Kindred Spirits: The Spirit Journal Guide to the World's Distilled Spirits and Fortified Wines [Paperback]

F. Paul Pacult (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1997

For years, F. Paul Pacult and his Spirit Journal have provided initiates, seasoned connoisseurs, and industry insiders with opinionated, colorful, and authoritative assessments of the best of the spirits. This one-and-only, one-stop resource brings together for the first time ever reviews of the world's great whiskeys, scotches, bourbons, sherries, ports, brandies, cognacs, armagnacs, rums, gins, vodkas, tequilas, and liqueurs.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

All that is involved in producing and consuming Mexico's favorite liqueur can be found in The Book of Tequila. Beginning with a detailed look at exactly what tequila is, including the two types (100 percent agave and mixto) and seven kinds, Emmons, who has studied the subject for many years, describes the process by which tequila is made, its history in Mexico, and individual tequila distilleries and U.S. importers and offers instructions on how to organize a tequila tasting. He also gives a sampling of tequila recipes and cocktails as well as devoting a chapter to the margarita. Libraries with such titles as Ann and Larry Walker's Tequila (Chronicle, 1994) or Lynn Nusom's The Tequila Cook Book (Golden West, 1993) will find that they focus more on recipes and cocktails while Emmons's book offers more of an overall view. Recommended for libraries with an interest in the subject or needing a good general tequila source. Pacult, who is the founding editor of the first newsletter dedicated to the review of distilled spirits, draws upon his official collection of tasting notes, ratings, and reviews to create this compendium of over 1200 liquors. Each section of the book is arranged by a specific type of spirit, liqueur, or fortified wine and includes a bit of historical background, practical information, and a description of the spirit, the process of distillation or production, and what to look for in the individual spirits. Information on the most famous producers is occasionally given as well. Single-paragraph reviews of each spirit include a rating (from one to five stars) and an indication of its cost, while appendixes list the individual spirit categories by ratings. Written with verve, style, and wit, this book is comparable to taking a tour through the world of distilled spirits as given by an informed, knowledgeable guide. Highly recommended for all collections.?John Charles, Scottsdale P.L., Ariz.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Any interested in the history and flavors of distilled spirits and fortified wines should look no further than this comprehensive guide, which clearly outlines and describes the differences between cognacs, whiskeys, brandies and other spirits. Over 1,200 reviews and recommendations have been gathered for an authoritative volume not to be missed by any avid drinker. -- Midwest Book Review

Product Details

• Paperback: 468 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Books (Adult Trd Pap); 1st edition (May 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786881720
• ISBN-13: 978-0786881727
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #627,424 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps The Best Whisky and Liquor Tasting Guide, February 12, 2001

By 

M. Allen Greenbaum (California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Kindred Spirits: The Spirit Journal Guide to the World's Distilled Spirits and Fortified Wines (Paperback)

One of the best whisky guides, even though it is diluted with other hard liquors as well. Not as pretty as "Michael Jackson's Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch" (there are no pictures), it has the better, more complete tasting notes, and user-friendly rating systems for both overall quality and price. Pacult is opinionated and often funny, especially when it comes to the one * liquors: The Borghetti Café Sport Espresso Liqueur (Italy) is "a disaster; one of the singlemost sickening liqueurs I've been within 50 miles of in the last decade." He can see the Licor 43 Liqueur (Spain) "as a useful addition in the kitchen of an imaginative cook; but on its own, it's horrible."

Even the popular Laphroaig 10-year old earns only one * ("...make sure you have a whip and chair handy after opening this beastie. . .") Yet, Pacult is not a curmudgeon, he gives the 15-year old Laphroaig a 3 (out of 5): "There's still oodles of peat, but my nose cavity isn't aflame as it was with the cantankerous 10," and the strong iodine and seaweedy overtones of another Islay Whisky, the Lagavulin 15-Year Old, gets a 4 * recommendation.

Pacult favors Bowmore, Clynelish, Highland Park, Longmore, Macallan, and Springbank as "Scotland's Finest Malt Whisky Distilleries." The 12-Year old Highland Park gets a full 5 * and is praised as a glorious malt...one of my top ten malts without any hesitation; find and hoard at all costs... on the palate...the sherry races to the front just ahead of peat, mild brine, and heather...." The 12-year old Macallan gets 4 * for its nose of spice nectarine, lanolin, tannin, and cream..." and "succulent tastes of ripe blueberry, bell pepper, sweetened coconut, and peppermint." Although I didn't agree with this last description, Pacult, as always, is opinionated, descriptive, and fun to read.

Although Pacult, the editor of "Spirit Journal" magazine, has a special love for Scotch whisky, the book includes similar notes on Brandy, White Spirits (e.g., Rum, Vodka, Gin, Tequila), Liqueurs, and Fortified Wines. Whisky, including single malt, blended, American, Canadian, and Irish varieties, take up about one-fourth of the 468 pages. The book describes briefly the making and appreciation of the liquors, an explanation of the rating system, and a bibliography. For a beautiful and informative "coffee table book" focused exclusively on whisky you might want Michael Jackson's recent volume, for a fun, thorough, and thoughtful guide to liquors, including a wonderful section on whisky, get this one.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A roadmap for a developing palate., July 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Kindred Spirits: The Spirit Journal Guide to the World's Distilled Spirits and Fortified Wines (Paperback)

Ever wondered what that expensive bottle of cognac in the glass case tastes like? Afraid to spend huge amounts of money on fine liquor only to be disappointed. Or perhaps you're looking for the best tasting spirits that fit a more limited budget. In any of those situations, this book is for you.

The book provides exquisitely detailed tasting notes of virtually every form of spirit, and most of the available brands. Some of the notes are almost poetic. Others are quite funny. You definitely get the author's strong opinions, but usually with enough information to make up your own mind. He also explains the different kinds of spirits, their histories, and what they are "supposed" to taste like in a more generic sense. Afterward he gives notes and ratings on a 1 to 5 star scale (sound familiar Amazon.com readers?) for particular bottles. Those he gives the "5 star" designation have NEVER failed to impress me. Sometimes they are surprisingly easy to find and not expensive. Other times they become the objects of a personal quest, which is another fun way to use this book.

The breadth of the material covered is also impressive. Cognac, Armagnac, Calvados, Grappa, Gin, Rum, Vodka, Tequila, Scotch Whiskey, American Whiskey, Irish Whiskey, Canadian Whiskey, Oodles of Liqueuers, Sherry, Madiera, Port, Marsala.... and yes I am leaving a few out. Each of these topics has multiple (sometimes exhaustive) tasting notes within it. My favorites are the sections on Scotch Whiskey, American Whiskey, Cognac and Tequila.

Think of this as a reference book, a guidebook, or a treasure map. In my house it has been all three. If you buy liquor regularly - for yourself, for parties, or as a gift - this book will easily pay for itself. And while my own palate has developed its own particularities since I first read this, I still frequently return to it for new ideas and new experiences.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An indispensable shopping guide, September 15, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Kindred Spirits: The Spirit Journal Guide to the World's Distilled Spirits and Fortified Wines (Paperback)

This book is an indispensable shopping guide to the best, the best bargains and the most over rated in distilled spirits. I have never been disappointed in its recommendations. This book will pay for itself after one trip to the liquor store.