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While a lot of people love their drinks, not everyone loves their books, but that doesn’t mean that having a couple of key ones on hand isn’t useful! Here are my desert island list of alcohol
books:

Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible

Currently out for 2015, this is my go-to book when looking up a hard-to-find/unheard-of dram. Covering more than 4,500 whiskies, he is way more likely to have had something than any other source and he is one of the more consistent tasters that I have found. So, while you may not agree with him, you can get a sense of whether you will like something by knowing where you stand in relation to his descriptions.

CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide

Currently in its 42nd year, this is the guide for beers and pubs in the UK. It covers 4,500 pubs and every brewery that brews real ale (and all of their ales), as nominated and evaluated by members of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). This was my everyday companion when I lived in the UK and is still a regular passenger with me when I want more information about the sources of imported British beers. They also do a Good Beer Guide Belgium, a Good Beer Guide Germany (but it is a little old), a Good Beer Guide Prague & Czech Republic, and a Good Beer Guide West Coast USA. If you are serious about planning a holiday based around British beer, CAMRA does a number of Pub Walk guides that are also excellent.

The Drunken Botanist: The Plants That Create the World’s Great Drinks

This book is for the gardening that enjoys having a martini more than pulling weeds. While it does have a number of interesting recipes, it is better at providing you with the botanical knowledge about the things that we have turned into alcohol over the centuries!

Proof: The Science of Booze

While the books above can help you find your next drink or create it, this one is all about the science behind why you want it, how it gets into your glass, and why it does what it does to your brain. Now, if there was ever a book written specifically to accompany your next glass, I haven’t read it.

Tags: alcohol, Books