‘For the reader who knows little about whisky, this is a book that will easily and enjoyably fill that gap.’ Sir Alexander McCall SmithWith a foreword by Sir Alexander McCall Smith, award-winning writers Charles MacLean and Gavin D. Smith offer a rollocking narrative; describing the adventures of the legendary characters who shaped the whisky industry and how three basic ingredients – grain, yeast and water – combine to make a drink with a multitude of dif...

The Microdistillers Handbook is the complete guide to the skills, information and equipment needed for starting your own still or microdistillery for gin, whisky, vodka, rum and other spirits.

Artisan and micro distilling continue on an upward trajectory. In 2018 the UK had 205 distilleries, but that figure has now risen to 246 after a further 41 opened in 2019. The number of distilleries in the UK has now grown year on year since 2011, when there were just 110 distillers in the country. Consumers are now willing to pay for authentic smaller brands was said to have driven demand for 'craft' spirits, which has led to the increase in distillery numbers, &quote;increasing popularit...

Whisky is the world’s favourite spirit and is enjoying booming sales, especially in the USA and Asia, yet too often it’s shrouded in mystery, myth and complex- sounding terminology. This authoritative beginner’s guide cuts straight through all of this, with simple advice on how to seek out and enjoy the immense diversity of flavours and styles on offer.The eBook covers not just famous Highland malts, Irish pot still whiskeys and American bourbons, but also whiskies from South East ...

Whisky is the world’s favourite spirit and is enjoying booming sales, yet too often it’s shrouded in mystery, myth and complex-sounding terminology.This authoritative book, written by three world experts, gives simple advice on how to seek out and enjoy the immense diversity of flavours and styles on offer, and how to become more adventurous.As with any subject, the more you know, the more you can appreciate and enjoy it. This book aims to equip you with enough knowledge to...

Many books have been written about The Lake Poets - those Romantic geniuses led by William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who made their homes in the beautiful north-west corner of England known as The Lake District during the first half of the nineteenth century. Some of these volumes have concentrated on their writing, others on their lives, and yet more have focused on places within the Lake District with which they were associated. Gavin D. Smith's The Lake Poets provides an i...

Pilsners, blonde ales, India pale ales, lagers, porters, stouts: the varieties and styles of beer are endless. But as diverse as the drink is, its appeal is universal – beer is the most-consumed alcoholic beverage in the world. From pubs and inns to restaurants, bars and microbreweries, beer has made itself a staple drink around the globe. Celebrating the heritage of the world’s favourite tipple, Gavin D. Smith traces beer from its earliest days to its contemporary consumption.Afte...

Revised and updated in 2013, 101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die is a whisky guide with a difference. It is not an awards list. It is not a list of the 101 'best' whiskies in the world in the opinion of a self-appointed whisky guru. It is simply a guide to the 101 whiskies that enthusiasts must seek out and try in order to complete their whisky education. Avoiding the deliberately obscure, the ridiculously limited and the absurdly expensive, whisky expert Ian Buxton recommends an eclectic s...

Davin de Kergommeaux takes readers on a journey through the first systematic presentation of Canadian whisky: how it's made, who makes it, why it tastes the way it does, its history, and the rich, centuries-old folklore surrounding it.Join whisky authority Davin de Kergommeaux on a pan-Canadian journey from British Columbia to Nova Scotia, celebrating the diversity of Canada's unique spirit. With his conversational and accessible tutelage, de Kergommeaux offers readers a carefully ...

This guide to single malt and Scotch whiskey is an essential resource for novices and seasoned experts alike. It includes more than 200 brands and varieties of Scotch and single malt whiskey. Ratings and detailed information on Scotch and the Scotch industry are included. Information on each brand includes the varieties' strength, aroma, flavor, and distinguishing characteristics. The history and lore of single malt and Scotch whisky is shown in both text and color photographs.

Whisky, A Very Peculiar History' takes a sideways look at this most inebriating beverage from its simplistic origins to its pride of place in the drinks cabinets of the world. When Henry VIII disbanded the monasteries and let those brewing monks out into the wilderness, he had no idea of the kind of beast he'd unleashed. Whisky was used as a medicine, giving 'the glow of apparent well-being' and even horses were known to be given a dram here and there (although via the kneecaps). Featuring...

101 World Whiskies To Try Before You Die is the companion guide to 2010's 101 Whiskies To Try Before You Die. Ian Buxton again eschews the obvious whiskies and recommends another 101 whiskies that he believes every whisky lover should taste. In Ian Buxton's new collection of whisky recommendations he has cast his net wider. He includes not only whiskies from the established whisky-producing countries, but also many newcomers. The book includes whiskies from Austria, Belgium, Canada, the Cz...