Whiskey and Philosophy: a Small Batch of Spirited Ideas - Philosophy for Everyone

Jacket Description/Back: "After decades of cut-and-paste offerings on the subject, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in whisk(e)y--whether single malt, bourbon, or anything else--and all that makes it truly unique."--Jim McEwan, Production Director, Bruichladdich Distillery"Does being a philosopher require an appreciation of good whiskey or does having an appreciation of good whiskey make one philosophical? Whichever is the case, "Whiskey & Philosophy" makes for a thought-provoking and thirst-inducing read. Cheers!"--Chris Morris, Master Distiller, Woodford Reserve Distillery""Whiskey & Philosophy" contains a panacea of spiritual pleasure waiting to be enjoyed and shared. Many books have been written about whiskey, but few take you as deep into its inner world. It is an enlightening journey, and one that crosses boundaries and opens new doors. This is indeed a book that unlocks a treasure chest of pure liquid gold to the whiskey enthusiast."--Richard Paterson, Master Blender, Whyte and Mackay Ltd."Whiskey & Philosophy" explores the heart and soul of this heady potation in a lively collection of essays from philosophers, other academics, and whiskey writers. From the first reference to Scotch in 1494 in the records of King James IV of Scotland to Hillary Clinton tossing back that famous shot of Crown Royal during the 2008 campaign, this spirited book captures the history of whiskey, its various forms, and associated philosophical issues. The talk is lively, the opinions run high, and "Whiskey & Philosophy" is a satisfying blend. Open and enjoy. Biographical Note: Fritz Allhoff, Ph. D., is Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Western Michigan University. His research areas are in ethical theory, applied ethics, and the philosophy of biology/science. He is the editor of "Wine & Philosophy" and "Food & Philosophy" (with Dave Monroe). Marcus P. Adams, M. A., is a Ph. D. student in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Pittsburgh. Table of Contents: Foreword by Charles MacLean. Acknowledgments. Introduction: Start up the Still ("Fritz Allhoff and Marcus P. Adams"). UNIT I The History and Culture of Whiskey. Chapter 1: Scotch Whisky: From Origins to Conglomerates ("Andrew Jef"ford). Chapter 2: Provenance and Authenticity: The Dual Myths of Scotch ("Ian Buxton"). Chapter 3: The Heritage of Scotch Whisky: From Monks to Surgeon Barbers ("David Wishart"). Chapter 4: Women, Whiskey, and Libationary Liberation ("Ada Brunstein"). Chapter 5: The Manhattan and You: Thinking about a Classic Whiskey Cocktail ("Hans Allhoff"). UNIT II The Beauty and Experience of Whiskey. Chapter 6: Whiskey, Whisky, Wild Living, and the Hedonistic Paradox ("Robert Arp"). Chapter 7: What to Drink? Why We Choose the Bourbons We Do ("Mark H. Waymack"). Chapter 8: The Phenomenology of Spirits: How Do Whiskeys Win Prizes ("Douglas Burnham and Ole Martin Skilleas")?Chapter 9: The Ideal Scotch: Lessons from Hegel ("Thom Brooks"). Chapter 10: Where the Fiddich Meets the Spey: My Religious Experience ("Harvey Siegel"). UNIT III The Metaphysics and Epistemology of Whiskey. Chapter 11: As a Good Bartender Might: Whiskey and Natural Kinds ("Thomas W. Polger"). Chapter 12: Heisenberg's Spirits: Tasting Is More Uncertain Than It Seems ("Jerry O. Dalton"). Chapter 13: One Bourbon, One Scotch, and One Buddhist Theory of No-Self ("Steven F. Geisz"). Chapter 14: What Do Tasting Notes Tell Us ("Ian J. Dove")?UNIT IV Ethics and Whiskey. Chapter 15: The Virtuous Whisky Drinker and Living Well "(Richard Menary"). Chapter 16: Nasty Tempers: Does Whiskey Make People Immoral ("Dave Monroe")?Chapter 17: Whisky and the Wild: On Preserving Methods and Distilleries ("Jason Kawall"). UNIT V Whiskey: A Sense of Place. Chapter 18: Peat and Seaweed: The Expressive Character of Islay Whiskies ("Kevin W. Sweeney"). Chapter 19: Japanese Whisky: 'It's Called Queen George, and It's More Bitched Up Than Its Name' ("Chris Bunting"). Chapter 20: Whisky and Culture: From Islay to Speyside ("Susie Pryor and Andrew Martin"). Appendix A: Whiskey Tasting Notes. Appendix B: Our Favorite Whiskey Cocktails. Contributor Biographies. Index. Publisher Marketing: Thoughtful essays on the history, significance, and pleasures of whiskey. Everyone becomes a philosopher with a drink in hand, but 'Whiskey and Philosophy' takes this natural pairing to a new level.

Contributor Bio:  Allhoff, Fritz Fritz Allhoff is associate professor of philosophy at Western Michigan University and a senior research fellow at the Center for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics at the Australian National University. He is coauthor of "What Is Nanotechnology and Why Does It Matter?" and the editor or coeditor of numerous volumes, including "Wine & Philosophy", "Physicians at War", and "The Philosophy of Science".