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The Art of Whisky
This amazing celebration of single malt Scotch takes a unique photographic perspective that highlights the nature of the spirits in startlingly beautiful ways.
The Art of Whisky is a breathtaking and unusual gift book for whisky connoisseurs, celebrating the spirit from an unexpectedly beautiful angle. By chance, award-winning photographer Ernie Button noticed the intricate patterns formed in the residue at the bottoms of (almost) empty whisky glasses—each as different as a snowflake—and began photographing them with inventive lighting techniques.
The resulting images are exquisitely gorgeous, evoking earthly landscapes and extraterrestrial visions. This book collects nearly 100 of those photos—each one more amazing than the last—and features delightful touches such as tasting notes, information on the science of what we're seeing, and writing about single malt Scotch by Scotland's leading whisky expert Charles MacLean, commissioned exclusively for this book.
UNUSUAL GIFT FOR THE WHISKY Surprise the spirit-lover in your life with this gorgeous photography book that highlights the uniqueness of whisky from an unexpected and beautiful angle.
ART, SCIENCE, AND WHISKY—A DELICIOUS The captivating photographs begin with the qualities that make single malt scotch so exquisite, get an assist from the natural wonder of fluid dynamics, and a finish of artful production that makes each unique and surprising.
CONTRIBUTING Princeton University Professor Howard A. Stone, who has studied and published on the science behind Button's Vanishing Spirits photographs, contributes a text on the science of what we see.
Renowned whisky expert and author Charles MacLean writes here on the unique qualities of single malt scotch and contributes notes about the special aspects of Scotland's whisky-producing regions.
Perfect perfect gift for whisky enthusiasts and connoisseurs, as well as fans of unusual, captivating photography
The Art of Whisky is a breathtaking and unusual gift book for whisky connoisseurs, celebrating the spirit from an unexpectedly beautiful angle. By chance, award-winning photographer Ernie Button noticed the intricate patterns formed in the residue at the bottoms of (almost) empty whisky glasses—each as different as a snowflake—and began photographing them with inventive lighting techniques.
The resulting images are exquisitely gorgeous, evoking earthly landscapes and extraterrestrial visions. This book collects nearly 100 of those photos—each one more amazing than the last—and features delightful touches such as tasting notes, information on the science of what we're seeing, and writing about single malt Scotch by Scotland's leading whisky expert Charles MacLean, commissioned exclusively for this book.
UNUSUAL GIFT FOR THE WHISKY Surprise the spirit-lover in your life with this gorgeous photography book that highlights the uniqueness of whisky from an unexpected and beautiful angle.
ART, SCIENCE, AND WHISKY—A DELICIOUS The captivating photographs begin with the qualities that make single malt scotch so exquisite, get an assist from the natural wonder of fluid dynamics, and a finish of artful production that makes each unique and surprising.
CONTRIBUTING Princeton University Professor Howard A. Stone, who has studied and published on the science behind Button's Vanishing Spirits photographs, contributes a text on the science of what we see.
Renowned whisky expert and author Charles MacLean writes here on the unique qualities of single malt scotch and contributes notes about the special aspects of Scotland's whisky-producing regions.
Perfect perfect gift for whisky enthusiasts and connoisseurs, as well as fans of unusual, captivating photography
- GenresNonfictionArt
160 pages, Hardcover
Published May 10, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 24, 2022
This is a book of beautiful photos and facts about Scottish whisky. I learned a lot of new facts about whisky as well as the differences in whisky from different regions of Scotland. The photos are mostly beautiful photos of the residue left at the bottom of the glass after drinking different types of whisky. Believe it or not the photos look like they were done in outer space. They are very imaginative and intriguing. I am sure that few people have seen beautiful photos of whisky residue--here they are! I read this as an ebook but I would say the print edition is a must!
I received a temporary digital copy of this book via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
I received a temporary digital copy of this book via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
April 20, 2022
I received an advance copy via NetGalley.
I read this as a formatted ebook. As much as I enjoyed this graphic marvel in that form, I think that the final print edition will be even more intriguing. This book is great for whisky lovers because it is so unique: stunning photographs of the residue left by various whiskies. This sounds weird, but in many cases, these images resemble pictures of deep space nebulae or rainbows or fractal patterns of ice. They are gorgeous. Along with that is minimal text about regions of whisky and select sensory notes, plus few beautiful images of Scotland. This book makes me want to study the bottom of my glass rather than promptly washing it.
I read this as a formatted ebook. As much as I enjoyed this graphic marvel in that form, I think that the final print edition will be even more intriguing. This book is great for whisky lovers because it is so unique: stunning photographs of the residue left by various whiskies. This sounds weird, but in many cases, these images resemble pictures of deep space nebulae or rainbows or fractal patterns of ice. They are gorgeous. Along with that is minimal text about regions of whisky and select sensory notes, plus few beautiful images of Scotland. This book makes me want to study the bottom of my glass rather than promptly washing it.
February 25, 2022
True confession: I do not drink whisky. I have tried! And sometimes I can stomach a real smooth, expensive one, but I am just a wimp when it comes to this spirit. However, I love the idea of whisky, the culture and history of it.
15 years is an astounding amount of time to work on a photography project, and you can tell Button really put his heart and soul into it. These macro photos of whisky are colorful and ethereal., as if from another planet, but this coffee table book is not just stunning photos, it is also a history lesson, a chemistry lesson and a geography lesson. Categorized by different regions, this book takes you on a journey that even a seasoned whisky drinker and historian can learn something new from. I guarantee you are also going to have new places to visit and new whiskies to taste!
It's important to note, lest you see "whisky" in the title and grab and go, this book focuses on Scotch specifically; it is not a tour of whiskies from around the world. This book would be a perfect gift for any whisky lover in your life.
Thank you NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
15 years is an astounding amount of time to work on a photography project, and you can tell Button really put his heart and soul into it. These macro photos of whisky are colorful and ethereal., as if from another planet, but this coffee table book is not just stunning photos, it is also a history lesson, a chemistry lesson and a geography lesson. Categorized by different regions, this book takes you on a journey that even a seasoned whisky drinker and historian can learn something new from. I guarantee you are also going to have new places to visit and new whiskies to taste!
It's important to note, lest you see "whisky" in the title and grab and go, this book focuses on Scotch specifically; it is not a tour of whiskies from around the world. This book would be a perfect gift for any whisky lover in your life.
Thank you NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
April 6, 2022
This book was interesting, though not what I expected (which I say A LOT in reviews). I learned some new facts about whisky. I am a sucker for cocktail books and macro photography so this book was a lot of fun. I LOVED the photos.
However if you are looking for a cocktail recipe book, this is not it. If you are interested in history and science with your stiff drink, this IS the book for you.
Thanks to #netGalley for sending me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
However if you are looking for a cocktail recipe book, this is not it. If you are interested in history and science with your stiff drink, this IS the book for you.
Thanks to #netGalley for sending me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 26, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and Ernie Button for an ARC of The Art of Whisky. Ernie Button is an award winning photographer with an interesting view of whisky. This beautiful work of art has over 100 photographs of the residue left in glasses after drinking Scotch Whisky. These amazing photographs bring to mind wonderful landscapes and far away galaxies. This would be a great gift for someone who likes whisky and art.
May 26, 2022
Wow--What an amazing book chockful of the science of whisky-making. I truly enjoyed the gorgeous photography and I am planning on buying a physical copy for my whisky-loving husband.
Scotch whisky is such an art with master blenders and I was floored with the amount of knowledge in such a small book. Perfect as a gift for the whisky lover in your life.
Scotch whisky is such an art with master blenders and I was floored with the amount of knowledge in such a small book. Perfect as a gift for the whisky lover in your life.
June 13, 2022
This is the perfect gift for any whisky drinker in your life. It’s a visually stunning book and it’s full of extremely interesting information.
May 9, 2022
I don't exactly know what drew me to selecting this book, it was certainly interesting.
I enjoyed learning the history and regional information about different scotch whiskies. I even got to teach my husband a few things about flavor and volume.
There was the comparison of every dried whiskey being like a snowflake, but I don't think that's completely accurate. When it comes to snowflakes even if they all have different designs they still look like snowflakes. With the whiskey there were planets, organisms, wood grain, lava, smoke and sometimes it felt like what I perceived changed the longer I looked at it or on second viewings.
This will make a nice coffee table (or bar cart) book for someone who enjoys the finer details in their spirits!
I enjoyed learning the history and regional information about different scotch whiskies. I even got to teach my husband a few things about flavor and volume.
There was the comparison of every dried whiskey being like a snowflake, but I don't think that's completely accurate. When it comes to snowflakes even if they all have different designs they still look like snowflakes. With the whiskey there were planets, organisms, wood grain, lava, smoke and sometimes it felt like what I perceived changed the longer I looked at it or on second viewings.
This will make a nice coffee table (or bar cart) book for someone who enjoys the finer details in their spirits!
May 4, 2022
As a lover of all things Scotland, seeing the title spelled without an “e” made me happy even before I opened the book. As a student of history and culture, the background information on the various whiskies was fun to read. But as an artist - oh my god. I’ve never seen anything quite as unique and beautiful as these stunning photographs of the patterns made by the dregs at the bottom of a whisky glass. You feel as though you are looking at a distant galaxy, or the surface of some undiscovered planet; the differences between the dregs made by regional conditions, ingredients in the original recipe, how long the whisky was aged and in what kind of barrel. I tell my students that there are no lines between science, history and art - this book proves it. *Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
March 25, 2022
This is the perfect book for the Whisky lover! It was neat to see the beautiful pictures (some even looked to me like planets or something out of this world- so cool!) and learn a little more about the history of whisky. This is definitely an art meets whiskey in an incredible package. It was so nice to see an ARC of this on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews