99 Drams of Whiskey: The Accidental Hedonist's Quest for the Perfect Shot and the History of the Drink

#782
Title: 99 Drams of Whiskey: The Accidental Hedonist's Quest for the Perfect Shot and the History of the Drink
Author: Kate Hopkins
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Year: 2009/2010
320 pages

Blogger Hopkins travels to Ireland, Scotland, Canada, and the US to trace the development of whiskey. Imagine my envy. Kate and friend's travels are enjoyably documented, the history of whiskey is reasonably well incorporated, and her tasting notes are entertaining.

The book might have warranted another star if it had been edited more effectively. Some chapters are cleaner than others, but there are a number of typos, awkward constructions, repeated words, and incorrect words ("provence" for "provenance," "affect for "effect," etc.) that an editor should have caught. Absent from her bibliography is anything from Michael Jackson, whose Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch is very useful and whose Whiskey: The Definitive World Guide in many ways parallels Hopkins's project.

Hopkins didn't taste my favorite light single malt, Glenmorangie's Cellar 13, nor the one I find most entertaining (Tormore 12-year-old, which tastes of fudge and artichokes). De gustibus non est disputandum.