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Few things are more useful to the whiskey connoisseur than a handy little guide that you can carry with you everywhere you go (it is just 4x7 inches). That is exactly what John Lammond's Whiskey is and it is one that experienced and novice whiskey collectors will find useful. It is part of Princeton Architectural Press' Instant Expert series and is filled with the basic knowledge you need to understand and buy whiskey.

Lamond's book is very concise and neatly formatted. The basics of whiskey are explained, as well as the characteristics of each style, but it is the tasting notes and tips for buying and drinking whiskey that make this book great. Among the brands and bottlings he describes, a number are listed as "Expert Essential" and these are ones that you can trust to be something that you will want to try based on Lamond's years of experience. You will find the majority of the tasting notes to be on the various Scotch offerings, which is only natural considering that it is the author's specialty. However, there are still a number of notes on every kind of whiskey available today, including those outside of the U.S. and U.K.

This book is designed for growing your appreciation of great whiskey and the buying tips - from auctions to retail - are invaluable. There are also sidebars from other whiskey experts about enjoying various aspects of the whiskey experience, such as adding water and visiting distilleries.

If you are a collector or even just thinking about starting a collection, you will find the resources in this book a great asset and if a social whiskey experience is in your mind, you will also find lists for international tastings, events, societies, and the best whiskey bars.

If there were one book that I would recommend for quick, easy reference to the whiskey enthusiast, this would be the one.

Book Details:

• Written by: "Master of Malt" John Lamond
• 144 pages, hardcover
• Published by: Princeton Architectural Press
• Released: October, 2013
• Cover Price: $16.95
• ISBN: 978-1616892166

Disclosure: Review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.