Product Description

New Updated & Expanded 2nd Edition.

Finally! A book for the novice...

Contrary to popular belief, Scotch is not just for old men sitting around stuffy country clubs...it’s the original luxury spirit and it’s now more popular than ever!

But for someone who wants to learn about Scotch, it can be a little intimidating - overwhelming even; all those unfamiliar terms, different brands - the novice has no idea where to get started.

Most books on the topic are written for those already familiar with Scotch and tend to concentrate on author ratings, distillery overviews, and tasting notes. They simply do not address the needs of someone new to Scotch.

That’s where The Instant Expert’s Guide to Single Malt Scotch comes in.

Readers will learn:

• How to read a label.
• How whisky is made, aged, and bottled.
• The difference between blended scotch and single malts.
• The difference between whisky & whiskey.
• About the four primary whisky regions of Scotland, and why you shouldn't worry about them.
• How to taste Scotch properly.
• Most importantly, how to determine what you will like.

In the end, this book will equip readers with the fundamentals, enabling them to continue to explore the great taste of single malt Scotch whisky on their own.

With new-found knowledge, what once seemed like an overwhelming number of choices will suddenly become an infinite number of unique possibilities to experience and enjoy!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #25932 in Books
• Published on: 2006-06-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 100 pages

Review
Instant Expert's Guide to Single Malt Scotch is just what its title implies, a quick and often fun read.... -- Richmond.com

The Instant Expert's Guide to Single Malt Scotch is well-written, painstakingly researched, and comes from a true love of Scotch. -- Liquor Snob

This book is a gem: a power punch of facts and information but presented in a total twaddle-free manner. -- Dominic Roskrow - Editor, Whisky Magazine

From the Publisher

This new edition of what has been described as "the single best introduction to single malt whisky ever" has been revised and expanded, and includes an introduction by Dominic Roskrow, editor of Whisky Magazine.

Written by Kevin Erskine, who also writes the very popular The Scotch Blog, a whisky industry news and commentary site which is required reading around the world by whisky insiders and whisky fans alike.

Scotch whisky is seeing something of a renaissance these days, but there's no place to go for someone with an interest in trying single malt scotch. The author has taken years of experience giving tastings to novices and teaching bar & restaurant staff, and distilled it down into a slim volume. There is no extraneous information here - just what a new scotch drinker needs to get up to speed with all of the basic essentials. Enjoy!

From the Author

For the second edition I've added new material and (based on questions from fans of the first edition) expanded on many themes.

I hope that this edition gives the Scotch novice an even more complete introduction to single malt whisky than the first edition.

This book is a result of two things - my love of good single malt scotch and my experience hosting tastings for people who are interested in learning about the same.

Many people have several preconceptions about scotch, including, but not limited to its flavor (terrible), and the type of people who drank it (old, stodgy, rich men).

But that perception is changing as the rest of the world starts to catch up with the lovers of single malt Scotch.

I guess it was inevitable that after the interest in luxury vodkas, gins and tequilas, the world would eventually turn to whisky. Why? Single malt Scotch is the original luxury spirit. Scotch didn’t have to be created by marketing people - a wide variety of single malt Scotch is already here, waiting to be appreciated. As a matter of fact, most of the scotch you’ll be trying tomorrow was made ten or more years ago.

There’s never been such a variety of easily available whisky as there is right now - and, as more people acquire a taste for the stuff, the market will continue to meet the demands.

Will you be an expert after reading this book? Not at all. But you will have a solid foundation to start exploring single malts on your own.

It truly is a great time for you to get into Scotch!

-Kevin Erskine

Customer Reviews

Fantastic Introduction
I work "in the Industry" and I must say this is a fantastic introduction for someone who has no clue about where to start.

I don't believe there is another book of this sort, which boils it down to only the most essential basics.

Neat little book.

Simply Perfect!
I am a true beer lover who is constantly on the hunt for new and exciting flavors in beverages. However after trying what seems just about every type of alcoholic beverage out there I realized that there was one frontier I truly had not experienced, which is single malt scotch. After receiving a bottle of single malt scotch from my father-in-law I realized it was time to get educated.

In comes Kevin Erskine's smooth read for such a complex beverage that quickly had me knowledgeable on how to properly enjoy this amazing spirit. This book is very concise (at only 67 pages) with lots of information that will quickly turn a novice into a pro. I highly recommend it if you too want to easily learn the marvels of single malt scotch.

A welcome mat for those of us peering in from the crack in the open door.
Recently I found myself becoming more and more interested in whisky. Yet the more web sites you visit, the more the information becomes a bit of a sensory overload. Trying to decifer between opinions and hype can get puzzling. Kevin Erskine cuts through the fog with a welcoming tone, keeping his opinions to himself, and inviting you to plot your own adventure. The book is concise, yet crammed with information. It leaves you ready to strike out on your own while it rests in your back pocket if you need a quick reminder.

Fun and fast with loads of information yet a kind tone that does not make you feel like a latecomer to the party.

Matt Jablow (Wannabe Whisky Gourmets- Yahoo group)