While Noah Rothbaum has tackled the vast subject of whiskey many times and on many platforms, he has finally encompassed his life’s work into one monumental volume. “The Whiskey Bible, A Complete Guide to the World’s Greatest Spirit” (Workman) is one of those books that if you have only one or two on the subject, this could be one of them. From whiskey’s simple origins to its crafted and complex role in the world today, Mr. Rothbaum threads it all together in a concise and most importantly, memorable and enjoyable read.
In seemingly every chapter a long standing “frequently asked question” is tackled at length and without fear of rocking the preverbal boat. Global brands’ back stories, folklore, the names of contributors to the history (fiction and non), surprising successes and disappointing innovations, are all covered here. There is even a significant section on whiskey-driven cocktails to give the reader something to do with their growing collections as their comfort zones expand along with their knowledge from reading this soon to be classic tome.
“The Whiskey Bible” would be a fine addition to the library of the aficionado and professional alike. On a side note, Noah was kind enough to include one of my recipes within but in no way had a bearing on this review.
A staggeringly comprehensive, entertaining, and approachable deep dive into the world of whiskey.
The Whiskey Bible is a user's guide to all things whiskey (including, Scotch, Bourbon, Rye, single malts, and blends). Author Noah Rothbaum has spent 25 years researching, reporting on, and and of course, tasting whiskeys from around the world. He brings an obsessive's passion to the topic, offering up a country-by-country examination of the prominent distillers and whiskey culture, and tasting notes from hundreds of whiskies, from the well-known labels to the small batch craft up-and-comers. The book includes engaging histories and a look at the nuances…
When it comes to spirits guidebooks, the agave-based category is one that can certainly be described as under-served. There are more whisky, rum and brandy books than one can ever reasonably read. It is tequila, mezcal and the like that seem to have barely enough ink to fill a small book shelf. The main reason is simple enough. It is only in the last decade or so that these distillates have gained a global consumer audience and garnered the respect that they deserve.
Anna Bruce, a journalist and photographer, primarily known for her fine work at the well-regarded website, Mezcalistas.com, has created an extremely comprehensive primer about agave and agave-adjacent spirits. By and large, there are few other agave focused books out there that manage to make the topic matter more approachable and enjoyable. Tackling these storied and historic spirits, “Tequila, Mezcal & More”, is an engaging and educational read for the home tequila or mezcal aficionado. From the FAQ’s on the agave plant, distillation practices, product stories, tasting notes and cocktail recipes, to perimeter spirits such as Bacanora, Raicilla and Sotol, Ms. Bruce covers them all in a straightforward and well-defined style. The respect for her subject matter is palpable throughout.
On the beverage industry side of things, I can endorse this book to bartenders, sales reps and beverage managers looking to fill the holes in their personal agave knowledge databases. All in all, this is a fine book to leave around for whenever you are enjoying some tequila or mezcal but would be just as useful for when the reader is ready to leap to some of the other delicious, though currently lesser-known agave offerings.
Tequila and mezcal have never been so popular: from spicy margaritas to sipping them neat and Tequila, Mezcal & More is the perfect Christmas gift or stocking stuffer for the tequila fan in your life.
Mexico-based agave journalist and photographer Anna Bruce dives into everything you need to know about tequila, mezcal, bacanora, raicilla and sotol, the people behind the bottles and the many ways to enjoy your drink.
- Learn the difference between tequila and mezcal and what actually counts as an agave spirit. - Understand how the making influences the flavour in your glass. - Savour the spirit…
Presented in a graphic novel format, one can be easily fooled into thinking that “The Comic Book History of The Cocktail” by David Wondrich (and impressively illustrated by Dean Kotz), is simply a whimsical and fast pass through the history of cocktails. In just a few pages though, the reader becomes aware that they are also being served a concise and thoughtful look at the long, and somewhat complicated past of the cocktail and its culture.
The tone is fun and conversational as David does an incredible job choosing what to include in such a wide-ranging, global and centuries spanning subject matter. As someone who has done his fair share of documenting cocktails and their full and moving-target history, I would not have wanted to be tasked with selecting which stories to include and which to omit. On this note alone, David deserves high praise and even more as he also pulls off the most important part of illustrated narratives which is to “keep it moving”.
Gliding along through time from King Midas to “King Cocktail” and beyond, even the novice cocktail enthusiast will come to the end of the book with a well-rounded appreciation of the many characters and traditions of bartending and cocktails, making their next ‘Espresso Martini’ savored with a little more reverence and even more fun. As for the well seasoned imbiber, they too will find something new every few pages or so.
On a side note, it was also quite something to find myself quoted within this book that features some of my dearest friends and mentors. A personal highlight for sure (Thanks Doc!).
“The Comic Book History of The Cocktail”, will make for an entertaining holiday gift for the novice and expert alike.
A graphic novel history of the cocktail—from prehistoric wassail to our current boozy renaissance—featuring 20 recipes by drinks historian, Daily Beast columnist, and award-winning author David Wondrich.
There's no better writer to tell the colorful history of cocktails than David Wondrich, widely considered to be one of the world's foremost authorities on cocktails and a driving force behind the early-twenty-first-century revival in the classic American art of mixing drinks.
In The Comic Book Story of the Cocktail, Wondrich teams up with comics artist Dean Kotz to trace the evolution of the cocktail. Beginning with the ancient days of wassail and…
ESSENTIAL FOR THE HOME BAR COCKTAIL ENTHUSIAST AND THE PROFESSIONAL BARTENDER ALIKE - From the basics and pro tips to the historical background that will tie it all together, this is a must-own book.
JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION BOOK AWARD NOMINEE: BEVERAGE SPIRITED AWARD® NOMINEE: BEST NEW COCKTAIL & BARTENDING BOOK
"The textbook for a new generation." --Jeffrey Morgenthaler, author of The Bar Book
"A true classic in its own right . . . that will be used as a reference for the next 100 years and more." --Gary Regan, author of The Joy of Mixology Frank Caiafa--bar manager of the legendary Peacock Alley bar in the Waldorf Astoria--stirs in recipes, history, and how-to while serving up a heady mix of the world's greatest cocktails. Learn to easily prepare pre-Prohibition classics such as the original Manhattan, or daiquiris just as Hemingway preferred them. Caiafa also introduces his own award-winning creations, including the Cole Porter, an enhanced whiskey sour named for the famous Waldorf resident. Each recipe features tips and variations along with notes on the drink's history, so you can master the basics, then get adventurous--and impress fellow drinkers with fascinating cocktail trivia. The book also provides advice on setting up your home bar and scaling up your favorite recipe for a party.
Since it first opened in 1893, the Waldorf Astoria New York has been one of the world's most iconic hotels, and Peacock Alley its most iconic bar. Whether you're a novice who's never adventured beyond a gin and tonic or an expert looking to expand your repertoire, The Waldorf Astoria Bar Book is the only cocktail guide you need on your shelf.
