Books relating to Drinks Industry

Drink Book: That Sh*t Will Never Sell!

This excellent book by David Gluckman was first highlighted on our blog through an 'Inside the Cask Chat..' with the author.

Drink Book: Whisky Dreams

Waking up a Dream - putting Bruichladdich distillery back to its feet. I picked this book by chance and read it during the holidays. Well worth checking it out as it shows the story of Bruichladdich distillery prior to the purchase by Remy.

Drink Book: Imbibe by David Wondrich

This book is a definitive guide to classic American cocktails from Cocktail writer and historian David Wondrich

Drink Book: Great Brand Stories Scotch Whisky

This book looks at Scotch as an uber-brand and tells the story of its enduring spirit. All individual whisky brands rely on the "Scotch" brand to win new customers and retain the loyalty of existing ones. Stuart Delves provides a fascinating examination of how such a brand evolved across the world, its unique role in the industry, its future, and the key lessons for other brands.

Drink Book: The Whisky River

The Spey has been referred to as the Whisky River, with half the distilleries in Scotland found along its length and in its surrounding glens. Robin Laing has set out to visit every distillery in the Speyside area, from Benromach to Tomintoul, and presents a guide to each of them here.

Drink Book: Distilling Knowledge

Courtesy of the WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) and obtained during the courses provided by them.

Drink Book: Rum

Dave Broom is well known for his writing on all matters relating to whisky, however he has also written this gem on rum.

Drink Book: From Vikings to Vodka

The story of ABSOLUT vodka, probably not the easiest book to find to buy and I got this when working with the brand in my Maxxium UK days.

Drink Book: Cutty Sark the making of a whisky brand

As I recall, I was given this book as a gift after The Edrington Group had purchased the brand from Berry Bros & Rudd. All about the Cutty Sark brand of course.

Drink Book: A Teacher's Tale

Another book given to me when representing the brand back in Maxxium UK days - all about Teacher's scotch whisky.

Drink Book: Maker's Mark My Autobiography

This book is all about the Maker's Mark brand (clearly!) and it was given to me when working with this fantastic American brand.

Drink Book: The definitive guide to buying vintage Macallan

This book on Macallan single malt may be slightly out of date but still interesting if someone is looking to read into the history of the brand or has some old stock at home.

Drink Book: Guide to Sherry

Good reference book on the Sherry category of drinks. Suggest buying the most up-to-date version available online - first issue came out in 1961.

Drink Book: Port and the Douro

Essential guide and reference book to Port, this fortified wine and the region of its production. Suggest buying the latest version available online if interested.

Drink Book: Cognac a liquid history

Very good reference book on Cognac written by 'the maestro' Salvatore Calabrese - a well known mixologist/ bartender worldwide.

Drink Book: The Distilleries of Campbeltown

This book is a new addition to my collection and it refers to the rise and fall of Campbeltown, the Victorian whisky capital of the World.

Drink Book: Amaro: The Spirited World of Bittersweet, Herbal Liqueurs with Cocktails, Recipes, and Formulas

The Spirits Business magazine book recommendation: "New York-based writer Brad Thomas Parsons has penned the definitive guide to the mysterious yet essential cocktail ingredient – the bitter liqueur."

Drink Book: Empire of Booze

The Spirits Business Magazine book recommendation: "From renowned booze correspondent Henry Jeffreys comes this full-bodied and rich history of Britain and the Empire, told through the improbable but true stories of how the world’s favourite alcoholic drinks came to be. Empire of Booze traces the impact of alcohol on British culture and society: literature, science, philosophy and even religion have reflections in the bottom of a glass."

Drink Book: Drinks: A User's Guide by Adam McDowell

The Spirits Business Magazine book recommendation: "Every drinks enthusiast has a good book on their shelves – whether its their favourite spirit or tips and tricks from the lives of famed bartenders. However booze columnist Adam McDowell does his best to answer those simple everyday questions, from how to make a Martini to what Scotch to buy for the boss. McDowell really hits it on the nail with his ‘How to’ guide to all things drinks. Readers can learn the ancient art of choosing the right drink to elevate any occasion – and McDowell certainly has it covered."

Drink Book: Rum the Manual by Dave Broom

The Spirits Business Magazine book recommendation: "The new book from renowned spirits writer Dave Broom is the third member of his ‘Manual’ series; Broom has previously looked at whisky and gin, and now it’s rum’s turn. The idea with the series is to give the reader, whether they are consumer or bartender, aficionado or newcomer, an idea of how the spirit has been drunk over the years, where its flavours come from, and how 110 rums taste on their own and mixed. He provides a description and graded tasting notes for each brand, plus a selection of classic and contemporary cocktails to show just how versatile the spirit is."

Drink Book: A Proper Drink - The Untold Story of How a Band of Bartenders Saved the Civilized Drinking World

The Spirits Business Magazine book recommendation: "Ever wanted to know the history of the cocktail renaissance? New York Times cocktail writer Robert Simonson has interviewed more than 200 key players from around the world, and the result is a rollicking (if slightly tipsy) story of the characters, bars, bartenders, patrons, and visionaries who in the last 25 years have changed the course of modern drink-making."

Drink Book: Regarding Cocktails

The Spirits Business Magazine book recommendation: "Regarding Cocktails is the only book from the late Sasha Petraske, the legendary bartender who changed cocktail culture with his speakeasy-style bar Milk & Honey and his wife, spirit writer Georgette Moger-Petraske. The book has a selection of 85 cocktail recipes from his repertoire, from beloved classics to modern variations – with stories from the bartenders he personally trained. Ingredients, measurements, and preparations are beautifully illustrated so that readers can make professional cocktails at home. Sasha’s advice for keeping the home bar, as well as his musings, are collected here to inspire a new generation of bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts."

Drink Book: Cocktail Cookbook

The Spirits Business Magazine book recommendation: "Kicking off our round up of recent spirits tomes is Cocktail Cookbook by Oskar Kinberg of Oskar’s Bar in London’s Michelin-starred restaurant Dabbous, due for release next month. The book focuses on food-based ingredients rather than spirits, with each chapter in the recipe book highlighting a specific ingredient, such as melon, cucumber, plum, sorrel leaf, pea-shoots and tonka beans. The book consists of 75 “easy-to-follow but creative” recipes which have all been invented and tasted at Oskar’s Bar, also instructing consumers how to make bar ingredients such as nettle cordial, olive oil-infused gin and kiwi and avocado puree."

Drink Book: The Big Man of Jim Beam

This book is the biography of Booker Noe, sixth generation Beam Master Distiller and Jim Beam's grandson. I never met him but did meet his son, Fred Noe, a few times whilst he was visiting the UK. This book by award-winning author Jim Kokoris, a close friend of Booker Noe and the Beam family, chronicles Booker's life from his boyhood in small town Kentucky through to his rise to bourbon prominence.

Drink Book: Quench your own Thirst

I listened to Jim Koch, as this audiobook is read by the author himself, recalling his own experiences of bringing the Boston Beer Company to life and effectively start the craft beer movement in the US. Also have to admit that listening to it, it did make me want to drink a cold Samuel Adams...enjoy!

Drink Book: Inside the Bottle

Really enjoyed reading this book about the drinks industry and the 'people, brands and stories' by Arthur Shapiro ex-Seagram. It is always fascinating to better understand the background and history of the industry and this gives you that perspective in full as well as highlighting some movers & shakers of the future, small entrepreneurs trying to change the industry with their new brands and products. Worth a read!

Drink Book: the Ultimate Encyclopedia of Wine Beer Spirits & Liqueurs

The version I have is from 2006, so a bit dated but still a useful reference book to have.

Drink Book: The War on Alcohol

How Prohibition reshaped politics and criminal justice in America. For the review from The Economist: http://www.economist.com/news/books-and-arts/21689518-how-prohibition-reshaped-politics-and-criminal-justice-america-stocking-filler

Drink Book: Where Bartenders Drink

This is a reference book of bars from around the world as selected by some (225 or so) of the top bartenders.Adrienne Stillman has compiled a collection of 700 bars, from the top cocktail destinations to dive bars and unsung neighborhood pubs.Adrienne Stillman is the co-founder, editor-in-chief, and event director of Dipsology, a curated digital guide and online community for cocktail enthusiasts.

Drink Book: Malt Whisky Yearbook 2017

This is one of my reference books and we selected it as the Book of the Month for October 2016.

Drink Book: Malt Whisky Yearbook 2016

The facts, the people, the news, the stories relating to Malt Whisky. I buy this book every year when it comes out and it is one of my reference books. Now in its 11th edition with more than 300 distilleries from around the world.

Drink Book: The Periodic Table of Cocktails

This was our Book of the Month in April 2017.

Drink Book: The Pocket Guide to Whisky

This first book by Blair Bowman was selected as our Book of the Month in May 2017.

Drink Book: Order, Order!: The Rise and Fall of Political Drinking

This was our Book of the Month for August 2017.

Drink Book: The Great Drams of Scotland

This first book by Greg Dillon was selected as our Book of the Month for October 2017.

Drink Book: The Gin Annual 17/18

This was our Book of the Month for November 2017.

Drink Books