The Books I Recommend
To elevate your tasting game. These are my recommendations for whisk(e)y, beer, and wine. Studying these books will give you the basics and reading them cover to cover two, three, or even six times, will set you up for success - you’ll have more knowledge about the subject by reading these books than most professionals.
The World Atlas of Whisky by David Broom
This is the only book you should own when it comes to this category. Yes there are a lot of whisky books out there but David Broom is the foremost author when it comes to the whisk(e)y and this book gives real in-depth information. Its simple and an easy read. No need to be an expert to understand every region and style as he breaks it down to the basics and gives you insights on each and every distillery and region.
Designing Great Beer: the Ultimate Guide to Brewing Classic Beer Styles by Ray Daniels
This is my favorite book about beer. It’s an invitation to learning not just about beer but how to brew. It’s simple and it explains the essentials of each classic style of beer, gives you a peek into how beer is made - including type of grain used, the hops, yeast strains - and the overall history of why those beers are made in that particular style.
The World Atlas of Wine 8th Edition by Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson
This has been my go to for over 20 years and its the standard when it comes to a reference guide to anything wine. For beginners or experts this book is simple, the illustrations deliver the information easily, and these two authors are considered the foremost experts on wines for the past 25 years. This is my always my first recommendation when someone asks me how to read up on wine.