[.ca] Whisk(e)y (ISBN 0789203839)

From Amazon.com:
The history of whiskey is shrouded in some mystery. First produced in the Middle Ages, it has gained a worldwide audience and is produced from Ireland to India. For the whiskey connoisseur, no library would be complete without this fascinating look at the world of whiskey (as it is spelled in Ireland and the United States--Scotland and Canada spell it "whisky"). With more than 1,000 entries on everything from individual brands to the history of single-malt scotch, Whisk(e)y will appeal to aficionados and novices alike.

disappointed:
One of the pitfalls of ordering online is not being able to page through a book. I went on recommendations. The book is nicely packaged and looks like a Bible. However, the format of the book is like a dictionary/picturebook. I was looking forward to a good read with lots of interesting facts-- this is just bits an pieces. In my mind it's not worth the money.

a good LEXICON:
It's a LEXICON, not a novel. Most of the whisk(e)ys of the world, their distilleries, terminology, etc. all in one place. Nicely crossreferenced. IMHO a MUST-HAVE for behind the bar.

Sparse:
Mr Gabanyi's book contains a lot of information. However, it seems to me that he consulted other whisky reviews far too often. If I had wanted to read what other reviewers (i.e., Michael Jackson!) had to say then I would have purchased those (that) reviewer's books. Moreover, Mr Gabanyi's book is not even close to comprehensive. In many cases he does not give tasting notes. That defeats the purpose of the book! Save yourself some money and buy another Whisky guide.

Perfect reading by the fireside:
Whisk(e)y, a definitive, sweeping round up of the about Scotch, Irish whisky, and bourbon comes handsomely packaged in colors that evoke the warmth of a dram of a favorite glass, straight up, of well, whisk(e)y. The author, Stefan Gabanyi, spent two, no doubt wonderful years researching this excellent guide to the various brands and types of the world's great whisk(e)y. He explains the spelling by noting that the Scots, Canadians, and Japanese prefer whisky, the rest insert the "e" into whiskey. Gabanyi arrays the information alphabetically from A to Y---it seems no whisk(e)y begins with the letter "z"---and offers a concise but thorough distillation about the history, quality, and related information on the brands. He offers enough details about how the number, and to some extent the quality, of the various brands has diminished through the inevitable predatory consolidation, the bane to all things distinct and original. Reproductions of the labels and other clever illustrations round out the guide and add to the pleasure from pursuing these page. I especially liked the quotations that precede each section, too. This is truly a book to "sip." You will not read it in one or even several sittings, but you will enjoy pulling in out as you relax by the fireplace or back porch, a glass of your own favorite whisk(e)y within easy reach.

Excellent guide for the beginner:
I really like this book--I think the dictionary-style format is the best feature. You can look up the name of just about any whiskey you have ever heard of and find quite a bit of information on the distiller and the ingredients. It also goes into the different types of whiskies--Scotch, Irish, Rye, Bourbon, etc. and their different flavors/characteristics. If you are just getting into whiskey, buy this book. It's a really good buying guide and can help you figure out what kind you want to try next. Plus, the appearance of the book is really cool-- it's got a simple, leather-like cover, it's nicely sized,and it even has a ribbon bookmark. Finally, it is a really good "bathroom read"--in fact, that's where I discovered it at a friend's house! Cheers.