101 Whiskies To Try Before You Die by Ian Buxton

Rather like a drop or two of water in a dram of single malt, Ian Buxton’s lively guide opens the subject of whisky up and lets it breath. Designed to appeal as much to the casual drinker as the aficionado, Buxton’s tour through 101 fabulous whiskies is entertaining, enlightening and most of all accessible. Opinionated and irreverent, he excludes ludicrously rare one-off bottlings and focuses instead on the colourful and various world of whiskies that won’t break the bank.

Selecting less well-known Scotches alongside the super-brands gives a full and fascinating picture of whisky-production today: from grain whisky, which Buxton calls “the mad aunt in the attic no one talks about” to Glenglassaugh new make: “The Spirit Drink That Dare Not Speak Its Name” and of course some excellent single malts too. And that’s just Scotland. Buxton cuts through the insular “if it’s not Scotch it’s not cricket” attitude that pervades Scottish whisky circles, and selects whiskies from India, Canada, the USA, Sweden, and even England. A near perfect Christmas present for the dram-happy relative in your life, 101 Whiskies To Try Before You Die is enjoyable and educational in equal measure – and speaking of measures, make mine a double. [Colin Herd]