10 Must-Read Books for Whiskey Fans

10 Must-Read Books for Whiskey Fans

For whiskey enthusiasts, a curated collection of ten whiskey books can greatly enhance your appreciation and knowledge of this beloved spirit while you sip. These books typically cover a broad spectrum of topics, from the rich history and origins of whiskey-making in various regions to detailed guides on tasting notes and flavor profiles. You'll find comprehensive insights into the different types of whiskey, such as Scotch, bourbon, rye, and more, each with its own unique characteristics and traditions. Some books delve into the art and science of distillation, providing a behind-the-scenes look at how whiskey is crafted, while others offer compelling stories about legendary distilleries and the people behind them.

Love & Whiskey: The Remarkable True Story of Jack Daniel

Embark on a captivating journey with Love & Whiskey. New York Times bestselling author Fawn Weaver unveils the hidden narrative behind one of America's most iconic whiskey brands. This book is a vibrant exploration set in the present day, delving into the life and legacy of Nearest Green, the African American distilling genius who played a pivotal role in the creation of the whiskey that bears Jack Daniel's name. Buy it now!

Bourbon Land: A Spirited Love Letter to My Old Kentucky Whiskey

Knowledgeable, entertaining, and more than a little infatuated with his subject, award-winning food writer and chef Edward Lee gives us his insight into bourbon, telling us everything we should know about the mellow honey-brown treasure that's put Kentucky on the global map: How bourbon is made. Its history. How to read a label. A look inside the famous distilleries. The influence of oak. Tours of Kentucky's bourbon regions. How to taste bourbon like a professional. And, in the most delicious surprise, how to cook with bourbon, with 50 recipes from Bourbon-Glazed Chicken Wings and Blackened Salmon with Bourbon-Soy Marinade to a Bourbon and Butterscotch Pudding. Plus the best Old-Fashioned you'll ever mix. Buy it now!

Whiskey Women: The Untold Story of How Women Saved Bourbon, Scotch, and Irish Whiskey

Whiskey Women tells the tales of the women who created the industry, from Mesopotamia's first beer brewers and distillers to America's rough-and-tough Prohibition bootleggers. Women have long distilled, marketed, and owned significant shares in spirits companies, including Bushmills, Johnnie Walker, and Maker's Mark. Williamson is one of many influential women who greatly influenced Scotch, bourbon, and Irish whiskey. Until now their stories have remained untold. Buy it now!

American History Through a Whiskey Glass: How Distilled Spirits, Domestic Cuisine, and Popular Music Helped Shape a Nation

American History Through a Whiskey Glass presents a unique perspective on American history. It describes how bourbon and rye whiskey played a role in the most important events in American history, including the voyage of the Mayflower, George Washington's failed and successful political campaigns, the Civil War, pioneers moving west, Prohibition (of course), plus many more into the twenty-first century. It does so with descriptions of historical events but also with amusing anecdotes and humorous quotes from the historical figures themselves. Buy it now!

The Whiskey Rebellion: A Distilled History of an American Crisis

In March 1791 Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton shocked the western frontier when he proposed a domestic excise tax on whiskey to balance America's national debt. The law, known colloquially as the "Whiskey Act," disproportionately penalized farmers in the backcountry, while offering favorable tax incentives designed to protect larger distillers. Although Hamilton viewed the law as a means of both collecting revenue andforcefully imposing federal authority over the notoriously defiant frontier, settlers in Western Pennsylvania bristled at its passage. They demanded that the law be revoked or rewritten to correct its perceived the injustices, and begged their representatives to lobby Congress on their behalf. Buy it now!

Bourbon Empire: The Past and Future of America's Whiskey

Walk into a well-stocked liquor store and you'll see countless whiskey brands, each boasting an inspiring story of independence and heritage. And yet, more than 95% of the nation's whiskey comes from a small handful of giant companies with links to organized crime, political controversy, and a colorful history that is far different than what appears on modern labels. In Bourbon Empire, Reid Mitenbuler shows how bourbon, America's most iconic style of whiskey, and the industry surrounding it, really came to be--a saga of shrewd capitalism as well as dedicated craftsmanship. Buy it now!

Bourbon: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of an American Whiskey

Bourbon is not just alcohol--this amber-colored drink is deeply ingrained in American culture and tangled in American history. From the early days of raw corn liquor to the myriad distilleries that have proliferated around the country today, bourbon has come to symbolize America. In Bourbon: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of an American Whiskey, award-winning spirits author Fred Minnick traces bourbon's entire history, from the 1700s with Irish, Scottish, and French settlers setting up stills and making distilled spirits in the New World through today's booming resurgence. He also lays out in expert detail the critical role this spirit has played throughout the cultural and even political history of the nation--from Congress passing whiskey-protection laws to consumers standing in long lines just for a glimpse of a rare bottle of Pappy Van Winkle--complemented by more than 100 illustrations and photos. And most importantly, Minnick explores the mystery of who most likely created the sweet corn liquor we now know as bourbon. He studies the men who've been championed as its inventors over time--from Daniel Boone's cousin to Baptist minister Elijah Craig--and, based on new research and never-before-seen documentation, answers the question of who deserves the credit. Buy it now!

Whiskey: A Tasting Course: A New Way to Think--And Drink--Whiskey

The best - and most enjoyable - way to find out about whiskies is by drinking them. This truly hands-on handbook takes you on a tasting journey to discover your own personal whiskey style, and helps you to expand your horizons so you can find a world of new whiskies to enjoy. Buy it now!

Whiskey Master Class: The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Scotch, Bourbon, Rye, and More

Over the past three decades, Lew Bryson has been one of the most influential voices in whiskey--a longtime editor of Whisky Advocate and author of the definitive guide Tasting Whiskey. In this book, Lew shares everything he's learned on his journey through the worlds of bourbon, Scotch, rye, Japanese whiskey, and more (yes, there are tasty Canadian and Irish whiskeys as well!). In this book, you'll find it all. Buy it now!

Jim Murray's Whiskey Bible 2022: North American Edition

Thanks to industry guru Jim Murray and his internationally acclaimed annual Whiskey Bible, the Japanese are now running out of their own single malt and people have fought in Toronto liquor stores to grab the last bottle of his World Whisky of the Year. Rye, Irish Pot Still, and Bourbon have all seen a massive resurgence in recent years not least thanks to the visionary campaigning of the world's first-ever full time professional whisky writer. Murray has tasted nearly 20,000 different whiskies for the Whiskey Bible since it first hit the shelves in 2003. For this 2022 edition, he reflects on over another 1,200. The 4,700 whiskies included in this 2022 edition range from Scottish Single malts to Australian; from Canadian to Austrian. The whiskies from over 30 different countries are included and evaluated in his forthright, honest, amusing, fiercely independent, and non-pretentious style. Buy it now!