor profiles bestowed upon the amber gem.
This book is the 2006 winner of the James Beard Award in the Books on Drink category, and deservedly so.

Great book, bad shipping
The book is great...very informative. Unfortunately my NEW copy arrived looking like and old beaten up Library copy. What's going on Amazon?

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