72 | Top whisky books
THE WHISKY DISTILLERS OF THE UK BY ALFRED BARNARD 2017, BIRLINN, £40
A milestone in whisky writing, Barnard’s travels across Scotland, England and Ireland cover 150 distilleries, with detailed descriptions of the production processes as well as colourful tales of the journey in Victorian Britain. Written in 1885, when he worked for Harper’s Weekly Gazette, and published in 1887, this is a historical document and a joy to the whisky buff.
WHISKY BY AENEAS MACDONALD 2018, BIRLINN, £9.99
First published in 1930, this is considered the first book on whisky from a consumer’s perspective and is widely acclaimed as
THE SCOTCH WHISKY TREASURES BY TOM BRUCE-GARDYNE 2015, CARLTON, £39.95
A treasure chest of a publication looking back into the history of distilleries in Scotland and the people who have made creating whisky their life’s work. Apart from its well-designed layout, the tidbit here is the reproductions of treaties, stunning photography, ancient documents and plans dating back to the very first years of the distilleries. A time capsule of the country’s whisky tradition and a guide to Scotland’s main whisky producing regions.
one of the most admirable volumes on the water of life. Aeneas MacDonald, a pseudonym for author George Malcolm Thomson, goes back to the very roots of barley production, contextualising the importance of single malt.
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The world of whisky is a fascinating blend of science and storytelling, making it the perfect
subject matter for some of our favourite reads Written by Federica Stefani
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