The Classic Whiskey Handbook

This quintessential guide to the most essential of spirits traces the history of whiskey, its production, its heritage and the many stones that abound on its making and drinking. Different types of whiskey are lovingly described, from the hugely popular single malts and blended grains to bourbons and sour mashes. The rituals of serving -- a process steeped in tradition -- are outlined in text and photographs, as is hove to make a Rob Roy or a Rusty Nail along with other famous whiskey cocktails.

This is a comprehensive and highly entertaining reference book about whisky. Covering every type of whisky from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland to the sippin' whiskeys and bourbons of Kentucky and Tennessee, it gives essential information about what whiskies to drink and what the best ones taste like.

The Old Fashioned explores the history of the “original cocktail” through its ingredients and accessories—a rocks glass, rye whiskey or bourbon, sugar, bitters, and orange zest to garnish—and the many people and places that have contributed to the drink's legend. Featuring a handpicked selection of recipes along with delicious details about the particularities that arose with each new variation, this spirited guide is an entertaining read.

A completely updated new edition of the classic guide to the whiskeys of the world by the whiskey expert from Charles Schumann's famed Schumann's bar in Munich. This critically acclaimed guide to whiskeys of all types is back in print with its comprehensive coverage of every conceivable whiskey in precise, detailed, easy to understand yet delightful to read descriptions. While specially designed for quick and easy reference, the book is tastefully produced and handsome in its own right--the perfect gentleman's gift. Featuring over a thousand entries, this handbook discusses the world's leading and lesser-known whiskeys, making it an ideal source for the aficionado and the budding novice alike. Every traditional type of whiskey is included: Scotch single malt, blends, vatted malts, single grains, and Irish, as well as those from the new world (bourbon, rye, and Canadian). The book also takes a serious look at trendy new whiskeys emerging from Japan and continental Europe and explores how unique flavors are created through variations of ingredients, distilling techniques, and aging. Organized alphabetically in the style of a dictionary, the volume is rounded out with additional advice on serving, collecting, and storage. Every manner and nuance of whiskey is discussed between the book's elegant covers.

Create your own signature blends! Like to dabble, invent, experiment, and concoct? Like to drink? Move beyond bartending and learn how to combine alcohol with herbs, spices, fruit, and more to create your own custom blends! This book guides you step-by-step through the process of creating unique and delicious alcoholic infusion and blends as well as infused cordials and cremes. No fancy degree or equipment required! Also, learn how to make your very own whiskey blends. Includes unique recipes from some of today's leading mixologists, as well as fifty recipes, including: Smoked Bacon Bourbon October Apple Liqueur Horseradish Vodka Silver Kiwi Strawberry Tequila Cucumber Gin Cherry Whiskey Blueberry Bourbon Cheers, and bottoms up!

In The Impossible Collection of Whiskey, bestselling spirits writer Clay Risen unpacks the history of this storied drink, inviting the reader to tour some of the world’s most famed distilleries and their finest bottles. From the best Scotch of the Scottish Highlands to Kentucky’s finest Bourbon, Risen’s selection of 100 unparalleled whiskeys come from age-old makers as well as trailblazers of the craft distilling movement that has swept across the globe. Here are whiskeys selected not only for their exquisite flavor but also for rarity, age, flavor, and innovation. Bottles from countries with nascent whiskey markets, such as India and the Czech Republic, sit beside old American classics like Pappy Van Winkle and some of the rarest, most coveted bottles on the market. Risen marvels at bottles like Ireland’s Midleton Very Rare 45 Year Old, the oldest, most expensive Irish whiskey in the world. Together, these 100 bottles comprise a collection of whiskeys so exclusive that no one could ever assemble them all under one roof. A must-have for the library of any true whiskey connoisseur, The Impossible Collection of Whiskey is a carefully crafted homage to a liquor long revered as the “water of life.”

History, lore, and over fifty recipes in a “compulsively readable book about a classic American cocktail” (Susan Reigler, author of Kentucky Bourbon Country). Alongside such classics as the Old Fashioned, Mint Julep, and Martini, the Manhattan has been a staple of the sophisticated bar scene since the nineteenth century. Never out of style, this iconic drink has seen a renaissance in the craft cocktail movement, with a boost from TV's Mad Men. In theory, the recipe is simple: a mixture of whiskey, vermouth, and bitters stirred with ice, strained, and presented in a cocktail glass garnished with a cherry. But the exact ingredients and proportions—as well as the drink’s true origins—inspire great debate. In this guide, Albert W. A. Schmid dispels myths, including the tale that the Manhattan was created in 1874 by bartenders at New York City's Manhattan Club to honor the newly elected Governor Tilden at Lady Randolph Churchill’s request. Schmid also explores places and people that have contributed to the drink’s popularity and inspired its lore, including J. P. Morgan, who enjoyed a Manhattan every day at the end of trading on Wall Street. The Manhattan Cocktail also examines the effects of various bourbons and whiskeys on the aroma and flavor, even answering the age-old question of “shaken or stirred?” With over fifty recipes as well as notes and anecdotes from personalities ranging from renowned mixologist Dale DeGroff to writer Sir Kingsley Amis, it will delight both the cocktail novice and the seasoned connoisseur.