From basic guides to in-depth yarns and historical texts, this autumn sees the release of some cracking new books on whisky - that join a couple of others that were released earlier this year.
From a huge, smart looking book on world whisky to a guide to whisky tasting and inclusion plus Dave Broom’s latest on Japanese whisky there’s something for everyone, even murder mystery fans.
Award-winning spirits writer Dave Broom tells the story of Japanese whisky, unveiling the philosophy that lies behind this fascinating whisky culture and how it is aligned with Japanese concepts of craftsmanship.
Following a journey across Japan he made with photographer Kohei Take, Dave investigates what makes Japanese whisky, the secret of ‘Whisky-dō’.
As well as profiling the distilleries in detail, Dave interviews the whisky makers and tastes their whiskies, providing full tasting notes.
He has long believed that there are parallels between Japan’s approach to whisky-making and the country’s many traditional arts, and interspersed throughout the book are profiles of craftspeople, chefs and bartenders, demonstrating how a spirit isn’t separate from a culture but very much part of it.
If you’re a whisky fan, or just curious about this fabled drink, then this new book by writer Kristiane Westray is worth picking up.
Savour is a modern guide to one of the world’s most flavour-forward drinks: whisky.
Whether you love whisky or aren't sure where to start, Kristiane Westray will take you on an immersive and inclusive expedition through the spirit.
The book has a practical guide on how to taste whisky, how to build a collection and how to work out which whiskies are best for your palate.
Savour also looks at modern whisky makers, bars, distilleries and bottle shops from around the world, not just here in Scotland.
An insider’s look at the world of whisky, this luxe coffee table book takes a look at the rich history, production processes, distilleries, cocktail recipes and more from across the world.
Felipe said of this beautiful book: "The idea here is to provide a great in-depth introduction to what whisky around the world looks like.
"The idea is that by learning about such a wide range of distilleries and brands the reader is going to understand not just the basics of whisky but the kinds of innovations that are driving the industry forward around the world."
On 23 May 1901, Walter Pattison - the younger of the two infamous brothers behind Pattisons Ltd - celebrated his forty-first birthday, having recently walked free from Perth prison after serving his sentence for fraud and embezzlement.
His older brother, Robert, would turn forty-three the following day - although he still had nine months left of his sentence to serve.
It was a case that shook the very foundations of the Scotch whisky industry, revealing the unscrupulous dealings that had not only taken place beneath the polished surface of Pattisons Ltd but also throughout the industry itself.
While Robert and Walter Pattison were convicted, the collapse of their 'empire' left far-reaching consequences, toppling many other businesses in its wake.
Now, over a century later, historian and whisky specialist Justine Hazlehurst reexamines the facts in her debut book, Opening The Case: The Affairs of Pattisons' Whisky, unearthing fresh evidence, unseen photographs, and family insights that rewrite a tale long accepted as truth.
“The Pattison scandal has long been a cautionary tale for Scotch whisky, but what I uncovered tells
a far richer and more complex story,” Justine explained.
“This book reshapes our understanding of the brothers, bringing to light aspects of the Pattisons that were overlooked, misrepresented or never even revealed for over a century."
When a dilapidated distillery comes up for sale in Campbeltown, Eilidh and her wife Morag jump at the chance.
But their ambition to run the first women-owned whisky distillery in Scotland seems to be scuppered when a grisly, decades-old secret is revealed: two dead bodies have been stuffed into barrels, perfectly preserved in single malt.
Author Natalie Jayne Clark, told us about writing this murder mystery whisky book, which was shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize.
What inspired you to write The Malt Whisky Murders?
I have visited so many whisky distilleries over the years, and I'm the kind of person who asks a lot of questions on tours. Most distilleries have vast warehouses, maybe multiple warehouses, with hundreds of casks full of maturing whisky and I knew some resided there for a very long time. I asked, on several tours, 'What's the longest you've had a cask here?' Over fifty years. 'How often do you check them?' Sometimes every year or more, sometimes barely or never. 'Might you be able to hide a body in one then?' I suppose you could, especially a larger sherry butt, yes. So, the image of a body in a barrel came first, a cold case with an amateur sleuth obsessed with whisky came next, and the rest of the cast of characters and plot followed.
Why did you set it in Campbeltown?
Its geography, history, and community all tell such strong elements of the story. Geographically, it is a very long strip of peninsula, surrounded by sea, that can feel as isolating and beautiful as any island, and is a perfect setting for making characters feel the right rollercoaster ride of peaceful and trapped. Historically, it was once hailed the Whisky Capital of the World, but in recent times has seen its status as an official whisky region threatened because of the loss of most of its distilleries, due to a range of factors. This is happily changing and more distilleries are currently being built there. The story of the community is one familiar with towns all over the world that have lost any industry that was central to them - high unemployment, people coming in from outside promising jobs and great change but in the long-run delivering none, and feeling forgotten by the rest of the country, but still living with daily resilience and joy.
What's your summary of the story/what can readers expect?
Eilidh first learnt about whisky just so she could see the look on men’s faces at the bar when she knew more than them. It tastes richer than any dram she’s ever had. When a dilapidated whisky distillery comes up for sale in Campbeltown, she and her wife jump at the chance to invest, renovate and make the first women-owned whisky distillery in Scotland. Except, two of the aged barrels contain dead bodies, preserved in a smooth single malt. They both go mad and away from each other - Eilidh becomes obsessed with finding out who these people are and who murdered them, and Morag throws herself into the renovation and starts seeing their ghosts wherever she goes.
Do you think it'll appeal to non whisky fans?
Absolutely. In many ways it is a love letter to whisky. It is fascinating to me, every part of it, and I think whenever anyone talks about something they are passionate about, you can't help but be drawn in too. I also think it is still greatly underappreciated or misunderstood by many, and I wanted to showcase its craft and history and dispel the misconception that it is a man's drink, that it's all just some strong amber liquid that only the toughest of tough can enjoy. I have had lots of people come up to me after reading the book and say it's made them go out and try some, and helped them get clued into why whisky is so special and enjoyable. Plus, there's lots of characters and moments that exist beyond the whisky.
How important was it for you to make the book as inclusive as possible?
I would say it was important for me to be as representative of the real world as possible. Over a third of whisky drinkers are women, plus there are huge numbers of women at every stage of the whisky production process - crafting, blending, selling and more - and there is a distinct lack of them represented in the marketing and media around whisky. It is estimated that more than 15% of the UK are neurodivergent, and I wanted a protagonist who reflected some of my everyday experiences navigating the world with ADHD. We are seeing more bisexual characters than ever, so much so that actor Stephanie Beatriz could recently do a numbered ranking list of her favourites, but there is still not enough in my opinion. In addition, most of the sapphic books I read focus on those initial butterfly beginnings of a relationship, and I wanted to show a long-term love and marriage, tested by real life - and murder.
