“Whisky Rising – the Definitive Guide to the Finest Distillers and Whiskies from Japan” Available Now
We don’t like to blow our own horn, so we’ll keep this brief. On April 4, the most in-depth book on Japanese whisky ever attempted in any language (this one happens to be in English) will go on sale. Published by Cider Mill Press and written by our head honcho, Stefan Van Eycken, it’s 400 pages chock-full of information with new insights and data on almost every page. The result of more than a decade and a half of immersion in the Japanese whisky scene and based on archival research and countless hours of interviews with distillers past and present, this beautiful full-colour book is available from the usual suspects (online bookstores and the better bookstores in your neighbourhood) for 35 USD or less, depending on where you look.
The day it is launched our head honcho will be lounging on a beach in Italy somewhere, but we grant him his well-deserved vacation after putting this together in between the soup and the potatoes, as they say (i.e. between his full-time job, family commitments and other writing work) in the course of 2016. We’re not going to tell you what’s in it… we don’t want to spoil the surprise. Suffice it to say that everything you ever wanted to know about Japanese whisky (but were afraid to ask?) is in this book. Please join us in congratulating Stefan and spread the word!
Comments
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I'm currently on the second part of the book and am quite impressed with the level of detail that is provided about the distilleries. It's almost like you got a hold of some of the technical schemes. The interviews with the Chief Blenders is something I don't think I've ever seen in any of the Scotch Whisky books I've read - or at least, not set up in such a structured way. It is a real treat to get some insight into what makes them tick. I wonder how difficult it was to set up these kinds of interviews?
At some point I'll go back to Japan and visit some of the distilleries. Does Eigashima have anything like a visitor center? From what I've researched, it doesn't look like it.
This is a very comprehensive book that I feel illuminates an area where while many are curious about, is still shrouded by Japan's native mystique. Keep up the good work!
To answer your questions: 1) it was not that hard to set up the interviews with the Chief Blenders, but the post-editing stage was quite lengthy (these highly talented individuals work for huge companies that like to make sure anything that is printed conforms to their internal rules and regulations... if you know what I mean); 2) Eigashima does have a small visitor center but it is not open to the public as such. Although, if you make contact with them, the odds are - if they are not too busy - they will welcome you.
Thanks again for the feedback.
I've really enjoyed reading your book, I've actually read it twice now as it's a great read on the train to London. I'm based in the UK and earlier in the year I purchased a bottle of 12 year old White Oak from an online Portuguese liquor store. What turned up was a complete surprise, a certain Eigashima 12 year old Sherry Cask Luna.
That bottle brought me to your page and reading about it in your book was very surreal! It is a very special bottle in my collection.
All the best,
Matt