Cognac: The Illustrated Guide to the History and Taste of Cognac (Mitchell Beazley Drink) (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Craig Easton (Photographer)
Key Phrases: Grande Champagne, Fins Bois, Rémy Martin (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Presenting the most up-to-date illustrated guide to cognac!  Here is the intriguing history of this delicious spirit, and a discussion of its increasing prominence in today’s markets. The first part explores the intricate and diverse methods of producing cognac, and tells the extraordinary story of a brandy-producing region that fought to establish its own name and place. The second section describes how to get the most enjoyment out of drinking this superb liquor, and offers a selection of cocktail recipes. There is also advice on choosing the perfect cognac glass, matching different ages and styles to your personal taste, and even pairing a glass with a fine cigar. A directory—illustrated with cognac labels—profiles more than 100 top varieties, and provides details on the producer plus the author’s own tasting notes.
 
 
Nicholas Faith’s first wine book, The Winemasters, was published in 1978 and won the André Simon award. He is the author of Mitchell Beazley’s Classic Wine Library Cognac, which won the Gourmand Best Spirit Book 2004, as well as other well-received works on Champagne and on major Bordeaux châteaux.

About the Author

Nicholas Faith's first wine book, The Winemasters was published in 1978 and won the Andre Simon award. He has written other well-received works on Champagne and on major Bordeaux chateaux, including The Winemasters of Bordeaux. He was editorial director of the leading French wine magazine L'Amateur de Bordeaux. He is also the author of Mitchell Beazley's Classic Wine Library Cognac and Australia's Liquid Gold in this same series, and he writes for numerous magazines and newspapers, including The Financial Times. Nicholas lives in London. Craig Easton's philosophy is that a great picture captures a moment and conveys a message. His curiosity about people and the lives they lead started him in his career and his style is defined by work that appears in a number of international publications, including The Independent.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Mitchell Beazley (July 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1840009020
• ISBN-13: 978-1840009026
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 9.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #560,632 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating history, not a "drinker's guide", September 27, 2007

By	James Kittock (SF Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Cognac (Mitchell Beazley Classic Wine Library) (Hardcover)

I recently got "into" cognac and ordered this book to further my understanding of this ambrosial elixir. While not quite what I'd hoped for, the book turned out to be much more interesting than I had expected.

The book starts with an overview of the making of cognac, including information about the geography of the Cognac region and how it influences the quality of the brandies produced in the various sub-region This is followed by a detailed history of the region and the drink. I found Nicholas Faith's writing about the trials and tribulations of Cognac to be to be quite engaging. At the end, there is a short section on the enjoyment of cognac, followed by a listing of cognac houses and very terse comments on their various cognacs (just a few words each).

My only disappointment is that I was hoping for more a "drinker's guide" to Cognac with detailed reviews, something along the lines of the books the late Michael Jackson wrote about beer and whiskey. I'm thinking that Cognac (Mitchell Beazley Drink) might be more what I was looking for, so I'll order it next.