Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8225 in Books
• Published on: 2004-08-03
• Released on: 2004-08-03
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 448 pages

Amazon.com
He's written shamelessly for more than a decade and a half about his passion for 12- and 15-year-olds. He's described his dalliances with loves named Heather and Peat and some three dozen named Glen. His name is Michael Jackson. Relax. We're talking here about the Britain-based, award-winning drinks and spirits writer and author of, among other classic reference works, Michael Jackson's Beer Companion.

In Michael Jackson's Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch, devotees of the dram can peruse the latest revised edition of the 1989 work. In 336 pages brimming with maps, photos, and informed overview of factors such as geography and flavor components--even proximity to the sea--Jackson sketches the evolution of Scotch whisky, from the prebottling days, when shopkeepers like Johnnie Walker and the Chivas Brothers would create their own blends for sale, to the late-1960s and 1970s' surge of individual distilleries marketing their own bottlings. Lamentably labeling the former as a time when "orchestrations drowned out the soloists," Jackson provides some sweet sheet music of his own: 294 pages are devoted to an A-to-Z review (including full-color labels and tasting notes) of more than 800 singles from "every Scottish malt distillery that has ever witnessed its product in a bottle." It's the perfect book to take to your local liquor store next time you're trying to navigate the high shelf of Scotland's highlands, lowlands, and islands. You may laugh at Jackson's description of Auchentoshan Select's "oily" nose with "hints of citrus zest" or Aberlour 10-year-old's "mint-toffee" bouquet. But you'll be laughing out of the other side of your haggis when you actually smell them. All the notes are well researched and designed to appeal to Cardhu-carrying connoisseurs, as well as those who'd just like to know more about Bowmore. In his introduction, the author describes a whisky's finish as "a crescendo, followed by a series of echoes. When I leave the bottle, I like to be whistling the tune." Scotch drinkers will find plenty to wet that whistle in Michael Jackson's Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch. --Tony Mason

About the Author
As the world’s bestselling writer on whiskey, Michael Jackson needs no introduction. He was renowned for his pithy wisdom and a remarkable ability to evoke aromas and flavors. Jackson wrote many books on this subject and won many awards, including the André Simon Award and the 1999 Glenfiddich Drinks Writer of the Year. He was twice honored by Malt Advocate Magazine as “Industry Leader of the Year” and elected the first chairman of the Guild of Beer writers in France, Germany, and Belgium. He also contributed to a variety of publications, including The Independent and Whisky Magazine. He passed away in 2007.

Customer Reviews

Single Malt Treker
Each of Jackson's Guides to Single Malt have been extremely informative and useful as well as a good read.

A Gift Hard to Part With!
Jackson approaches his subject with equal measures of knowledgeability and love--and both are abundantly reflected in this latest edition of a now standard guide. After perusing the work, I relinquished it for the purpose of my purchase: as a birthday gift for a good friend. He reports that he was in no way disappointed. I doubt that many readers would be.

A gift for my husband
He loves this book and refers to it often when he has purchased another different single malt scotch. Highly recommend.