The Terroir of Whiskey

A Distiller's Journey into the Flavor of Place

By: Rob Arnold

Narrated by: John McLain

Look at the back label of a bottle of wine and you may well see a reference to its terroir, the total local environment of the vineyard that grew the grapes, from its soil to the climate. Winemakers universally accept that where a grape is grown influences its chemistry, which in turn changes the flavor of the wine. A detailed system has codified the idea that place matters to wine. So why don't we feel the same way about whiskey?

In this book, Rob Arnold reveals how innovative whiskey producers are recapturing a sense of place to create distinctive, nuanced flavors. He takes listeners on a world tour of whiskey and the science of flavor, stopping along the way at distilleries in Kentucky, New York, Texas, Ireland, and Scotland. Arnold puts the spotlight on a new generation of distillers, plant breeders, and local farmers who are bringing back long-forgotten grain flavors and creating new ones in pursuit of terroir. In the 20th century, we inadvertently bred distinctive tastes out of grains in favor of high yields - but today's artisans have teamed up to remove themselves from the commodity grain system, resurrect heirloom cereals, bring new varieties to life, and recapture the flavors of specific local ingredients. The Terroir of Whiskey makes the scientific and cultural cases that terroir is as important in whiskey as it is in wine.

©2021 Rob Arnold (P)2021 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Really digs into it.

Some of the writing is very technical and drones on, but overall it hits on several good points.

Being a whiskey nerd…….

From a science point a view i think this book is incredible from a whiskey nerd point of view its amazing,,,,, there is so much information here I am going to have to listen a few times to absorb it all….. I wish audible would get more books like this that covered different aspects of whiskey maybe from across the pond if that’s possible? (Irish whisky or scotch whisky?) Thanks Rob for going in to so much detail and trying to get to the truth of terroir of whiskey.

wow, eye opening

As a relatively new bourbon enthusiast this was REALLY in depth, enjoyed all of it. bought a couple of TX bottles as a result of listening to this. Interested to see if this authors approach becomes more prevalent in bourbon.