Few books could be more appropriate for the celebration leading up to St. Patrick’s Day than a resource guide to Irish whiskey, one of which conveniently just arrived in our inbox.
At a mere 40 pages in length, 27Press’ 40-Minute Irish Whiskey Guide is a brisk read, and could prove debatable as to whether or not it is an actual “book” in the strictest of definitions. But to its credit, the guide gives a surprisingly effective orientation to the world of Irish whiskey. It doesn’t go too in depth with history and long-winded anecdotes, but provides only the bare essentials and fundamentals. It starts with the malting and distillation process and gives a small lesson on Irish whiskey’s origins. The next chapters (described here as “lessons”) prepare the reader for how to properly taste Irish whiskey, a brief tour and overview of such working Irish distilleries as the New Midleton, Old Bushmills, Cooley, and Kilbeggan, and closes with a few time honored recipes for drinks such as an Irish Cream and Irish Coffee.
The effectiveness of the 40 Minute Irish Whiskey guide lies in two key elements: its simplicity and its price point. An informal, almost effortless delivery makes it an easy read, and at a price of $1, it’s hard to find a better value for the content provided. Those already well versed in the world of Irish whiskey, its brands, and distillation processes may find this a thoroughly unnecessary purchase, bereft of any new insights. However, those looking to branch out and find themselves in need of a reference map for their travels could do far worse, especially at such an agreeable price point.
B/ $1 / [BUY IT HERE]
(Note: From March 13th-17th 2013, this guide will be exclusively available on the Amazon Kindle platform free of charge.)
Judging by the credentials listed in his author blurb on the back sleeve, Dominc Roskrow could certainly lay claim to being an “expert” in his field of study. A veteran writer and author with over two decades of published works, he’s received the Scotch industry’s highest order – Keeper of the Quaich – and was made an honorary Kentucky Colonel in 2010. He had the honor of updating Michael Jackson’s Complete Guide To Scotch and his list of contributing editorships reads like a Who’s Who of Whiskey publications (he currently serves as editor of Whiskeria magazine).
