Michael Jackson's Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch

by Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson's Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch , the landmark best-selling malt whiskey companion by the late Michael Jackson, doyen of whiskey writers, has been comprehensively updated by a team of experts. Featuring over 500 new bottlings, reviewed and scored, plus hundreds of revised entries, Michael Jackson's Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch includes background information on the distilleries, tasting notes on over 1,000 bottlings, and practical advice on buying malts and interpreting whiskey labels.

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction, Food and Drink, Food, Cooking, Alcohol

448 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Michael James Jackson (27 March 1942 – 30 August 2007) was an English writer and journalist. He was the author of many influential books about beer and whisky.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael...

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yum, scotch! I’ve been drinking it for about 10 years, and it’s one my favorite things to drink. Through this book, I discovered many new distilleries and became more familiar with the different scotch producing regions.

Michael Jackson's Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch was an enjoyable read. Sure, several of the scotches critiqued are difficult to find. Some are also expensive, or at least what I would consider expensive. But I was exposed to many distilleries new to me. I learned about their style, which helped me select bottles, with some confidence, that were available in my local liquor store.

There is so much that goes into making scotch: geography, still style, and barrel type are just some of the factors at play that make the final product. This book talks about the different scotch producing regions, and for some of the more difficult distillery names, guidance is given for pronunciation.

There is a small section at the back of the book that looks at scotch style whiskies from around the world. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves scotch or looking to learn more about this spirit.

[max · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first spotted this book next to a small but excellent collection of scotches at the residence of a prodigious homebrewer and made note of it. A couple of years later, my brother gave me a copy for Christmas.

Also known for his beer journalism, the late and great Michael Jackson deserves no small amount of credit for the renaissance of the craft malt marketplace, be it brewed or distilled; in this book, in its third and final edition, Jackson champions the importance of terroir to single-malt scotch, passionately arguing that microclimate has just as much impact on a Speyside as it does on a Bordeaux.

Jackson persuades in two fashions, firstly in the several chapters introducing the reader to the production and industry of scotch, especially the grain, the still, and the wood; and secondly through his hundreds of meticulous and diverse tastings, complete with a Robert Parker-inspired 100-point rating.

I'm not sure the aim of differentiating the individual terroirs isn't at odds with the one-scale ratings. But while they often seem unjustified by the descriptions preceding them, they do at least provide hints as to which scotches taste rather less distinctive than the others. Above 80 points, though, Jackson's personal preferences dominate, and they lean toward the spicy--Talisker's briny bomb earns a 90, the highest he gives any actively produced scotch of that maturity, while some superbly balanced malts like Oban weigh in at least ten points lower.

Jackson's scotch book is not great because of its little numerals--it's great because of its lore. Whether or not anyone can prove that the brook which passes through the heather field contributes to a hint of honey to the mash, or whether the salt of a certain bay breeze informs that sherry oak aging ever so subtly, Jackson's detailed vignettes on each distiller's people, history, plant, and landscape invite a wee dram of poetry into the act of sipping. And if you're already lending fifty bucks (or more) to the label, you might as well lend credence to the spirit, too.

[Krista Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I became of legal drinking age my palate was unrefined and I drank indiscriminately. Oh, those years of wasted youth! I've since purchased a bevy of books on Single Malt Scotch, but found Michael Jackson's guide to be the most informative and readable. Because of this book, I was able to navigate through unfamiliar waters and find the drink that was right for me.
For anyone wondering, my drink of choice is sixteen year-old Lagavulin Single Malt.

[Ron]

Blame Toni Albano, whose dad owned a liquor store way back when and provided us with a bottle of Cutty Sark to take to a New Year's eve party in the neighborhood, for introducing me to scotch. I can't remember who introduced me to my first good blended scotch - I favored Johnnie Walker Red for years, Black when I could get it, or who introduced me to single malt - the smokiness of Laphroig was a logical step from the Johnnie Walker. But I do know who has been fueling my growing knowledge and taste for good single malts - that would be my brother-in-law George, who loves them, has a fine collection he regularly adds to, and generously shares them with me whenever I see him ( and don't have to drive). I read a review of this book in the local Sunday paper, and knew I had to have it. I have been working my way thru it, and I have to confess, this will probably be a much easier list to work on than the ADK 46! My current favorite is the Macallan 12, which I like even more than the 18, but I can't wait to try the 15, or to expand my palate by trying some of the other wonderful sounding single malts the author so lovingly describes. If you are a fan of single malt, or would like to be, this book is a must-have. And, if you are expanding your palate, and would like a willing aficionado to share and compare with - well, I'm your man!

[David Baxter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art of appreciating single malt whiskies is one that is as much magic as anything else. There is, however, some real enjoyment to understanding the very simple process that results in a range of somethings that are so different and yet so distinctly the same.
If nothing else, this book does two things: it painstakingly reveals the minutiae of the process (and who decided to DRINK that stuff, anyway?); and it contains quite detailed descriptions of every malt whisky anyone is likely to see on the shelves at Dan Murphy's (or L'eau de Vie, for that matter!).

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now, if only somebody wrote a book just like this about cigars...

[Mark Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is it, the standard to rule them all. This book was quite bold when the first addition came out since nobody rated spirits at the time. Just wine. Jackson was Yelping before it was cool. Check out his clip on Conan O Brian on youtube where he's reviewing beer and is a bit buzzed. Quite a hoot. Note: If your liquor store is stocked with a good scotch collection, its likely they have this book on the end of a chain in the scotch isle.

[Mario Casco · Rating 4 out of 5]

It taught me a lot and helped me navigate and acquire new tastes and appreciation for the different regions. I complemented this with Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2013.

[Jorgen Lundgren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Valuable read of most existing and closed distilleries in Scotland including characteristics notes from each of them. An easy read which I will go back to from time to time to compare my own notes and to get inspiration to try some new single malt whiskies.

[Ethan · Rating 5 out of 5]

That other Michael Jackson may have been the King of Pop, but this one is the King of Scotch. This is an almost absurdly complete reference book to have on hand as you need it rather than something to read cover-to-cover at one go. I did read through the introductory sections, which detail some of the history and production processes of whisky, Scotch whisky in particular. I enjoyed learning about my favorite beverage more generally as well as some of my favorites, like Laphroaig. I just purchased a bottle of Macallan 12 Y.O. on Jackson's recommendation, which gives me some indication of why this guide is so well respected.

[Procyon Lotor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gradi alti della conoscenza. Mr. Jackson ha recensito principalmente il whisky (e la birra) per tutta la sua vita. E' stata per anni una guida essenziale per acquistare uno dei piacevoli compagni della lettura notturna a un buon prezzo. Ora che tutto costa assurdamente caro o carissimo merita di essere ricordato per l'invenzione di termini pari al genio creativo di Gianni Brera nel giornalismo sportivo.

[Glenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clearly the authority on single malt scotch, Michael Jackson walks the reader through 50 pages of everything he needs to know about the history and process of making scotch. The balance of the book is the ultimate collection of scotch reviews - Jackson never leads one astray with reviews, and none of this Robert Parker-esque silliness of everything receiving between 85 and 90 points.

[Milo Train · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great resource book, with a nice bit of information about the general process of scotch making and the variables encountered. The ratings are not very useful IMHO, and the bottlings represented are becoming dated.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent resource for scotch lovers.

[Lars · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the best book to get in terms of getting a grasp on the world of single malt scotch whiskys.

[Michael Vielhaber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ohne geht's nicht in der Welt von Gerste und Wasser jenseits der 40%

[Barracuda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has everything in it. And again, whisky is awesome.

[Rob Hermanowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

The bible of scotch guides! For anyone interested, I hope to hold future single malt scotch tastings at my house - stay tuned!

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent, of course--MJ always does it right. Nice to have a new selection of single malts to choose from.

[Tess Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, I did read the whole thing. And marked all the Scotches I wanted to try. Amazing reference!

[Catherine Woodman · Rating 4 out of 5]

He is the man when it comes to beer and scotch

[Ricardo Hernández · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must for anyone who wants to knoe about their single malts. Michael Jackson is the authority in the subject and you cant go wrong with this book.

[Rick Cheeseman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a new hobby!

[Darleen Baldinelli-Pournia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful guide to scotch. Really a must have for lovers of single malt.