Michael Jackson--a Tribute

[jinenjo]

Just now got news that Michael Jackson, the tireless and great writer of whiskey and beer has passed away.

Tonight I'll surely have a pour in his memory.

I can remember first hearing about him in my twenties as a began my trek into the world of beers and microbrews. Little did I know that years later I would come back to him as a whiskey enthusiast.

To Michael.

[clayton]

Ah, a terrible loss, indeed!

I've learned a great deal from his writing, his style, his unabashed joy in sharing and enjoying the gustatory pleasures of this world.

I'll raise a glass to him myself this evening.

[Joeluka]

I still remember buying a copy of his book Whiskey. That was my intro into this wonderful world we all love so much. Mr Jackson will always be the one who led me down the path of Whiskey and Beer.

I will pour and enjoy my most prized whiskey and beer tonight in honor of Mr Jackson

[Hedmans Brorsa]

Due to the fact that most of his works got translated to Swedish, he became the first person that I associated with whisky expertise. He was also the first whisky writer that I read extensively.

A sad loss. I knew that he was ill but I had no idea that it was that critical.

[pepcycle]

If any single human being epitomizes the Renaissance of distilled and fermented beverages, it's Michael Jackson. I met him at a few events in NY when I lived there and he was so down to earth and genuinely dedicated to spreading the word that Bud and Vodka are not what life is about.
I tip my hat and bend an elbow in honor of Michael Jackson.
He led me down the road less travelled.
God's Speed.

[Gillman]

I am very, very sorry, to hear this news. Michael Jackson was a titan in his chosen fields of whisky and beer writing. Certainly he was the leading consumer writer (by far in my opinion) on these subjects in the world. He basically created the vocabulary by which most beer fans discuss beer today and influenced so many people (other writers, brewers, distillers, and the ordinary fan of good beer and whisky). He also was very influential in the analysis of the whisky regions in Scotland and I never read anyone who could describe tastes as well as he.

He was also a very talented writer. He had a knowledge, often a discerning and wide knowledge, of many topics other than beer and whisky (e.g., history, music, architecture, advertising, business, commercial art) and this informed his writing and added an additional dimension to it.

I was privileged to have met him a number of times, and once did a trip with him in Northern France (visiting the small breweries of that region). He was always a great gentleman and I learned so much from him. His books had a very large influence on me and my whole approach to fine beer and whisky was shaped by his writing and opinions.

My first in-depth knowledge of bourbon and rye was obtained from his books (especially the late 1980's World Guide To Whisky). I love all his books and (to my knowledge) have read them all, and almost all his journalism, often many times, in fact.

He will be sorely missed but his legacy will live on.

Gary

[SBOmarc]

His writings and his knowledge will live on, A sure testament to the icon that Mr. Jackson is. I also had the privelage to meet him. I will always have his books as a reference, we all owe him so much.

[bigtoys]

I am saddened by this news. I have 3 editions of his guide to single malts, each one bigger than the last. I recently bought the big Whiskey book, as well. I've enjoyed his writing in magazines, as well. This calls for a pour of Lagavulin.

Here's a link: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art52716.asp

[CrispyCritter]

Sigh... he will be missed.

Looks like it's time for a pour of Ardbeg '77 for a tribute.

[cowdery]

Michael Jackson died Wednesday night in his London home. He was 65. Although no official cause of death has been announced yet, he is known to have suffered from Parkinson's Disease for the past decade. Details of his death are still sketchy, but he had been in poor health for years and was doing less and less, especially traveling.

I didn't know Michael personally although our paths crossed a few times. The world knew him as "the other Michael Jackson," if it knew him at all, but he was the Michael Jackson to those of us who care way too much about beer and whiskey. Although he was more famous for his beer activities, he cut an equally wide swath through the whiskey world. His World Guide to Whisky, first published in 1987 and recently updated, was the starting point for me and, probably, many others. He seemed to be the first person to write about it who didn't just parrot what the producers told him, who took that in but found other sources too, synthesized it all, and gave something back to his readers that was more than the sum of the parts.

Michael Jackson was the first person who made me think it might be possible to make a living studying and writing about whiskey.

He was the father of us all.