Tasting Whiskey

The Secrets of the Cask

Many factors contribute to the distinctive flavors and aromas of whiskey -- charred oak casks, the mother grain, local distilling traditions, the intricacies of blending, maybe an infusion of peat. If you're fascinated by whiskey and all its subtleties and variations, travel with Lew Bryson through the great whiskey-producing regions, exploring the unique characteristics of each spirit. Along the way, you'll refine your tasting skills; address the debate concerning water, ice, or neat; and have some fun with whiskey cocktails.

Foreword by David Wondrich

Introduction

1 The Story of Whiskey

2 Making Spirit: Fermentation and Distillation

3 Aging

4 The Wall and the Work: The Challenge of Tasting Whiskey

5 Tasting: Tapping into Your Years of Experience

6 Mapping Whiskey Styles

7 Scotch: How the World Says "Whisky"

8 Irish: Single, Double, Triple

9 American: Bourbon, Tennessee, and Rye

10 Canadian: Blended, Always

11 Japanese: The Student Becomes the Master

12 Craft Whiskey

13 Dilution: Water, Ice, and Cocktails

14 What Goes Well with Whiskey?

15 Collecting Whiskey

Resources

Final Toast

Acknowledgments

Glossary

Index