Books in the Philosophies series

This book will take you to whisky landmarks all over the world, including the record-breaking Karuizawa distillery in Japan and Kavalan, the distillery that put Taiwanese whisky on the map.

Beginning with the birth of the tattoo, John Miller explores this unique expression of personal, cultural and national identity, the tension between tattoo's status as a fashion item and its roots in subculture, and the relevance of magic -- a crucial part of tattooing's origins -- in contemporary society.

From the Swiss Alps to New York's hipster cheese bars, journalist Patrick McGuigan has written about cheesemakers, maturers and cheesemongers around the world for The Telegraph, Delicious and The Financial Times. He is partial to a slice of Kirkham's Lancashire. www.patrickmcguigan.com

Few if any alcoholic drinks have the dramatic and multi-faceted history of gin. This book explores how a spirit once given a wide berth by the middle and upper classes now attracts such a large proportion of the British public to choose gin as their tipple of choice.

How did drinking the infusions of a unique plant from China become a vital part of everyday life? This gift book presents an entertaining introduction to the history and culture of tea, from its origins to the explosion of different varieties, and the rituals of tea preparation and drinking around the world.

A companion volume to The Philosophy of . . . Beards and Coffee, this witty history of wine and its cultivation and enjoyment sheds light on the rich traditions of wine from around the world.

This is a short, entertaining and illuminating introduction to the history and culture of coffee, from the humble origins of the bean in northeast Africa over a millennium ago, to what it is today, a global phenomenon that is enjoyed around the world.

This eccentric Victorian book argues a strong case for the universal wearing of a beard - that essential symbol of manly distinction since ancient times.