Books & Dvds

Simon Difford's classic book on alcohol products and culture, packed with product information on over a thousand spirits and liqueurs. A must for drinks enthusiasts and an essential reference work for bartenders.

Another hugely impressive tome from Simon Difford. This Diffords Guide contains not only a selection of cocktails, but also over 120 international bar reviews, as well as Difford's own selection of London's top 100 watering holes.

Andrew Jefford's seminal tome on Islay and its whiskies, Peat Smoke and Spirit contains detailed profiles of each distillery as well as powerful evocations of the landscape and people on this uniquely wonderful island.

Iain Banks's bestselling book detailing his journeys around Scotland in search of a 'perfect dram'. Equal parts love story for the 'great wee roads' of the country and for its spirit, it's a must read for any whisky lover.

Whisky in Your Pocket is an updated version of Wallace Milroy & Neil Wilson's hugely successful Malt Whisky Almanac, which sold nearly 300,000 copies in the 1990s. Newly updated, this contains potted distillery profiles and bite-sized trivia for whisky beginners.

Charles Maclean's 'Scotch Whisky' is erudite, informative and entertaining - just like the man himself! Essential reading for new initiates to the wonders of whisky, and a great reference work for aficionados.

Treasure the wit and wisdom of Millwall supporter and whisky fan(atic) Jim Murray, perhaps the closest the Whisky World has to Robert Parker (obviously we mean scores, not girth, Jim).

The 2008 edition of Jim Murray's famous book, this time with more than 925 new and updated entries.

A splendid reference work from the ever-excellent Gavin D. Smith, the A-Z of Whisky is not only useful as a quick fact-checker, but is also packed with interesting explanations and clarifications of the minutiae (and indeed the lingo) associated with the world of whisky. Crucially, it's also subtly funny, elevating it well above a dry list of who's and whats.

A handy guide through Scotland's distillery tourist trail, well-written, as ever, by Gavin D. Smith with photographs by Graeme Wallace.

Charles MacLean's love letter to the world of whisky, full of stories explaining the mystery and wonder behind the spirit.

The sixth edition of Jim Murray's famous pocket whisky guide, this year's Whisky Bible includes more than 1500 new & updated entries. The comical review of Port Charlotte PC6 is worth the price by itself.

Jim Murray's 2010 Bible has over 1000 new entries, which works out as an average of around three every single day. But he does all the work for the Bible in a liver-cringing three or four months. For that alone he deserves a medal.

An absolute must for aficionados of the uisge, this is the third of these yearbooks. Bang up to date, with brilliant distillery profiles (and not just Scottish ones either), interviews and fascinating articles - just a great read for anyone interested in whisky.