2024 Top Whiskey Books Every Enthusiast Must Have
Are you among the many whiskey connoisseurs who love reading books besides savoring a fine dram? If your answer is a resounding 'Yes'! Then you've arrived at the right destination. For whiskey connoisseurs, there's a similar pleasure in pairing a fine dram with the enjoyment of a good book. These moments not only become enjoyable but also essential when the book you're reading is about whiskey. For a moment, picture this: you, reclined in your favorite armchair, a glass of your preferred whiskey in hand and a plethora of whiskey books on the table. As you take a sip, you pick one whiskey book to read. And, within the next few moments, you've immersed yourself in its world of words and wonder.
Let's get you out of the imagination. So, how was your picturization? Of course, you might have felt like 'Jack Torrance' from the classic film 'The Shining.' But there's no need to pretend to be any classic old Hollywood-style actor. You're your own version and there's a whiskey literary adventure awaiting you.
Royal Batch has compiled a detailed blog post on the five whiskey books that every enthusiast like you needs to have. Our curated selection of books deals with whiskey's rich history, nuanced flavors, and intricate craftsmanship. Read this whole blog post and decide at the end which whiskey book you should buy. So, this time, let's raise our glasses to the magic of literature and libations.
1. 'Everything You Need to Know About Whiskey (but are too afraid to ask)' by Nicholas Morgan & The Whiskey Exchange
This modern-day classic 'Everything You Need to Know About Whiskey (but are too afraid to ask)' is the best book when it comes to the exploration of whiskey. Written by Nicholas Morgan in collaboration with 'The Whiskey Exchange,' the book masterfully navigates through the various types of whiskey, offering insightful explanations of the differences between Scotch, bourbon, rye, and more.
Nicholas Morgan is the writer, historian, whiskey industry veteran, and author.
In an exclusive interview, Billy Abbott questioned Nicholas Morgan: who do you think this book is really aimed at?
To which Morgan answered,
I think it's for anyone and everyone who's sort of curious about the world of whiskeys. It's for people who might consider themselves to be whiskey experts.
Very seriously, there's a lot of stuff in there that people don't know—even I didn't know when I came across it. The book also answers some of the burning questions: This is how whiskey is made, this is about maturation, and this is the glass you have to use. Then, it goes on to talk about whiskey collecting in a separate dedicated chapter.
Royal Batch has ranked this book at #1 since it perfectly answers the frequent questions of both groups of whiskey audiences- the beginners & die-heart whiskey fans who love to pour Southern star paragon. The book was published in 2021, and in the last few years, it has already become one of the best whiskey books in the modern world.
2. 'The Whiskey Distilleries of The United Kingdom' by Alfred Barnard
Our whiskey sages might have heard of the book 'The Whiskey Distilleries of The United Kingdom' in their lifetime. This highly recognized book was first published in 1887 and is often counted as one of the most iconic whiskey books in history. It was written by Alfred Barnard, a British distilling and brewing historian. The book contains more than 150 pen drawings of the interior of different distilleries across England, Scotland, and Ireland.
In a video from the 'Edinburgh Whisky Academy' YouTube channel, Dr Gordon Steele discusses the legacy and impact of Barnard's Book with renowned historian Fionnán O'Connor. Here is some of the valuable information from this video.
- Harper's Weekly Gazette commissioned Alfred Barnard to write this book.
- He started writing the book in the spring of 1885 and completed it by 1887. He visited 129 distilleries in Scotland, 28 in Ireland, and 4 in England to write about the interiors of distilleries.
- He was among the first to differentiate the concept of self-whiskies and blending whiskies.
If you love history, whiskey, and reading, 'The Whiskey Distilleries of The United Kingdom' is the book you need.
3. Whiskey Master Class: The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Scotch, Bourbon, Rye, and More (By Lew Bryson)
If you love reading articles on whiskey and its market trend, you may have heard of 'Lew Bryson.' He was the managing editor for Whiskey Advocate for 20 years, a senior drinks writer for the Daily Beast, and a primary contributor to Bourbon+ magazine as a writer.
In 2020, he debuted his highly anticipated book 'Whiskey Master Class: The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Scotch, Bourbon, Rye & More. The book totally justifies its title; it is truly a masterclass on whiskey.
'The Spirit of Edmonton' dedicated a detailed video on reading each Whiskey Mater Class chapter in their whiskey book club. In one of the episodes of the WBC, 'The Spirit of Edmonton' invited Lew Bryson to join the conversation. Dolph (CEO of The Spirit of Edmonton) asked Bryson a question: How long did it take him to write this whole book?
To which Bryson answered,
Not that long, under a year! To be honest with you, it was roughly the same thing as tasting whiskey. I mean, tasting different whiskeys literally just opened up my notebooks, and I wrote it. Also, I had to visit Alberta because some people of mine opened my eyes to what Canadian whiskey is all about. Now, with this book, I am trying to do the same work because there are so many Americans who just don't understand Canadian whiskey. They see the word 'Rye,' and they ask, why doesn't it taste exactly like this (American Single Malt)?
He keeps going by saying,
'It's not the same thing.' Well, the ice cream doesn't taste like gelato; it's supposed to be different. I'm very nice to Canadian whiskey, and I very much like it. And it drives me crazy how so many Americans are averse to trying to understand it.
In the words of Dr. Damonse, this book is a perfect, lovely, geeky scientific detail of creating and integrating flavors in whiskeys.
4. Whiskey, Wit, and Wisdom by Gavin D. Smith
We're discussing the best whiskey books and how we can forget Gavin D. Smith's famous 'Whiskey, Wit and Wisdom.' This light-hearted and extra entertaining book is such a warm hug from D. Smith. Basically, the book contains jokes, funny stories, and quotes about the Whiskey industry. You may also encounter numerous famous personalities from the whiskey industry and read a lot of jokes about them. If you want to read a fun whiskey book, 'Whiskey, Wit, and Wisdom' is what you need. Give it a try & you won't be disappointed by Gavin D. Smith's wonderful humor.
Speaking of Gavin D. Smith, this man is a talented writer and editor with over years of experience. To this date, Smith has written over 20 books, including Whiskey, Wit, and Wisdom. His other notable works include Whiskey Opus, The Whiskey Men, The Scottish Smuggler & Ardbeg: A Peaty Provenance.
In a years-old interview with Whiskey author Gavin D Smith, he talked about how his childhood in Scotland helped him establish a never-ending relationship with whiskey. He also acknowledged master blenders like Richard Paterson for inspiring him to write whiskey books.
Royal Batch feels this book is really underrated when it comes to the best whiskey books. That's why our expert liquor readers have included it in this list. It is a fun, light-hearted, and genius whiskey book.
5. ‘101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die’ by Lan Buxton
‘101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die' by Lan Buxton is the best-digit numbered style whiskey book of all time. We've said what we had to.
Royal Batch Team Members initially thought this book may unravel Lan Buxton's favorite whiskies, which he has tried. But the reality was far different from this. The book actually discusses 101 whiskies, which every whiskey connoisseur should try. Thus, Lan Buxton has suggested the 101 whiskies that you should try.
Buxton's highly acclaimed book is one-of-a-kind. It perfectly transfers the main aim of the book to the reader while making them bored. And huge credit goes to the planning and execution team for creating the outline of this book.
The quality of the boom wasn't even a worry since it was written by Lan Buxton, one of the recognized names in the liquor industry with 35+ years of experience.
Initially, the book was meant for the popular Christmas gift idea. Due to this, the book has been updated through various yearly editions each Christmas.
No matter how much information you have about whiskeys, this book is one of the most fun, informative, and feel-good whiskey books ever.
There's one famous quote that defines this book's impact on the whiskey industry.
'The 101 Whiskies that enthusiasts must seek out and try in order to complete their whiskey education'.
During a YouTube Live Stream on 'The Spirit of Edmonton' Weekly Book Club interview, Lan Buxton talked about this book.
He said,
What do I think? What Score? I give whether something you know 8.5 points or whatever it might be. It's not really important; you've bought the book, and only you know what your taste might be for really robust whiskeys or if you really prefer heavily peaching whiskeys. I don't know how many whiskies you've tried. I don't know how many you wish to try. I don't know what your budget is. So, all I can do is suggest some interesting and different things – some I like, and some just don't work quite well for me. But all I know is that these are some interesting & different whiskies that you might enjoy. So, go try it for yourself.
If you're looking to buy this book, consider buying all its editions (1-5th). Each edition contains relatively new information.
The End! Consider Buying it Now.
That's a wrap for today. Whiskey books offer a rich and immersive journey into the world of this beloved spirit, catering to both novice enthusiasts and seasoned connoisseurs alike. Whether enjoyed as a personal indulgence or shared among friends, whiskey books leave a lasting impression, inspiring curiosity and camaraderie.
Also, do check out Royal Batch's whiskey collection. From RIP Van Winkle Bourbon to Smoke Wagon Private Barrel Rye, we provide a diverse range of whiskies to meet every connoisseur's needs. Explore our website now!
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