The Complete Guide to Whiskey: Selecting, Comparing, and Drinking the World's Great Whiskeys (Pocket Guide Series) (Paperback)

~ Jim Murray (Author) "Whisky is such wonderfully remarkable stuff..." (more)
Key Phrases: wooden washbacks, unpeated malt, only distillery, United Distillers, Wild Turkey, Heaven Hill (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This is a guide to whiskeys from all over the globe, from the old malts of the Scottish Highlands to the whiskeys and bourbons of Kentucky and Tennessee. It offers descriptions and guidance on: the art of making whiskey; Scottish malt whiskey; bourbon and American whiskey; and Canadian whiskey.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Triumph Books (March 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572431512
• ISBN-13: 978-1572431515
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #154,031 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Terrific value for money, August 31, 1999

By A Customer

Many whisky books concentrate on labels and tasting notes. Murray, on the other hand, gives you not only a sense of the whisky but also a sense of the location and distillery it comes from.

His prose is vigorous and direct, fully informed by his considerable experience, and the reader is carried along in long swells of pure pleasure in reading the work of a man who knows his stuff and is enthusiastic about it.

Discussing whisky is like talking about great baseball players; there are honest differences of opinion, but Murray can be most persuasive, as well as entertaining.

This is the only book I take to Scotland when I go to visit distilleries. Some people have lifetime bird lists; I have a distillery list, and Murray is my preferred guide.

At the price, this is a terrific value.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great for, January 9, 2001

By	Ravi Desai "Ravi" (India) - See all my reviews

This book is a great read for anyone who enjoys whiskey. Most Whisky books which tend to get bogged down in details about the distillation process and cumbersome ratings systems. Murray instead devotes a short but informative chapter to the making of whisky. The book is divided into sections by country(Scotland, Ireland, USA, Canada, and the , rest of the world) and then subdivided into distinct whisky producing regions (such as Speyside or Islay). Within each region, Murray highlights a couple of whiskys. for Each whisky Murray discusses some history and any unique characteristics. photographs of labels and the distillery are provided for many of the whiskys.

while novice whisky drinkers will find this an interesting read. This book is great for those who know a little about their whisky and want a good introduction to the variety of whiskys in the world. The reasonable price makes this great value for money.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Guidebook by the World's Expert, September 24, 2000

By	David Chesterman (APO, AE USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is an outstanding guidebook by the world's expert on whisk(e)y. Unlike many whisk(e)y writers, Jim Murray does not just limit himself to Scotch or Irish. Mr. Murray has been to all of the Canadian, American and Irish distilleries beside Scotch distilleries. Mr. Murray has an appreciation for fine whiskies of all type. He does not directly compare Bourbon with Scotch and has an appreciation for each. Bourbon drinkers rejoice, someone who also appreciates Bourbon. Mr Murray also gives one a feeling for each distillery.

One note: Do not buy this book if you already own his The World Whiskey Guide as the text is essentially the same.