F. Paul Pacult
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By: Hyperion Books
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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6
Average rating: 3.5 of 5
A roadmap for a developing palate. 5 out of 5 stars.
12 of 12 people found this review helpful.
Ever wondered what that expensive bottle of cognac in the glass case tastes like? Afraid to spend huge amounts of money on fine liquor only to be disappointed. Or perhaps you're looking for the best tasting spirits that fit a more limited budget. In any of those situations, this book is for you. The book provides exquisitely detailed tasting notes of virtually every form of spirit, and most of the available brands. Some of the notes are almost poetic. Others are quite funny. You definitely get the author's strong opinions, but usually with enough information to make up your own mind. He also explains the different kinds of spirits, their histories, and what they are "supposed" to taste like in a more generic sense. Afterward he gives notes and ratings on a 1 to 5 star scale (sound familiar Amazon.com readers?) for particular bottles. Those he gives the "5 star" designation have NEVER failed to impress me. Sometimes they are surprisingly easy to find and not expensive. Other times they become the objects of a personal quest, which is another fun way to use this book.
The breadth of the material covered is also impressive. Cognac, Armagnac, Calvados, Grappa, Gin, Rum, Vodka, Tequila, Scotch Whiskey, American Whiskey, Irish Whiskey, Canadian Whiskey, Oodles of Liqueuers, Sherry, Madiera, Port, Marsala.... and yes I am leaving a few out. Each of these topics has multiple (sometimes exhaustive) tasting notes within it. My favorites are the sections on Scotch Whiskey, American Whiskey, Cognac and Tequila.
Think of this as a reference book, a guidebook, or a treasure map. In my house it has been all three. If you buy liquor regularly - for yourself, for parties, or as a gift - this book will easily pay for itself. And while my own palate has developed its own particularities since I first read this, I still frequently return to it for new ideas and new experiences.
Editorial Review:
For years, F. Paul Pacult and his Spirit Journal have provided initiates, seasoned connoisseurs, and industry insiders with opinionated, colorful, and authoritative assessments of the best of the spirits. This one-and-only, one-stop resource brings together for the first time ever reviews of the world's great whiskeys, scotches, bourbons, sherries, ports, brandies, cognacs, armagnacs, rums, gins, vodkas, tequilas, and liqueurs.
