I was eagerly awaiting word that Dominic Roskrow and Gavin Smith would continue the great Michael Jackson's legacy with another edition after the 6th in 2010, which they completed after his sad death in 2007 left it unfinished. When it appeared as a pre-order I purchased it immediately and was thrilled to get it and pour through it looking for my favorites and new single malts and to contrast it with what appears in Jim Murray's Bible and Whisky Advocate. The tribute to Michael Jackson was very nice, and the distillery descriptions and intro were all fine, although Michael's imaginative and evocative prose can't be duplicated. However, the whiskies reviewed left me scratching my head and frustrated. This book cannot be considered a "Complete Guide" unless you consider it as an addendum to the 5th or 6th edition.



Many Glenlivet expressions that are commonly seen are left out including the 15 year French Oak and only 3 Glenlivets were evaluated (but 14 of Isle of Arran, 13 Benriachs, and 9 Benromachs). Only two Lagavulins were listed, the 2014 Feis Isle (Islay festival special, which is practically unattainable) and a 12 year old special release. Three times I sat rubbing the pages thinking there must be more and I was missing something and that the pages were stuck together. Alas, no such luck. Where are the Lagavulin 16 year old and Distiller's Editions, previously among the highest rated single malt whiskies Michael Jackson ever rated (he did not give out 95s and 96s like some other reviewers)??!! The Macallan section, very dear to Jackson and what got me started drinking finer single malts, features only the newer NAS "color" series, and one would have to have the 5th or 6th edition to find the Fine Oak range and the sherried 18 year and other releases. Yet there are 14 reviewed from Glengoyne, and 7 reviewed from Amrut of India, admittedly great whisky. I do not know the rationale for these slights and selections, it is not just about covering new releases as the Ardbeg selection is fairly complete.



I couldn't not buy this new edition of Michael Jackson's classic Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch, but it is not complete, and not as much about single malt scotch as it remains at 488 pages despite much more on world whiskies, thus shrinking the scotch even more considering the newer distilleries and releases. I feel like mourning an old trusted guide (Michael Jackson) all over again. Unless they announced some restoration for the next edition I will sadly say goodbye. And I am now going to sit and savour a dram of Lagavulin 16 - one of the finest obtainable and affordable whiskies made, fine even amongst the unobtainable and unaffordable, but not in this guide. Slainte!