Many, many books have been written on Whisky, and Whiskey as well. This will not attempt to be an all-inclusive list, but hopefully it will give the reader a good start on finding a book, or books, of interest. Suggestions are always welcomed.
100o Years of Irish Whiskey by Malachy Magee (1980)
1001 Whiskies You Must Try Before you Die by Dominic Roskrow (2012)
99 Drams of Whiskey: The Accidental Hedonist’s Quest for the Perfect Shot and The History of the Drink by Kate Hopkins (2009) – this is a very enjoyable read. It’s perfect history of Whisky combined with a travelogue and a nice leavening of humor. There are distillery visits, there is the business history of the Whisky industry, and there is humor. If you are reading this to learn minutiae of about a particular company or whisky you are reading the wrong book. It’s a perfect introduction to the history of the drink written with wry humor (or should that be rye) and insight. It doesn’t take itself too seriously but there is some really good content and research in the book which gives it a more heft than a humorous essay. Definitely worth reading with a good dram in hand.
American Whiskey, Bourbon & Rye: A Guide to The Nation’s Favorite Spirit by Clay Risen (2013)
Barrels & Drams: History of Whisk(e)y in Jiggers and Shots edited by William M. Dowd
Bourbon, Straight: The Uncut and Unfiltered Story of American Whiskey by Charles K. Cowdery
Bourbon Whiskey, Our Native Spirit: Sour Mash & Sweet Adventures by Bernie Lubbers
Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert by Davin de Kergommeaux (2012)
Chasing the White Dog: An Amatuer Outlaw’s Adventures in Moonshine by Max Watman (2010)
Jim Murray’s Complete Book of Whiskey: The Definitive Guide to the Whiskies of the World (1998)
Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible by Jim Murray – This is an annual release with the most recent being 2014.
Malt Whisky by Charles MacLean (1997)
Malt Whisky Yearbook edited by Ingvar Ronde This is an annual release with the most recent being 2014
Moonshine!: recipes, tall tales, drinking songs, historical stuff, knee-slappers, how to make it, how to drink it, pleasin’ the law, recoverin’ the next day by Matthew B. Rowley (2007)
Polly: The True Story Behind Whisky Galore by Roger Hutchinson
Rare Malts: Facts, Figures and Taste by Ulf Buxrud (2006)
Return to the Glen: Adventures on the Scotch Whisky Trail by Richard Grindal (1989)
Single-Malt Whiskies of Scotland: For the Discriminating Imbiber by James F. Harris and Mark H. Waymack
Spirit of Adventure: A Journey Beyond the Whisky Trails by Tom Morton (1992)
Stillhouse Stories Tunroom Tales by Gavin D. Smith (2013)
Still Life with a Bottle: Whisky according to Ralph Steadman (1994)
Tales of Whisky by Stuart McHardy
Tales of Whisky and Smuggling by Stuart McHardy
The Kings County Distillery Guide to Urban Moonshining: How to Make and Drink Whiskey by Colin Spoelman and David Haskell (2013)
The Original Scotch: A History of Scotch Whisky from the Earliest Days by Michael Brander (1974)
The Scotch Whisky Book by Mark Shipworth (1987)
The Single Malt Whisky Companion: A Connoisseur’s Guide by Helen Arthur
The World Atlas of Whisky by Dave Broom (2010)
The World Book of Whisky by Brian Murphy (1978)
The Whisky Distilleries of the United Kingdom by Alfred Barnard – (1887, reprinted 2008 edition)
Visiting Distilleries by Duncan & Wendy Graham
World Whiskey edited by Charles MacLean (2009)
Whiskey: A Fascinating Journey Through the Most Famous Whiskeys and Distilleries Worldwide by Marc A. Hoffmann (2008)
Whisky by Aeneas MacDonald (originally published 1930, reprint 2006)
Whisky Dream: Waking a Giant by Stuart Rivans (2008)
Whisky Galore by Compton Mackenzie
Whisky: The Manual by Dave Broom (2014)
Whisky Tales by Charles Maclean (2008)
Whisky: The Water of Life, Uisge Beatha (2000)
Whisky Wit and Wisdom: Light and Quirky Stories from inside the Whisky World by Gavin D. Smith
Whisky Women: The untold story of how women saved Bourbon, Scotch and Irish Whiskey by Fred Minnick (2013)
Whiskypedia: A Compendium of Scottish Whisky by Charles MacLean