Books About Scotch Single Malt Whisky, The History of Distilling Scotch Single Malt Whisky, And Tasting Notes

When the pleasure I took in a "Scotch-on-the-rocks" turned to a love of single malt whisky, I turned to books to increase my knowledge and expand the experience. Some of the books I have found valuable for whisky tasting and research are described below. I am grateful to the authors of these and other books for many of the facts and anecdotes contained on this web site.


A to Z of Whisky by Gavin D. Smith 1997 Purchase	I mistakenly assumed this book would be a simple primer, that duplicated the basic information about whisky distilling contained in the first chapter of every book on whisky. The truth is, this book contains more information than I would have thought possible. Set up as a dictionary, it's fascinating to randomly flip to an entry and learn some interesting fact about whisky ("low flyer" is a colloquial name for Famous Grouse, or "peatreek" is a reference to the smoke produced during malting). Very highly recommended.

Appreciating Whisky by Phillip Hills 2000 Purchase	At last, a book on tasting whisky (as opposed to the tastes of whisky). Many books give extensive notes on the flavors evident in whiskies (as does this site). This book teaches you what to look for and how to experience each flavors for yourself. Most newcomers to whisky want to know what various tastes they should be looking for, and how to differentiate one from another. This is the book that unlocks the mystery of whisky tasting. Though a bit technical (necessarily so), it's well worth the read and will enhance anyone's appreciation of whisky. Very highly recommended.

The Art of Whisky : A Deluxe Blend of Whisky Posters from the Public Record Office by Jim Murray 1999 Purchase	As a graphic artist, and former illustrator, I've thoroughly enjoyed this book. In addition to the exceptional visuals of advertising art from a bygone era, there are copious notes on distilleries that long ago ceased operation. The book is an insightful glimpse into the past of whisky production. Unfortunately, the book leaves you with an impossible desire to sample the whiskies.
	Very highly recommended for anyone interested in the visuals associated with whisky, and quite informative for anyone who takes pleasure in whisky.

Brander's Guide to Scotch Whisky by Michael Brander 1996 Purchase	As stated on the cover, this book has been published for more than twenty years. Unfortunately, it's a bit outdated at this point. Though it offers succinct information about the distilleries, other books (like The Complete Guide To Single Malt Whisky by Michael Jackson, and The Malt Whisky File by Tucek and Lamond) provide more thorough details, tasting notes and images of labels and the distilleries. Not recommended.

The Complete Guide to Whiskey: A Guide to the Worlds Best Scotch Malts, Irish Whiskeys, and Bourbons by Jim Murray 1997 Purchase	Jim Murray is one of the foremost whisky writers and this book shows his passion for whisky. It's an especially useful book if you enjoy or want to learn more about American, Canadian and Japanese whiskies. Note: an updated version of this book (2000) is available under the name The World Whiskey Guide (below). Recommended.

Handbook of Whisky : A Complete Guide to the World's Best Malts, Blends and Brands by Dave Broom 2000 Purchase	Not reviewed at this time.

Let's Collect Scotch Whisky by David Daiches 1988, Reprinted 1994 Purchase	This is actually a small pamphlet, only 32 pages. It has some interesting information, diagrams, and photographs of the distilling process but is otherwise quite dated at this point. I found it interesting to see the labels from 16 years ago, most of which have gone through several revisions in the intervening years. Not recommended.

malt whisky by Charles MacLean 1997 Purchase	I receive many messages from visitors asking what book I would recommend for the novice who is just beginning to explore the world of single malts. This is the book. It's a very beautiful "coffee table" book, filled with history, lore, maps, explanations, definitions and notes. Most helpful to the beginner are "tasting wheels" that diagram the range of flavors most common in single malts. In addition to gaining knowledge about whisky and the distillation process, the exquisite photographs will cause you to fall in love with Scotland. All this and it's only $30.00. Very highly recommended.

Malt Whisky: A Contemporary Guide by Graham Moore 1999 Purchase	This is an enjoyable reference book about the distilleries, the distilling process, and the history of malt whisky distillation in Scotland. Though it doesn't offer tasting notes, it does present quite varied and unique information about each distillery. I find myself turning to it often when seeking information about a distillery. Highly recommended.

The Malt Whisky Almanac by Wallace Milroy 1996 Purchase	This is a favorite book for travelers visiting the distilleries in Scotland. It 's not extensive, there isn't much background information on the distilleries, but it does give tasting notes. Most important is information about distillery tours, hours of operation, and telephone numbers. Travelers love it because it is small, lightweight, and there is plenty of room to jot down personal tasting notes. Recommended, (if you're taking a trip to visit the distilleries it's very highly recommended).

The Malt Whisky Cellar Book by Wallace Milroy 1999 Purchase	This is quite a useful book -- notebook really. After some initial guides to tasting and detailed lists of operating distilleries, defunct distilleries and their history of operation, and contact information, the book becomes a series of over 100 templates for tasting notes. The templates (one per large page) allow you to include as much or as little information as you like, but includes labeled spaces for everything from where you purchased the bottle, price paid, and contact name and phone number, to the tasting notes themselves. Recommended -- for the very serious collector.

The Malt Whisky File: A Connoisseur's Guide to Malt Whiskies and Distilleries by Robin Tucek and John Lamond Second Edition, 1997 Purchase	Along with Michael Jackson's guide, one of the essential books on single malt whisky. At first I relied more on the Jackson book as it gave numerical ratings that were easier for a novice to follow. Tucek and Lamond don't give the taster an easy out -- they describe the attributes of each whisky, but leave it up to the individual taster to make his or her own value judgments. The information on both the distilleries and bottlings is comprehensive. Very highly recommended.

The Malt Whisky File: A Connoisseur's Guide to Malt Whiskies and Distilleries by John Lamond, Robin Tucek 1995 Purchase	This is an earlier edition of the same title listed above. I include it here because I find it valuable to keep older editions of some guides. Every once-in-a-while an older bottle of whisky will show up somewhere and I like to be able to find a reference for comparison. This is obviously a closeout, and a real bargain. Recommended.

Michael Jackson's Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch by Michael Jackson Fourth Edition, 1999 New Edition Purchase	Though this is still the essential guide to single malt whisky, this latest edition has grown so large, there is perhaps too much information, especially for a pocket-sized book. The type is smaller than in previous editions, the paper is thinner, the reproductions of labels are smaller, and in many cases the scans of labels are blurry and discolored.
	Most disconcerting for an American audience is the lack of access to the vast majority of the malts reviewed in the book. A sticker on the cover states that there are 800 reviews. My guess is that perhaps only 10 percent of these are commonly available to the American market. Many releases that have been available in the US (Coopers Choice, and many bottlings from Cadenhead, Signatory, Hart Brothers, and Murry McDavid) are not represented. With the current level of interest in single malts and the large variety of releases from distilleries and independent bottlers arriving on a daily basis, it is impossible to keep up with every available single malt. Jackson is to be commended for attempting this Herculean feat but the result becomes more of a catalog than a guide. His notes on the distilleries, their history and future plans are still exemplary. While still a must for the serious collector, I'd advise the novice to purchase either The Malt Whisky File by Tucek & Lamond, or malt whisky by Charles MacLean.

Pocket Guide to Scotch Whisky by Charles MacLean 1998 Purchase	This is a small book that, as the title indicates, literally fits in a shirt pocket. Don't be too quick to pass it off as a novelty, however; it's packed with information and tasting notes from one of the foremost authorities on malt whisky (see Malt Whisky above). In pubs along the Whisky Trail you'll see tourists sneaking peeks at this book to compare notes as they sip single malts. Very highly recommended.

Scotch Missed: The Lost Distilleries of Scotland by Brian Townsend 2000 Purchase	This is a fascinating book on the silent stills of Scotland. The author has compiled information on the many distilleries that haven't survived for one reason or another, and gives brief histories and glimpses of the whisky we won't taste. Lots of historical black and white photographs. Very highly recommended.

Scotch Whisky: It's Past and Present by David Daiches 1969, 1995 Purchase	I'd heard of this little book but hadn't come across a copy. What a pleasure it is to finally read it. It's a history of Scotch whisky from it's humble origins as a poor man's drink, to the gourmand's delight it has become today. The book is loaded with information, but it is not anecdotal in nature. If you're new to the world of single malts you'll probably find it dry and somewhat boring. The long time fan and collector of whisky will find it fascinating. Very highly recommended.

Scotch Whisky by Gavin D. Smith 1999 Purchase	This is a fascinating book on the history of Scotch single malt and blended whiskies. It's basically a scrap book, packed with information and photographs. A nice book to pick up and thumb through while sampling a dram from one of your favorite distilleries. The hundreds of historical photographs are accompanied by detailed notes and captions.
	I was delighted when I scanned the book and learned that a building I stopped at to ask directions near Campbeltown was the former Burnside distillery.. Very highly recommended.

Scotch Whisky Recipes by Jo Guthrie 1999 Purchase	Okay, why you ask would I extoll the virtues of the finest single malt whiskies, then suggest that they casually be thrown into the cooking pot? Well, hold on to your Black Bowmore. A little whisky can liven up a meal (before, after, and even in the fare).
	Don't believe me? Next time you barbecue, marinade the steaks for 45 minutes to an hour in whisky. Add your favorite spices, or make it easy on yourself and buy a bottle of Schilling's Montreal Steak Seasoning. And there's good news -- in recipes, a lesser whisky tastes just as good as the finest. There's always that odd bottle of whisky that was given as a present or bought on a whim. It's been sitting on the shelf for years and you'll probably never have another sip. Here's your chance to convert it into sumptuous cuisine. Recommended.

Scotch Whisky: Top Single Malts by Nigel Blundell 1998 Purchase	The book below is commended for showing photographs of bottles as opposed to labels only. This book takes that asset to an extreme. Each of the 44 single malts assessed in the book is accompanied by a photo of the bottle that is close to actual size. Aside from the spectacular photographs, there is very little new information offered here, and many distilleries (and all independent bottlings) are left out. Not recommended.

Single Malt Scotch Roddy Martine, Bill Milne 1997 Purchase	Not reviewed at this time.

The Single Malt Whisky Companion : A Connoisseur's Guide by Helen Arthur 1997 Purchase	There are so many books on single malt whisky available today, each having its own strengths and weaknesses. This book is probably a good place for the novice to begin an exploration of the world of single malts. While other books contain more detail in the histories of the distilleries, tasting notes, and explanations of the distilling process, this book gives just enough information to intrigue and encourage without becoming confusing.
	An added bonus are the many photographs of the distilleries, labels, and bottles from each distillery (many books only show labels or small photos of bottles). Highly recommended.

Single Malt Whiskies of Scotland by James F. Harris & Mark H. Waymack 1992 Purchase	In the current atmosphere of frenzied interest in single malt whisky, there have come numerous glossy, well-written and well-produced books on the subject. Only seven years ago a little book like this was the norm: cheaply produced, lightly informative, and sparsely illustrated.
	Only for the die-hard collector who must have every book on single malt whisky. Not recommended.

Still Life with Bottle by Ralph Steadman 1994, Reprint 1997 Purchase	Fresh out of art school, I began my career as an illustrator. One of my first commissions was a cover for Rolling Stone magazine. At the time, Ralph Steadman was practically the house illustrator for Rolling Stone, illustrating the Hunter Thompson stories as well as many other articles. Over the years his work has been seen less frequently so it is a pleasure to see that his time has been devoted to research for this book.
	The book is a delight. A thoroughly enjoyable collection of his eccentric watercolors, combined with essays, tasting notes and anecdotes. Highly recommended.

Whisk(e)y by Stefan Gabanyi 1996 Purchase	This is a handy little book, actually a whisky dictionary. Come across a term, or name of an obscure blend or vatted malt? Chances are you'll find it explained in here. Highly recommended.

Whisky: The Water of Life - Uisge Beatha by Helen Arthur 2000 Purchase	This is another of the "coffee table" variety of whisky books that gathers a bit of everything together in one place. There are notes on how to taste whisky, cursory tasting notes on mainstream releases, photographs of bottles and distilleries, and histories of Scotch, Irish, American, and Japanese distilleries.
	Unfortunately, the information starts to wear a bit thin after awhile. Surprisingly, much of the photography is dated and obsolete (the bottles on display at the Wm. Cadenhead's shop have labels that were discontinued ten years ago?). The Charles MacLean book malt whisky (above), does it much better and with beautiful photography. Not recommended.

The Whisky Trails : A Traveler's Guide to Scotch Whisky by Gordon Brown 2000 Purchase	This is a delightful and informative book, essential for the traveler intent on visiting the distilleries. Don't be misled by the title, this isn't a book on the Whisky Trail (a group of eight Speyside distilleries), this book covers most of the distilleries in Scotland. There is information on the background history, location, visitor center hours and telephone numbers, tasting notes, and additional things to see and do in the area. Lots of beautiful color photographs. Essential for the traveler. Highly recommended for others

Whisky, Wit & Wisdom by Gavin D. Smith 2000 Purchase	Most entries in this book are no longer than a paragraph, making it an easy book to pick up from time to time and leaf through. Though you'll seldom actually laugh out loud at the stories and anecdotes, you'll ocassionally chuckle amd many times gain a little insight into whisky culture. Recommended.

The World Whiskey Guide by Jim Murray 2000 Purchase	This book is an update to The Complete Guide to Whiskey: A Guide to the Worlds Best Scotch Malts, Irish Whiskeys, and Bourbons (above). It's an especially useful book if you enjoy or want to learn more about American, Canadian and Japanese whiskies. Recommended.

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