Look at the back label of a bottle of wine and you may well see a reference to its terroir, the total local environment of the vineyard that grew the grapes, from its soil to the climate. Winemakers universally accept that where a grape is grown influences its chemistry, which in turn changes the flavor of the wine. A detailed system has codified the idea that place matters to wine. So why don't we feel the same way about whiskey?
In this book, the master distiller Rob Arnold reveals how innovative whiskey producers are recapturing a sense of place to create distinctive, nuanced flavors. He takes readers on a world tour of whiskey and the science of flavor, stopping along the way at distilleries in Kentucky, New York, Texas, Ireland, and Scotland. Arnold puts the spotlight on a new generation of distillers, plant breeders, and local farmers who are bringing back long-forgotten grain flavors and creating new ones in pursuit of terroir. In the twentieth century, we inadvertently bred distinctive tastes out of grains in favor of high yields-but today's artisans have teamed up to remove themselves from the commodity grain system, resurrect heirloom cereals, bring new varieties to life, and recapture the flavors of specific local ingredients. The Terroir of Whiskey makes the scientific and cultural cases that terroir is as important in whiskey as it is in wine.
Rezensionen / Stimmen
This book is an educational journey through the fascinating worlds of whiskey and flavor. Rob Arnold is well versed in the art and science of whiskey making and shares his wealth of wisdom with the reader in this brilliant book. He helps us understand the connection between the land and the spirit in our glass, shining his inquisitive spotlight on the distillers, grain farmers, and cultivators who are changing the way whiskey is made. If you want to delve beyond the glass into the mind-blowing worlds of flavor and terroir, this book is a must. -- Rob Allanson, editor at large * Whisky Magazine * For years, we've argued as to whether terroir exists in whiskey. Rob Arnold makes the best argument yet, and this book is a must-read for every whiskey geek in the world. -- Fred Minnick, author of <i>Bourbon: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of an American Whiskey</i> A fascinating look at whiskey and the manner in which it is made, written in a knowledgeable but friendly tone that welcomes newcomers as well as whiskey aficionados. -- Jeff Fleischer * Foreword * A fantastic debut for a writer whose storytelling talents are proportionate to his distilling skills. -- Rob Theakston * Drink Hacker * Arnold smartly and capably writes for the distiller, educated taster and novice alike, breaking issues into lay language as necessary (even using Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and the Tasmanian Devil to explain). Arnold provides specifics for the reader to taste along with him, resulting in a full sensory educational experience. * Shelf Awareness * With standout information that's both broad and deep, The Terroir of Whiskey considers bourbon, rye, and other popular whiskeys from all angles. * Foreword Reviews *
Reihe
Sprache
Verlagsort
Produkt-Hinweis
Illustrationen
Maße
Höhe: 244 mm
Breite: 5 mm
Dicke: 2 mm
Gewicht
ISBN-13
978-0-231-19458-7 (9780231194587)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Klassifikation
Rob Arnold is president and cofounder of Advanced Spirits, a venture firm partner for whiskey brands and distilleries, and was previously master distiller at TX Whiskey. He is a third-generation member of the whiskey industry and holds a PhD in plant breeding and genetics from Texas A&M University.
Introduction
Part I: Fashioning Flavor, Tasting Terroir
1. A Farm in Texas
2. The Production and Perception of Flavor
3. The Chemistry of Flavor
4. The Wine Terroir Tasting
5. Wine Country
6. The Evolutionary Role of Terroir
7. The Rise of Commodities
Part II: A Roadmap to Terroir
8. A Texas Tic-Tac-Toe
9. The Chemistry of Terroir
10. The Roadmap
11. Overlaying the Maps
Part III: Following the Map
12. Whiskey in the Big Apple
13. The Trilogy of Farming
14. My Old Kentucky Home
15. Corn, Wheat, and Rye Among the Bluegrass
16. Across the Pond and Through the Hills
17. TEIREOIR
18. Cultivating Flavor on the Farms of Eire
19. At Last, a Sip
20. The Church of Scotch Whisky
Conclusion
Appendix 1: Whiskey Terroir Tasting Guide
Appendix 2: Key to the Roadmap: Sources for Chapter 10
Appendix 3: Key to the Roadmap: Sources for Chapter 11
Appendix 4: Key to the Roadmap: Sources for Chapter 17
Notes
Index
