A Guide to the Nation's Favorite Spirit - American Whiskey

I have been reading Clay Risen's various articles and blogs about the "brown liquor" for years, and he has been a helpful and reliable guide through the increasingly complex world of American spirits. His new book is sure to build upon an already fine reputation as a critical voice that is able to cut through the marketing and sales talk and to give his reader a straightforward and honest assessment of the various whiskeys, bourbons, and ryes detailed here. Insightful, knowledgeable, and, above all, helpful when making decisions about what to purchase. With this book, I have seen the future of American whiskey, bourbon, and rye connoisseurs, and it's name is Clay Risen.

Risen's guide is a fantastic resource for anyone thinking about whiskey. Not only is it accessible to the average person, it includes the details that would satisfy a seasoned whiskey enthusiast. The book mixes stories and information about the distillers seamlessly with reviews of the taste of the spirit. It includes a broad sample of spirits as well, including some West Coast whiskeys that are, while hard to find on the East Coast, well worth the seeking out. An invaluable addition to the bar of any whiskey drinker!

The Internet is full of scattershot whiskey reviews that lack context and, all too often, are written by over-exuberant cheerleaders who won't give you the straight dope out of fear distilleries will stop sending them free bottles. Risen is way above that. He puts it all in one place and isn't afraid to deep-six the overpriced dreck flowing out of many hip craft distilleries; nor is he too cool to praise the efforts of big, unglamorous brands whose craftsmanship deserves it. On the flip side, he'll readily point you to the upstarts stepping out on the road to stardom, and deflate the lackluster efforts of big labels coasting through life on their marketing budgets. Fair and keen, it's a lucid roadmap for navigating an increasingly complex landscape.

Whiskey writers are a lot like film or music critics. Even if you've never met, it's important to feel like you know the reviewer a little bit and understand where his particular tastes and boundaries sit. Otherwise, opinions mean very little. Risen's large body of engaging, consistent work makes him the rare trustworthy go-to. Even if your own tastes don't always entirely match up, his consistency makes his advice useful. He'll help whiskey newbies gain the footing to develop their own opinions, and connoisseurs who already have their sea legs will appreciate sound advice for sailing unfamiliar waters. His sharp, concise history section and his analysis of market trends will only enhance your appreciation and enjoyment of American whiskey.

Solid book. I recommend this to anyone interested in developing knowledge regarding these liquors. Really makes you appreciate the quality and commitment that goes into producing this stuff. Great rating system (easy to understand, well written, etc).

All my friends seem to be into whiskey and recognize the bottles behind the bar, and I know nothing. Thankfully, the first part of this book provides all the introduction you need: an explanation of what whiskey is; its rise, fall, and rise again in America; how to consume it and what to notice while drinking. The second part covers 200+ specific whiskeys with full-color pictures of all the bottles. The book's writing and layout are both excellent. It's attractive and worth a spot on your bookshelf.

I pre-ordered this book and received it today. It has an informative introduction which covers the types of American whiskeys, an extended writeup on history and a nice discussion on recent happenings. The history section was quite informative. The writeup on the 200+ whiskeys makes for a good reference and ratings are given, although they are not too specific. I did run across one inaccurate statement which I hope is corrected in the next printing or edition. On page 62 when discussing the use of small casks the author makes the following statement: "The smaller size increases the ratio of volume to inside surface of the barrel...". I think that he may have this backwards. The smaller the size the greater the surface to volume ratio which results in faster aging. This is why many craft distillers use smaller barrels.

If you are interested in a credible, well written introduction, the first section is excellent. If you have already spent time reading reviews and discussions on the better blogs, and have some tastings under your belt, I would suggest you probably will find little value added by purchasing this.
"Canadian Whisky" by Davin de Kergammeaux" Covering similar territory from our northern neighbor was more enjoyable and rewarding in both content and format.
A quibble with Risen's book is why with so much blank page space, the font size is so small and almost grey scale.
For those new to the subject, this would be a nice stocking stuffer.

Dude writes on craft beer for the New York Times, liquor for The Atlantic Monthly, whiskey for Men's Journal ... all the while writing books on the civil rights era and editing tomes on the Civil War. Does he also edit the NYT opinion pages? Indeed he does.

He cannot be stopped! Nor should he be. Succumb to the bibulous joys of his latest: American Whiskey, Bourbon & Rye.

Excellent book....very complete with history and the author's reviews on virtually all brands currently available.

Very useful when selecting a new whiskey to taste and for shopping around at the local whiskey store.

I expect future updates as new distilleries start selling it's own products (rather than outsourcing) and as new ones come to market.

A must for every American whiskey lover!

I've always been an outspoken but under appreciated advocate of whiskey. What I appreciate about this guide (while I've only had about 15% of the bottles listed) is that the author is spot on in his notes on the bottles that I have had the pleasure of sampling. What this means for me is that I can trust the guide to find other bottles that I'll want to try. More important it can help me avoid (sometimes costly) mistakes.

Other than one bottle, I've been pretty lucky in how liquor store proprietors in my area have guided me to great Whiskey, Bourbon and Rye selections.

This book is highly recommended and a good read.

Waited 2 months for this book as it was backordered. Finally received it yesterday, opened it up only to see the smallest print I've ever seen in a book. I'm not going to bother straining to read this book, it's going back !

Here's the rare book with indispensable information that also is beautiful enough to have on the coffee table (but that's after you put your first copy next to your bar - this certainly is a book to BE USED). This is written for everyone ranging from experts to beginners as it ranges from topics including a very interesting history of your favorite spirit to the influences of locations, barrels, seasons, groundwater, etc. on the tastes of various products.

Yes, history, chemistry, etc. are all interesting, but THE FUN really begins with the description of flavors Mr. Risen finds in each product (he wrote spirits reviews for the Atlantic for years), and the list of products he has sampled is impressive. With your book in one hand and glass in the other, you can see if there were ephemeral flavors in your favorite whiskey/bourbon that you may have missed but he found. At the same time, you may find great leads into new brands based on his reviews in the book.

If you are a whiskey/bourbon enthusiast and you DON'T find something new or useful in this book, you must have read it with your eyes closed.

AND, I agree with the other review someone wrote: THIS NEEDS TO BE AN APP!!! This would be great to access while shopping or at a bar (yes, BARS TAKE NOTE, your bartenders would GREATLY benefit having one of these around to recommend new options to your guests! Same for stores - this would help guide your customers to new options)

For casual imbibers, as well as knowledgeable connoisseurs, Clay Risen's "American Whiskey, Bourbon & Rye: A Guide to the Nation's Favorite Spirit" is a superb and entertaining reference source. Crisply written, attractively designed and illustrated, this tour of more than 200 American whiskeys—cutting through the hype and often confusing labels—expertly guides the reader to the best from this nation's distilleries. Along the way, Risen dispenses captivating history and lore, guidance in getting good value, and advice in selecting the right whiskey for gifts. Very highly recommended!

I love whiskey. I happen to love learning about whiskey almost as much as I love drinking it. So when I got my hands on this book I sat down with a nice dram of bourbon (no Scotch with THIS book) and began reading. The book is beautifully designed with a rich and hearty gold embossed cover and clean, well layed-out pages. I enjoyed the way it was organized...think 80's mullet...business up front and party in the back. The intro/front section goes deep into the history of American whiskey. Very well written with content that is broad and diverse. Clearly the author was not influenced by a single distillery or brand. Later in the book (the party) goes into individual distilleries and their expressions. I can see myself referencing this section A LOT. Having reference to such a massive selection of American whiskey will be a lifesaver when deciding my next purchase at the liquor store. I also enjoyed reading the history behind some of these distilleries. Great read and highly recommended for both novice and aficionado.

Risen is definitely an authority when it comes to whiskey production in America, having already written extensively on the subject for the New York Times.
I have an advance copy of this book, and I can't recommend it more highly. The Introduction includes an explanation, in plain English, of how whiskey is made and what distinguishes whiskey, rye, and bourbon from each other and various other grain alcohols. It then goes on to give a brief, but highly illuminating history of whiskey production in America. If you're like me, you can't get enough of this kind of history. For these reasons, the Introduction alone is worth the cover price.
He also then talks knowledgeably and accessibly about current trends in the whiskey business. The book then reviews all (or at least nearly all) of the major whiskey brands made and sold in America. I admit I haven't read this whole section, but it's a great resource if, like me, you're planning a whiskey tasting in the near future.
If you love whiskey, you need this book in your collection. Cheers.

This book goes down smooth, with flavorful notes of wit and sophistication on almost every page. It will become your very good friend: full of sage advice on what you should drink, and equally sage advice what will just make you sick (that you wasted your money on it). Also, a great primer on how all this stuff is made, where it comes from, and why that jerk at the bar is wrong when he says that for it to be bourbon, it has to come from Bourbon County, Kentucky. This is THE book to get for the serious drinker -- or those who aspire to such great boozy heights.

The author's blog, "Mash Notes," has been a fantastic guide to many great new whiskies. And, if you've read his other work, you know even teetotalers will enjoy the fine, thoughtful writing. All-in-all, this is a great book to put on your bar-shelf, or, better yet, to have read the next time you're looking for a new bottle to sip and enjoy.

By that review title, I mean to indicate the color of the bourbon, not the amount I plan to consume. From light to dark, heavy medium and, well, light, Mr. Risen's book covers it all. I know I'll be discovering new favorites for years with this book by my drinking bench. If you haven't seen me by Christmas, call the president...

Any alcohol knowledge I have is constrained to wine, and even that's not much. Still, I wasn't looking to increase my whiskey trivia, but when my husband received this book, and I decided to glance through it. I was surprisingly pleased at how engaging it was, how accessible, and how well-organized. Even after finishing just a third of the book, I was able to recognize some good options when going out to eat or looking for a great taste to pair with my next dinner. Now, I feel like an expert!

Fantastic reviews on a wide range of American whiskeys. The reviews are very entertaining (especially the "nose" description for some of the lower-ranked whiskeys) and accurate. I agree with the other reviewer who suggested that this needs to be supplemented with an Android/iPhone app ASAP.

This is such a fantastic book! Being from Tennessee and with my name being Jameson, I have tasted a fair few whiskeys. This book really makes it simple for people who know what they like but have not had the chance to try some of the variety out there. Now with this book in hand I can go in to a store and be able to better select a spirit that I know I will enjoy.

If you've been following Risen's writings on beer and liquor for the past few years, you know he's one of the best writers and most perceptive critics in the field. It's a treat to finally get all his thoughts on whiskey in one book. Smart, comprehensive, and authoritative, Risen's book belongs on the shelf of anyone who enjoys bourbon. And -- a rarity for a guide -- it's a genuinely fun read. He doesn't just offer description and detail, but insight laced with real enjoyment for the stuff. Can't recommend this highly enough.

Whiskey is a Gaelic word, for yes, water of life. Yet few of us can keep up with all the new life-sustaining product coming out of America's distilleries both large and small. Clay Risen's "American Whiskey, Bourbon & Rye" is the guide to get. It explains how we the brown liquor people got here, why whiskey is so important to the country's rebellious history, and what's new and worthwhile at the local hooch shop. It cost way less than a bottle of Pappy Reserve, use the savings to get a bottle of America's best and get to reading & sipping.

From the Civil War to Civil Rights, from General Lee to Doctor King, Mr. Clay Risen has recapitulated our nation's sobering past, so who better to research a less-sobering pastime? Risen shows it's a 100-proof American to know the difference between mega- and micro-distillery, and has the good sense to find the good taste in it all. A must-read for anyone who's gone looking for that message in a bottle. Here's to you, Mr. Rye-sen . . .