Whiskybog: Scotch whisky - without color, without filterThe book is written in Danish by Peter Kjær and Lars Gregersen. The reader's review has just arrived: "Among the many whisky books, this one stands out for its Danish origin, quality and thoroughness. In addition, the book's primary focus is on the circumstances of production, distribution and enjoyment rather than being a guide to the individual whiskies. The book is very well written and inviting. In addition, it covers its subject very well, explaining the many facets of the subject in a comprehensive and generally understandable way. The many interviews are also well integrated into the overall picture." Authors: Peter Kjær and Lars Gregersen Photographer: Søren Rasch JensenAnother whiskybog - why? With this new book, we would like to give you a nuanced picture of the world of Scotch whisky in 2016. We want to address both those who are new to Scotch whisky enjoyment and hopefully also those who already have a good knowledge. Behind the picturesque facades of the distilleries, there is a lot going on that the ordinary consumer does not necessarily know. The full truth may never be revealed, but over the years we have come across quite a few exciting stories that we would like to share with you. We will also feature portraits and interviews with some of the industry's personalities who have contributed to many a good dram over the years and who are not afraid to speak their mind. Cheers, Lars, Søren and Peter
Book review from www.whiskyflasken.dk: Today's review is not about whisky...! That is, it is a little bit anyway, because I have come into possession of the book "Scotch whisky - without color, without filter", which is written by Lars Gregersen and Peter Kjær. I can't judge the visual expression of the book, as it hasn't even been printed yet, so it's only the raw text that I have. Then, of course, you are also free to look at all the beautiful distilleries and landscapes, which only distract. However, I am sure that the final product will be a veritable cornucopia of images that will make us long for the motherland. It is not Danish whisky books that are written the most and it is probably no coincidence that one of the few that are written is from the hands of Lars Gregersen and Peter Kjær. Peter Kjær, born in 1959, is a well-known man on the Danish whisky scene. He has worked as a Brand Ambassador for several years and is currently the owner of Kruts Karport in Østerbro, Copenhagen. Lars Gregersen, born in 1964, is, among other things, co-founder of LAGO-import, which specializes in the import of wine and spirits. Whisky in particular is an important part of the business, importing brands such as Glendronach and Arran (thanks for that Lars!). The book is built around five central chapters and eight interviews with well-known personalities in the whisky world. We start with a trip through the varied history of whisky, and it is rare that a whiskybog goes so deeply into the history. It is done with a good dose of humor and at the same time with great respect for the fact that Scotland is shaped by whisky and whisky is shaped by Scotland. The next chapter deals with the production itself, covering everything from growing the grain to malting, mashing, fermentation, distillation and maturation. It's important to remember that the book is called 'Scotch Whisky' and not 'Scotch Malt Whisky'. This means that it covers all aspects of Scotch whisky, including the huge area that almost all other books (knowingly or unknowingly) neglect, which is the production of grain whisky for the huge blending industry. This part gets the same amount of column space as the production of malt whisky and there's even a visit to North British thrown in as well. The same goes for blended whisky, which also gets a thorough review. Huge kudos from here for remembering those parts of the industry too. In addition, almost all cask types are described in detail and there is even a review of the different types of warehouses. It's all described with a good dose of humor and no fingers are left out. The two gentlemen don't mind calling a spade a spade and, among other things, call the myth that peat in the water has any effect on the taste pure sales gas. Then comes a chapter on the individual whisky regions, which leads us into a chapter on the industry players. Again, an attempt has been made to cover everything and there are reviews of the major stakeholders such as Diageo, Pernod Ricard and so on. Unusually, there is also a long and very interesting review of the whisky middleman, the so-called whisky brokers, as well as a section on the independent bottlers, who otherwise never get much coverage in such books. There is even room for a review of cooperages and maltings. You could easily finish a chapter like this and be proud of yourself, but it all takes a political turn when there is a section on the Scotch Whisky Association and their importance to the industry. Finally, there is a chapter on how to enjoy, evaluate and treat your whisky. We get a little lesson in our senses and then Jim McEvan's method of evaluating whisky is described, which includes adding water to your whisky. It was gratifying to read this encouragement and those who know me know that I couldn't agree more. All of the above makes for a pretty unique book, but we're not done yet! Lars Gregersen and Peter Kjær have conducted eight interviews with exciting personalities in the world of whisky, providing a fantastic insight into a world that is on the one hand pure business and industry, and on the other hand filled with passion and love for your work and your hobby. The eight interviews include one with Martin Markvardsen and one with Hans-Henrik Hansen. Two Danes who have a huge passion for whisky. There is also a fascinating interview with Mark Watt, General Manager at Wm. Cadenhead, who gives us an insight into how he sees the market and the future of bottlers. Last but not least, there's the interview with Jim McEwan, which you can just read over and over again. My only criticism of these interviews is that they are far too short, but I would probably think so even if 100 pages were devoted to each of these huge personalities. The authors themselves believe that the book is mostly for the beginner, but I actually think that there is enough meat on the bones for even the most experienced whisky drinker to get something out of this work. The book is filled with facts and anecdotes and great care has been taken to include as many details as possible, which gives the book an incredible depth and makes it hard to put down. The eight interviews help to support the story that Lars Gregersen and Peter Kjær want to tell and thus give the book some extra legitimacy. In addition, it is liberating that the book does not contain any tasting notes or a slavish review of all distilleries. There are already plenty of books that do this quite well, and the absence of these elements helps to make the book long-lasting. Of course, there are certain parts of the book that are a snapshot of the Scotch whisky industry, but I believe that the book will be almost as relevant, and certainly as interesting, in 20 years' time as it is today. If you are a regular reader of this site, then you are the target audience for this book and I highly recommend "Scotch Whisky - No Colour, No Filter". The vast knowledge and passion of the two authors shines through from the first page and I am very impressed with the thoroughness they have put into this book. The book will be on sale in the country's wine shops from week 42, and while you're down there picking it up, you might as well take a good bottle of whisky home with you. In the spirit of the book, a grain whisky from an independent bottler would be just the thing. Finally, a huge Slàinte Mhath to Lars Gregersen and Peter Kjær. Congratulations on the book. It is excellent craftsmanship and "Scotch whisky - without color, without filter" deserves to be on the shelf of all current and future whisky drinkers. Carsten Overgaard Øhlenschlæger , Whiskyflasken.dk
