The Story of Whisky

This stylish, comprehensive guide takes the reader from the origins of distilling in 1200BC, through remarkable stories of the pioneers and inventors that have helped shape the story of whisky, to the issues surrounding whisky production today: from sustainability concerns to the use of heritage barley and corn and the problem of fake whiskies. Award-winning writers Charles MacLean and Gavin D. Smith offer a rollicking narrative; describing the adventures of legendary characters who shaped the whisky industry, from John Jameson in Dublin to ‘Nearest Green’ and Jack Daniels in Tennessee. They explore its cultural heritage and journey across the world: from Ernest Shackleton in the South Antarctic to today’s growth of single malt in the USA; and find out how only three basic ingredients – grain, yeast and water ­– combine to make a drink with so many different flavours.