This is my first whisky book and I think it is ok for that purpose. There is too many names and too many dates to remember for begginer. It gives you the overview of the whole proces. It mentions The Wkisky Exchange several time as important part of the industry, but they are responsible for that book. 256 This is a beautiful book. Lavishly produced, with glossy paper, colourful illustrations, a cheerful, modern tone throughout. It's one of those books that just jump off the shelf. It's got the right size to hold in one's hand, and has one of those velvety covers that posh hardbacks have, the ones that are impossible to keep pristine, and which absorb dust, grit, and the grease of one's fingers indelibly, no matter how clean.
The purported goal of the book is to 'demistify' the whisky industry by dispelling myths and presenting things as they truly are. However, the tone that is clearly intended as down-to-earth, comes across as quite full of itself. Areas of controversy in the field of whisky are hand-waved away with pedantic, self-appointed authority, complete with conclusions drawn and scorn discreetly piled on those who hold opposing views. Some facts, particularly in the section on whisky-making, are written so carelessly so as to actually obfuscate the subject.
The author meanders, weaving back and forth in history to point out characters, tidbits about marketing and production, juicy anecdotes, and opinions about the industry, then segueing back to the list of consultants, all of whom must be mentioned by name every time (and who presumably are all known intimately to the author). Unassuming, desultory flattery is painstakingly delivered with every reference. Mysteriously, the opinions of the person who sponsored the writing of the book (and whose brand appears prominently on the cover) are always present in these passages. This comes across as disingenuous, and quite frankly, off-putting. I would've preferred them to just spell out clearly whose opinions were being showcased in the book, instead of all this mucking around.
My biggest gripe with this book is that, whereas the tone certainly strikes a co-conspiratorial, let-me-tell-you-how-things-are note, the godawful, obvious lack of editing severely undermines it. The run-on sentence is this author's preferred milieu, with inconsistent and haphazard use of the only two punctuation marks they seem to know -- the semi-colon and the comma -- frequently in places that would have been better served by brackets or a paragraph break. This, and turns of phrase that seem like acrobatic pirouettes, make for confusing reading. At times this book reads like the author is quite literally falling over themselves trying to show how much they know about the subject under discussion. Sometimes the density of information crammed into one sentence was such that I had to re-read the preceding half a page to try to understand who or what the writer was talking about.
Overall, the book isn't terrible -- there are a lot of salvageable bits in here, including the list of other books on whisky quoted in the text -- and in its best sections really comes alive with the quirkiness of its descriptions, anecdotes, and industry insider morsels. However, the presentation is mediocre at best, and the constant see-sawing between the third-person authority and chatty friend with inside knowledge voices is jarring. It is 'unique' amongst books on the subject of whisky in that it casts a wide net, wider than I've ever seen. It aims to present a multi-dimensional picture of whisky spanning history, industry, marketing, collecting, drinking, and more, but it bites out too much and clearly has half-chewed, undigested bits in the final mix. The amount of detail about the breadth of subjects it touches on is breath-taking. It also leaves quite a bit unsaid that would make for a more balanced presentation. It's a bunch of opinions and personal conclusions, presented with authority as fact. Whether or not that accomplishes the demystification goal is a matter for each reader to decide. Personally, what this book did was make me want to read more books, to be able to grasp the contents of this book, and see how much I agree with its conclusions... or not.
In the last page, what I'm sure was intended as a tribute to the late and great whisky author Michael Jackson -- like the finish of an immature whisky -- ends abruptly and leaves the reader wondering if there should have been more. It's a quirky, idiosyncratic book, not without merit but certainly needing context, if one is to make the most of it. Focused on Scotch primarily, a good overview of the current state of global whisky, with fun anecdotes. 256
Demystify the world of whisky.
Whisky experts Nick Morgan and The Whisky Exchange open the lid on the whisky industry, revealing what makes one of the world's simplest spirits just so popular. Everything You Need to Know About Whisky will answer all of your burning questions; from what makes the perfect scotch and how to drink it like a pro to an exploration of distilleries around the world and their fascinating (often scandalous) histories.
This indispensable guide is filled with insider tips on finding your new favourite bottle and brewing up the very best whisky based cocktails - essential reading for all whisky fans, novices and experts alike. Everything You Need to Know About Whisky: (But are too afraid to ask)
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