Book Review
Tasting Whiskey
An Insiders Guide to the Unique
Pleasures of the Worlds
Finest Spirits By Lew Bryson
By Sherrie Wilkolaski
Book: Tasting Whiskey:
An Insider's Guide to the
Unique Pleasures of the
World's Finest Spirits
Author: Lew Bryson
Publication Date:
November 1, 2014
Publisher: Storey
Publishing, LLC
I
f you’re interested in finding
a hotter trend than whiskey in
the spirits market right now,
you’ll be hard-pressed to find it.
Lew Bryson’s Tasting Whiskey:
An Insider’s Guide to the Unique
Pleasures of the World’s Finest
Spirits is a comprehensive guide
that leaves no barrel unturned. The
author is managing editor, feature
writer, and columnist for Whisky
Advocate, so he has the pedigree
to give this book credibility.
The book is beautifully designed,
both visually in its layout, while also
providing an easy reference for the
reader looking to find facts and
reference tools quickly. There are
many photos and colors are used to
differentiate one section of a page
from another. Whether you’re looking
as Kentucky and Tennessee in the
U.S. So if you have a favorite blend,
it can be found quickly or you can
discover a new version of the liquor
to expand your palate.
to dive in and find a fact or you’re
seriously interested in educating
yourself on the history of whiskey
craftsmanship, the layout is brilliant.
The term “whiskey” is an umbrella
that covers the general category
of this liquor, that is used
interchangeably with many other
terms such as bourbon, scotch
and rye, to name a few. Each
variety is covered in depth and
recommendations are provided
nd can be referenced by price,
geographical region, including fine
details that define each selection.
Bryson covers the history of whiskey
over centuries from Scotland,
Ireland, North America and Japan.
Within each region, the author drills
down and covers specific areas such
The classic cocktails section is one
area of the book that I quite enjoyed.
As you go through the list of recipes,
you see the importance whiskey has
played over time as the foundation
for so many cocktail standards.
Highballs like the Old-Fashioned,
Manhattan and even the Mint Julep
all depend on a derivative of whiskey
as the main ingredient. Visions of Don
Draper came to mind as I moved from
one page to the next.
If you’re a devotee interested
in setting up your distillery in a
basement or backyard garage,
105
Bryson covers the entire process,
from growing the grain, mill
grinding, mashing, fermenting,
distilling, aging and bottling. This
craft takes time and dedication.
Development of a good blend of
whiskey takes years of study. The
whiskey aficionado will enjoy the
details behind the process and
supporting charts and images.
This is a book that will keep you
coming back for more, and you’ll find
something new each and every time
you take a new look. It is perfect for
the whiskey enthusiast interested in
gaining a greater knowledge of the
craft of whiskey making, and perfect
for readers with a short attention
span. There is an incredible amount
of content bundled into small
packages throughout each chapter.