The Impossible Collection of Whiskey


Book Description

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.”




Scotch on the Rocks


Book Description

From the blackened, crumbling tenements of Glasgow come ugly rumours... An army of separatist fanatics, recruited from the razor gangs of Europe's most violent city and funded and armed by an unknown power, are standing ready - waiting for the moment to strike. Is the Nationalist tide about to turn? Will Prime Minister Harvey avert catastrophe...? The possibilities of a civil war in Britain have never been so graphically portrayed.




Raw Spirit


Book Description

As a native of Scotland, bestselling author Iain Banks has decided to undertake a tour of the distilleries of his homeland in a bid to uncover the unique spirit of the single malt. Visiting some of the world's most famous distilleries and also some of its smallest and most obscure ones, Banks embarks on a journey of discovery which educates him about the places, people and products surrounding the centuries-old tradition of whisky production. Using various modes of transport - ferries to the islands, cars across the highlands, even bicycles between bus-stops - Banks' tour of Scotland combines history, literature and landscape in an entertaining and informative account of an exploration in which the arrival is by no means the most important part of the journey.




Whisky: The Manual


Book Description

This highly accessible and enjoyable guide is full of practical and fascinating information about how to enjoy whisky. All whisky styles are covered, including (just whisper it) blends. Along the way a good few myths are exploded, including the idea that whisky has to be taken neat. In 'What to Drink', world-renowned expert Dave Broom explores flavour camps - how to understand a style of whisky - and moves on to provide extensive tasting notes of the major brands, demonstrating whisky's extraordinary diversity. In 'How to Drink', he sets out how to enjoy whisky in myriad ways - using water and mixers, from soda to green tea; and in cocktails, from the Manhattan to the Rusty Nail. He even looks at pairing whisky and food. Whisky: The Manual is a spirited, entertaining and no-nonsense guide, dispelling the mysteries of whisky and unlocking a whole host of exciting possibilities for this magical drink.




Whisky on the Rocks


Book Description

This book describes the geology of Scotland and Northern Ireland in relation to the important malt whisky producing districts




This Naked Mind


Book Description

This Naked Mind has ignited a movement across the country, helping thousands of people forever change their relationship with alcohol. Many people question whether drinking has become too big a part of their lives, and worry that it may even be affecting their health. But, they resist change because they fear losing the pleasure and stress-relief associated with alcohol, and assume giving it up will involve deprivation and misery. This Naked Mind offers a new, positive solution. Here, Annie Grace clearly presents the psychological and neurological components of alcohol use based on the latest science, and reveals the cultural, social, and industry factors that support alcohol dependence in all of us. Packed with surprising insight into the reasons we drink, this book will open your eyes to the startling role of alcohol in our culture, and how the stigma of alcoholism and recovery keeps people from getting the help they need. With Annie’s own extraordinary and candid personal story at its heart, this book is a must-read for anyone who drinks. This Naked Mind will give you freedom from alcohol. It removes the psychological dependence so that you will not crave alcohol, allowing you to easily drink less (or stop drinking). With clarity, humor, and a unique blend of science and storytelling, This Naked Mind will open the door to the life you have been waiting for. “You have given me my live back.” —Katy F., Albuquerque, New Mexico “This is an inspiring and groundbreaking must-read. I am forever inspired and changed.” —Kate S., Los Angeles, California “The most selfless and amazing book that I have ever read.” —Bernie M., Dublin, Ireland




Ring of Steel


Book Description

Penelope My mother just passed away, leaving me a letter filled with more than just her goodbyes. It dropped a bombshell. I now know where my father is. That's how I ended up here - the Rebel Vipers MC clubhouse. But my dad isn't the only thing I found when I got here. Now, there are two hot bikers vying for my attention and I find myself falling for both of them. What do I do when they say I don't have to choose because they want to share me? Ring I'm starting to realize that there's more to life than just my work. I'm ready for a family and a home, but now I've got to figure out how to break it to my President that not only do I want his sister but I want to share her with my best friend. Add in that something shady's happening in our town, and our world's about to be turned on its side. Steel I just got home after being locked up for two years and life has already taken a crazy turn. I didn't expect to see her again, especially not in my club, and I definitely didn't expect to find out that she's my President's sister. But she shows love to me and my daughter when we really need it most. Add in my best friend, and our family's complete. But when trouble kicks up, no chaos will keep us from getting our sunshine back. ***This story is a MFM MC romance. The men are best friends who fall for the same woman, and they decide that sharing her is worth the drama it may cause.




Pappyland


Book Description

The New York Times bestseller! “A warm and loving reflection that, like good bourbon, will stand the test of time.” —Eric Asimov, The New York Times “Bourbon is for sharing, and so is Pappyland.”—The Wall Street Journal The story of how Julian Van Winkle III, the caretaker of the most coveted cult Kentucky Bourbon whiskey in the world, fought to protect his family's heritage and preserve the taste of his forebears, in a world where authenticity, like his product, is in very short supply. Following his father’s death decades ago, Julian Van Winkle stepped in to try to save the bourbon business his grandfather had founded on the mission statement: “We make fine bourbon—at a profit if we can, at a loss if we must, but always fine bourbon.” With the company in its wilderness years, Julian committed to safeguarding his namesake’s legacy or going down with the ship. Then he discovered that hundreds of barrels from the family distillery had survived their sale to a multinational conglomerate. The whiskey that Julian produced after recovering those barrels would immediately be hailed as the greatest in the world—and soon would be the hardest to find. Once they had been used up, a fresh challenge began: preserving the taste of Pappy in a new age. Wright Thompson was invited to ride along as Julian undertook the task. From the Van Winkle family, Wright learned not only about great bourbon but about complicated legacies and the rewards of honoring your people and your craft—lessons that he couldn’t help but apply to his own work and life. May we all be lucky enough to find some of ourselves, as Wright Thompson did, in Pappyland.




Whiskey Women


Book Description

Shortly after graduating from University of Glasgow in 1934, Elizabeth “Bessie” Williamson began working as a temporary secretary at the Laphroaig Distillery on the Scottish island Islay. Williamson quickly found herself joining the boys in the tasting room, studying the distillation process, and winning them over with her knowledge of Scottish whisky. After the owner of Laphroaig passed away, Williamson took over the prestigious company and became the American spokesperson for the entire Scotch whisky industry. Impressing clients and showing her passion as the Scotch Whisky Association’s trade ambassador, she soon gained fame within the industry, becoming known as the greatest female distiller. Whiskey Women tells the tales of women who have created this industry, from Mesopotamia’s first beer brewers and distillers to America’s rough-and-tough bootleggers during Prohibition. Women have long distilled, marketed, and owned significant shares in spirits companies. Williamson’s story is one of many among the influential women who changed the Scotch whisky industry as well as influenced the American bourbon whiskey and Irish whiskey markets. Until now their stories have remained untold.




Straight Whisky


Book Description

'Straight Whisky' is the first book ever to chronicle all the music, magic and mayhem of the Sunset Strip. Erik Quisling and Austin Williams have created a unique multi-levelled portrait that is unlike any other rock book on record. With its sweeping historical analysis and down and dirty details, 'Straight Whisky' pulls no punches and leaves no stone unturned. Quisling has drawn upon extensive research to chronicle the ways in which music on the Sunset Strip has both shaped and reflected the American experience since 1964. Williams has chosen sixteen of the most memorable events from the period and developed them into dramatic narratives that offer an intensely intimate view of this incredible story. Together, along with dozens of rare photos and original interviews with the rock stars who were there when it all happened, these perspectives provide a comprehensive look at the most famous stretch of rock 'n' roll real estate on Earth: the famed 'rock block' of Sunset Boulevard. Here are the stories that have been whispered about for decades. Now they can be told out loud for the first time.