The Whiskey Bible: A Complete Guide to the World's Greatest Spirit

At more than 600 pages, this is the most comprehensive single-volume guide to whiskey we have seen—covering established producers, emerging distillers, and national traditions across the globe. Noah Rothbaum, one of the world’s foremost authorities on spirits, draws on decades of research, travel, and tasting to create a resource that is equal parts reference work and cultural history.

The book balances breadth and depth. Alongside tasting notes and producer profiles, it includes vivid historical accounts: the dueling origin stories claimed by Ireland and Scotland; the years when Peoria, Illinois was the unlikely capital of American distilling; and the growing mystique of Japanese mizunara oak, now coveted for barrels. Beyond the familiar centers of production, Rothbaum devotes attention to the rise of whiskey traditions in Australia, China, India, Mexico, and elsewhere.

An extensive appendix rounds out the volume with cocktail recipes, from the canonical Old-Fashioned to newer creations such as the Irish Flip. Whether consulted as a buying guide, a travel companion, or a study in global distilling traditions, The Whiskey Bible offers scope and authority for whiskey enthusiasts at every level.

Hardcover. Maps. Color photographs throughout.