In the populist tradition of Andrea Immer, New York City’s first female whiskey sommelier translates today’s hottest spirit for a new generation of imbibers
Whiskey is in the midst of a huge renaissance. Ten years ago, the United States housed sixty-nine craft distillers; today, there are more than four hundred. Exports of Scotch whisky grew 12 percent just last year. Sales are skyrocketing, and specialty bars are popping up around the country, from New York City to Chicago to Houston.
Yet whiskey drinkers—especially novices—are more confused than ever. Over the past decade, whiskey expert Heather Greene has been bombarded with thousands of questions, including: Can I have ice in my whiskey? Why is it sometimes spelled "whisky"? What makes bourbon different? As New York City’s first female whiskey sommelier, Greene introduces audiences to the spirit’s charms and challenges the boys' club sensibilities that have made whiskey seem inaccessible, with surprising new research that shows the crucial importance of "nosing" whiskey. Through lively tastings, speaking engagements, and classes such as the popular "Whiskey as an Aphrodisiac," Greene has been demystifying whiskey the way Andrea Immer did wine a decade ago.
In this lively and authoritative guide, Greene uses bright visuals, an easy-to-read format, and the familiar vocabulary of wine to teach readers about whiskey and encourage them to make their own evaluations. Peppered with wry anecdotes drawn from her unusual life—and including recipes for delicious cocktails by some of today’s most celebrated mixologists—Whiskey Distilled will be enthusiastically greeted by the whiskey curious as well as by journeymen whiskey drinkers thirsty to learn more about their beloved tipple.
I would give this book a 4.5. It was very straight forward in defining the differences and profiles of different whisk(e)y around the world. I would have given it a 5.0, except for the fact that I now have to buy more bottles to fill in my collection!
A merging of history and information regarding so many types of available whiskeys. Great lists of types of whiskey to try. Lots of good stuff for both the novice and experienced whiskey drinker.
I reviewed the Audible and Kindle editions of Whisk(e)y Distilled: A Populist Guide to the Water of Life and must begin by complimenting the excellent narration of the audiobook version by Tavia Gilbert. It was a pleasure to listen to and I felt like I was in the company of the author throughout. My only issue will be if I ever meet Heather Greene in person as I will no doubt be surprised when her voice does not sound like Tavia’s.
Heather Greene, is one of the most prominent and at times outspoken figures in the world of whisky. She was once a brand ambassador for whisky giant Glenfiddich but at the time of writing this book, was director of whiskey education at the Flat Iron room whiskey school in Manhattan and restaurant sommelier. Heather now writes freelance and travels the world teaching and consulting about spirits and has appeared on television as an expert in the field. Heather writes in a style and voice with a no-bullshit attitude to whisky that instantly appealed to my sentiments and compelled me to read on.
"The topic of women and whiskey dominated my conversations so much that some reporters even though my book was about women and whiskey, or written specifically for them. It’s not. This is a book about whiskey. Plain and simple. "
The book begins with how Heather got into whisky in the first place; an industry that many still find surprising to see a woman reach positions of prominence in. Competing with the digital music revolution of the early 2000’s, Heather reluctantly left a professional music career and was hired by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society in Edinburgh, Scotland. Despite facing male prejudice regularly, Heather built a lucrative career around whisky. She establishes her credibility early in the book and for me drove home the dream of following your passion and finding a job that you love; something I hope my blog will one day lead to for myself.
Like many books on the subject, Whisk(e)y Distilled covers all the whisky fundamentals, such as history, production and regions with a welcome focus on whisky appreciation. Even detailing how to organise and run your own whisky tasting event. Her explanation of the whisky making process is excellent; one of the best I have read. It is written in a logical sequence and in easy to understand language that anyone could follow.
"No palate is the gold standard, and no one tastes quite like you do."
Heather’s thoughts on how to discover your own palate and the importance of nose and sense of smell were very interesting to read. She also manages to delve into basic organic chemistry and aromatic molecules without losing someone like me with only a modest grasp on the subject. I like how she emphasises the subjectiveness of aroma and taste and that it is ok to disagree. Whisky is a very personal thing and tasting notes should be seen only as a guide not as a ‘gold standard’ or as the correct notes. She discusses nosing technique to maximise the chance of isolating aromas and to minimise alcohol burn and olfactory numbing, without all the wank that often encroaches debates on the subject.
In fact, Heather’s propensity to tackle the misinformation often touted by whisky snobs and dismiss common myths is welcome and encourages an inclusive whisky culture rather than the rubbish elitist scene that pollutes some social circles; a view that appeals to my own ideals. Regardless if you are not sure what you should or shouldn’t believe or if perhaps you think you already know everything, Heather will set you straight; personally, I learnt quite a few things.
"…whisky loving in Scotland is far from snobbery, even if in America those two words—‘Scotch’ and ‘snob’—are often drawn together like magnets. You are more likely to share drams with a local lorry driver finishing his weekly whisky transport down the A1 to Glasgow from Dufftown than with someone holding the latest literary novel or a golf club."
So who should buy this book and why should you buy this over other books about whisky? A quick search online will reveal that there are many books written on the subject and not all of them are equal. Whisk(e)y Distilled stands above many of the other offerings and managed to engage me from beginning to end. What I loved most about this book was the way it was written. I felt like I was having a chat with the author over a dram; perhaps facing each other from comfy chesterfields in front of a crackling fire. There's a certain contagious energy that someone has when discussing a topic they love and it's rare for that passion to translate to the written word quite as well as Heather manages to do in her book. This may even be my favourite whisky book to date and I highly recommended it for both the whisky novice and aficionado alike.
As some one who has spent the last 8 1/2 years selling rare, independent bottlings I found this book to be a very good resource for someone who has discovered whisk(e)y and is now looking to learn more about what else is out there.
The book covers a lot of the main players in the spirit: Bourbon, Rye, Irish, Scotch, and gives a brief overview over the rapidly world of international whiskey popping up in the last several years. One will find very clear sections defining what makes these spirits different and unique and names of major brands that are readily available. It never goes too indepth into one offering or subject nor does it make any judgement calls on what you should of shouldn't drink, or how you should of shouldn't drink it. Leaving it up to the reader / drinker to go with the method they prefer.
The one draw back to this book is that at my time of reading it (Sept 2019), it's already dated. The most glaring example of that to me is that there is no mention of Ireland's Teeling Whiskey Company a great whiskey producer born out of the acquisition of the Cooley Distillery by Beam Suntory. The TWC's 24 year old single malt was named World Best Single Malt in the 2019 at the World Whiskies Awards, the first for an Irish whiskey, but that was four years after this book was published. If the author would publish a second edition or more books each one focusing on a different styles of whiskies I'm fairly certain I would enjoy reading them as well.
If you're a die hard whiskey lover such as myself, you won't find much new here, I found myself finishing the authors sentences on SEVERAL occasions, but if you're somewhat new to whiskey I would highly recommend this book.
Whiskey is an art and a science. It fascinates me. And, Whiskey Distilled served to further my fascination.
I am a novice so I cannot speak for those with more experience, but this book taught me a lot — the history of whiskey, the types available, the art and science of creating, the art of drinking (nosing, taste, seeing), building a collection, drink recipes, and more. Heather Greene presented the information in an accesible and easily digested way, her writing is smooth and her stories kept my attention.
While the book flows easily and at first glance seems like a quick read, the content is dense —I read this one slowly, highlighted it in many places, and took my time to absorb the information.
I greatly appreciate that this book was written by a woman—it is refreshing to learn from a woman about whiskey. She has made whiskey far more approachable for me and has given me greater confidence to partake.
Whiskey Distilled will be a book that I will go back to again and again as I continue to experiment, discover and expand my taste for the various types of whiskey.
This is a "I want to Learn More" book. I got hooked on single malt Scotch during my wedding and honeymoon in Scotland. Touring Glenfiddich and Highland Park distilleries as newlyweds is a perfect way to start a life. Over the years my wife and I knew we liked the taste of single malt Scotch, but we had no desire to be connoisseurs. For years I maintained a love of the smokey taste of Highland Park, a peat Scotch. In 1999 we happened across the Woodford Reserve distillery. For me, it was like drinking the Highland Park for the first time. I was amazed at the distinct flavor and had not realized that America was creating whiskies of this magnitude. Hearing about a classmate Julian Van Winkle's resurrection of his family's brew, Pappy Van Winkle, was also another reason for wanting to sample more whisk(e)y, especially his.
Heather Greene gives you an easy to read book about how whisk(e)y is made around the world. She speaks about the ingredients, water, materials, and environment that are needed to give it that special taste. Then she explains how we can enrich our appreciation for it through smell and taste. Finally, she gives us advice on how to build a diverse inventory and recipes of familiar whiskey cocktails.
After reading her book I can't wait to work on identifying tastes she describes and trying new whiskies from non-Scotland and American countries.
PS - I have tried Pappy Van Winkle at a hotel. Julian has donated a bottle to our school for a raffle. The tickets were $1000 apiece. It was reported that it was the most successful raffle they ever had.
This is the best book on whiskey that exists. Well, it's the only book on whiskey I've read, but it was so thorough and informative that I don't feel like I need to read any other books on the topic! Heather is an articulate writer, with a voice that bleeds personality and passion. I love whiskey, but reading this book increased that love tenfold. I am so grateful for Heather's insight - I've personally hosted 3 whiskey nights, teaching my friends and family all of the tips and tricks I've learned from her. This book is a must read for everyone, whiskey lover or not. It's a fascinating and entertaining read.
A must read book for any person who is interested in whiskey. Heather breaks down all parts of whiskey and steps out what to try and what to look for. While her list of whiskeys are a tad out of date - some not easily available anymore, others missing that have come onto the playing field - she gives a foundation for how taste any whiskey you come into contact with. People at all levels of whiskey appreciation should read this book. More impactful if you read it while drinking a dram of Milam & Greene Whiskey where she is the Master Blender.
Whiskey Distilled is a great book. I learned more in Heather Greene's book than I thought I knew. Heather gives a interesting history on whiskey that kept me involved start to finish. The cocktail recipes in the book are very innovated and good. I recommend this book to anyone interested in whiskey. Heather Greene knows Whiskey!!
Well-researched book with everything you could possibly want to know about whiskey. I don’t even like whiskey and found her information and commentary interesting enough to make it to the end. If you like whiskey, this’ll be five stars for sure.
Best book on whisk(e)y I’ve read. The author really gives one a rundown on what the differences between various whiskeys are and makes lots of recommendations. I’d recommend this book without any reservations to anyone interested in whiskey.
Great overview of the style and characteristics of bourbon scotch and all things Brown liquid. The familiar style the author uses to teach the reader is nice. Not too much expert, not too casual.
Enjoyable to read! I learned so much without it being too stuffy - as it seems whisk(e)y literature often can be. Would highly recommend to anyone with an interest in the beloved spirit!
I've become a scotch drinker in my old age (less filling; tastes great), and over the last few years I've learned quite a lot about it. But this book puts it all between two covers and (after a somewhat irritating first chapter in which the author introduces herself and asserts her expertise) tells me pretty much everything anybody needs to know. Everything that I have personal experience of is described accurately, so I assume her accuracy in the things I don't know about. In a long chapter on the importance of "nosing," she accounts for the "populist" claim in her title by telling the reader not to believe what ANYbody says about descriptive "notes" in whisky--because we all have molecular anosmia (inability to smell) to varying degrees, with various fragrances, changing with our age, diet, the time of day, and even our mood. As she says jokingly, "You don't smell like I do." This is more important than I realized, because if you completely block someone's nose, they can't detect any difference at all between light scotch, peated scotch, American whiskey, bourbon, or vodka. This is apparently not true of beer versus wine. In general women smell better than men (yes, I know)--but not ALL women are better at it than ALL men. Some of us are very sensitive to certain odors that others of us barely notice. We can all be trained to get better, but we will never all be identical, and we should never be shamed by someone else's (claimed) ability to detect subtleties in fragrance and taste. Very freeing and encouraging. Much other information, all of it clearly presented, and as far as I know, accurate.
Just what the beginner whiskey aficionado could use - a wonderful book of whiskey history, lore, falsehoods, process science, terminology, wine and food pairings, collecting, and best of all, taste descriptions of whiskeys by region and distillery. This certainly isn't exhaustive, since there has been an explosion of different brands and recipes in the past few years, but Greene covers the major players and a few special smaller players. The part I liked best was the lists of recommended whiskeys to build a tasting flight, or to build a personal collection. Greene ensures her list includes many bottles within reach of non-Wall Street types, and talks briefly about big money whiskey but doesn't make many recommendations there. This is not a book for whiskey snobs. "Whiskey Distilled" also contrasts the wine and whiskey worlds and explains the differences and similarities. It has certainly sparked curiosity and a bit of a thirst in this reader.
A great read from America's first whiskey sommelier. Greene's ability to break down the myths, details, and stories surrounding the "water of life" is fantastic. I learned so much about what I already like and what I think I might like to try. This is a great book for those who are starting to look at whiskey as a hobby and not just as recreation.
A history of whiskey, bourbon, scotch, rye, etc. is examined. Geography and distilleries are discussed as well. And it's all from a tone of friendly information, never stuffy or condescending. Take your time with this book since, while lightly written, the content is dense. I had to go back a few times to review some of the terminology, high rye, malted, peated, etc. Again, I learned so much. And I am ready and confident to expand my palate to different types of whiskies that I thought unapproachable before.
This was a great holiday gift paired with several small bottles of whisk(e)y to sample! I am definitely not a Scotch drinker but I have found that certain whiskeys and blends are quite tasty. Heather Greene shares a lot of information in this very thoughtful and engaging book. I believe that both new and experienced whiskey drinkers will find this a great reference tool. I especially liked the comparisons between different distillers world-wide, cocktail recipes, and ways to enhance the enjoyment of the drinking process.
I've never been much of a whiskey drinker, but by the time I'd finished the book (and many times during reading), I felt the urge to go out and grab a rye manhattan.
Whiskey is one of those subjects, like wine, that is intimidating to learn. Heather made the subject super accessible and absolutely fascinating.
I'll definitely be heading back to a few of the chapters, such as the whiskeys around the world and the food pairing chapters.
Will likely be gifting this to my whiskey aficionado friends over the holidays as well.
An extremely well-constructed introduction to general whisky knowledge, but especially to first steps to approaching nosing and tasting. Greene has a mildly-cavalier attitude towards the supposed/unwritten "rules" and preconceptions most people pick up (ice is always bad, so is water, older is better, etc) and uses her extensive experience, acute senses, and occasionally chemistry to provide some common sense.
If recommend this absolutely and without exception to anyone getting into whisky.
Heather hits it out of the park!!!! She is very open minded. Drink what you like when you like but be willing to try everything else and in different ways. This book covers whiskies around the world with background on the history of each. I guarantee you will enjoy it.
Excellent for beginners. I already knew a lot about whisky but still got value out of reading it and learning more about whiskies I was less familiar with. The molecular breakdown of what makes things smell and taste like they do and the whisky production process are written in very approachable language. A proper expert likely won't benefit much from reading it, though.
Certainly worth reading if whiskey is your spirit of choice (it is mine). This is very light and quick reading -- nothing too technical. Greene dispels many common whiskey myths promoted by snobs. I'm ready for my third tour of the Bourbon Trail.