This guide to whiskey is for a new generation of drinkers venturing far beyond the staid whiskey sours and Manhattans of their grandfather's day. It is a book for urbanite men and women eager to experiment, try new things, and play with their taste buds.
"The 1970s and 1980s were marked by a surge of vodka consumption because people didn't want to taste their alcohol," claims author Daniel Yaffe. "Things are changing."
Today, the universe of flavored liquors - including vodkas and whiskeys - is exploding. The Big Bang of fine spirits is circling the globe and seeping into nightclubs, bars and private homes everywhere.
Yaffe's book briefly explains the differences in blends, single malts, pot still, rye and single grain whiskeys. And it offers a primer on how to make, taste and buy whiskeys. Individual chapters cover the distinctive natures of Irish, Scotch, Canadian and Japanese whiskeys as well a good old American bourbon.
Recipes for classic drinks and cocktails are scattered throughout the volume along with a little history.