The aromatic nose, the smooth taste, and the warm burn down the throat all characterize what makes drinking whiskey a passionate hobby for connoisseurs. Now, a new book unearths the philosophical underpinnings of this pastime.

WHISKEY & PHILOSOPHY: A Small Batch of Spirited Ideas (Wiley; October 2009; $21.95 / Paper; ISBN: 978-0-470-43121-4) offers both practical—how do tasting notes vary across guides and whiskey brands?—and thought-provoking—why is there a popular conception that drinking whiskey makes one mean?—questions for whiskey drinkers looking to further their passion. Whether their interest lies primarily in the drink or the philosophical reflection, readers will be fascinated by this collection of sophisticated essays from philosophers, journalists, and whiskey specialists.

Using philosophers such as Hegel to explore the concept of the “ideal” whiskey and Husserl to explain phenomenology, essayists from around the world contemplate the most provocative questions surrounding the drink, such as:

- Where does truly authentic Scotch whisky come from?
- Is drinking good whiskey a bodily or mental pleasure?
- What is the hedonistic paradox and what is the nature of morality?

Whether connoisseurs prefer their whiskey neat or in a Manhattan, from Scotland, Japan, or closer to home, WHISKEY & PHILOSOPHY is the perfect companion for their next drink.