AMERICAN WHISKEY MASTER CLASS: The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Bourbon, Rye, and Other American Whiskeys, beautiful and fascinating

AMERICAN WHISKEY MASTER CLASS: The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Bourbon, Rye, and Other American Whiskeys
LEW BRYSON
Harvard Common Press (non-affiliate Bookshop.org link)
$40.00 all editions, available now

Rating: 5* of five

The Publisher Says: In American Whiskey Master Class, expert and industry insider Lew Bryson expands his deep dive into the history, process, and must-know producers of American whiskey in all its forms in this handsome, deluxe edition.

Go beyond the glass and discover the secrets behind your favorite styles of American whiskey in this updated, expanded, deluxe edition featuring a faux-leather cover.

Over the past three decades, Lew Bryson has been one of the most influential voices in whiskey—a longtime editor of Whisky Advocate and author of the critically acclaimed guides Tasting Whiskey and Whiskey Master Class. In this expanded edition of American Whiskey Master Class, Lew focuses solely on American whiskeys, sharing everything he’s learned on his journey through the world of American bourbon, rye, and other whiskeys. This approachable book is like a “200-level” class taught by a favorite teacher, with compelling tales (like how barrel aging came to be), insider tips (such as an old taster’s trick for sampling whiskey), and explanations you never thought you needed (like why you can never get a beverage that’s 100% alcohol—and why you should stick to whiskey!).

In this handsome edition, you’ll find it all:

An overview of the different types of whiskeys, including the rules and identities of each. He also includes information on craft whiskeys, which tend to be more creative and freewheeling than the styles made by traditional producers.

Exploration of the key whiskey ingredients, with a close look at the flavor contributions of malt, peat, corn, rye, wheat—even water.

Distillation for non-distillers and the beauty of barrels: Whiskey is both an art and a science, and what’s in the glass is affected by things like pot stills vs. column stills, barrel char, and of course, time.

Numerous interviews with master distillers, still makers, and other artisans at the top of their field.

Tasting notes throughout, including more than two dozen new ones, so you can identify the whiskeys you might want to try next.

New and expanded material, including how to decode and decipher rare bottles, new developments in the American whiskey market (notably single malts), new profiles and interviews of “must-know” producers, new photos, and more.

A new introduction from Fred Minnick, author of Bourbon Curious

Every chapter contains a variety of unique, often behind-the-scenes photography, coupled with Bryson’s master storytelling. And with whiskey as the subject, this is a class where you’ll want to do the homework.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: Whiskey's my favorite tipple, though I'm medicine-induced teetotal at this point. I do love the smell as much as I love coffee's smell, for the same esthetic reason: The way it tastes is the way it smells, only adding a refined layer of bitterness, smokiness, complexity, that really fires up my palate. For me, then, this was a lovely walk down memory lane. For those not taking life-saving medications that preclude drinking alcohol, this is an *amazing* guide to developing and educating one's palate.

the roadmap to Whiskey Heaven, aha Table of Contents

Illustrations are well-integrated into the design, not looking like blobs of color stuck down on the pages. That shows especially in the infographics:

never thought much about HOW it gets done before

Naturally there are sections on the who/what axis of blindness we as aficionados can turn onto our belovèd objects of obsession:

who, then what

I can go on and on about how gift books of non-fiction are the most delightful reviews to write. I get to learn about stuff I really know so little about it's embarrassing, like the distinction between, nay existence of, the dichotomy between Traditional and New whiskeys:

beautiful presentations of the deliciousness

...and then, of course, we need to learn about the best of the best in the world-class expert writing this book's highly educated opinion:

interesting names, no?

I loved the lushness and polish of the presentation of the book, and was very interested by learning how much growth and activity there is in this beverage sector. I know y'all have whiskey fanciers in the family, and a luxury item like this that blends information he might not have with enjoyment you might not share is a lovely way to show interest in this subject.

Plus it looks *smashing* on your coffee table.