Truths About Whisky
With a new introduction and commentary by Ian Buxton
UPDATE: 22 April 2008. The Founder's Subscription List is now full. However, please contact us at info@classicexpressions.co.uk for information about cancellations or the waiting list. Many thanks.
Our third new title is the exceedingly rare 1st edition of Truths About Whisky, issued by the four principal Dublin distillers in 1878. As they say in the first chapter:
“The four firms of whisky distillers by whom this book is published ... have for the last two years been engaged in an endeavour to place some check upon the practices of the fraudulent traders by whom silent spirit, variously disguised and flavoured, is sold under the name of Whisky.”
Note the spelling of “whisky”, even in Ireland! “Silent spirit” is, of course, a reference to grain whisky and the book is an impassioned defence of malt whisky. It includes details on “The Qualities and Popularity of genuine Dublin Whisky”, “The Growth of Silent Spirit into Sham Whisky”, “Grogging” and “Whisky Frauds”.
The book is an important contribution to the great “what is whisky” debate, which was even then gathering pace and culminated in the 1909 Royal Commission, the recommendations of which shaped the future direction of the distilling industry.
As well as being an utterly fascinating insight into late Victorian attitudes, the book contains four wonderful fold-out coloured plates (approx 14” x 8.5”) giving a bird’s-eye view of the distilleries of the following distilleries as they appeared in 1878: John Jameson & Sons; William Jameson & Co (of Marrowbone Lane); John Power & Sons and George Roe & Co. All gone now, of course.
An original copy of this book recently sold for £750! It is eagerly sought after by whisky collectors and those interested in the history of Dublin. Rare.
Specifications
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