{"title":"Books by Ian Buxton","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9781399092043","title":"The Battleship Builders","description":"The launch in 1906 of HMS Dreadnought, the worlds first all-big-gun battleship, rendered all existing battle fleets obsolete, but at the same time it wiped out the Royal Navy's numerical advantage, so expensively maintained for decades. Already locked in an arms race with Germany, Britain urgently needed to build an entirely new battle fleet of these larger, more complex and more costly vessels. In this she succeeded spectacularly: in little over a decade fifty such ships were completed, almost exactly double what Germany achieved. It was only made possible by the country's vast industrial nexus of shipbuilders, engine manufacturers, armament firms and specialist armor producers, whose contribution to the creation of the Grand Fleet is too often ignored. This heroic achievement, and how it was done, is the central theme of this book.It charts the rise of the large industrial conglomerates that were key to this success, looks at their reaction to fast-moving technical changes, and analyses the politics of funding this vast national effort, both before and during the Great War. It also attempts to assess the true cost and value of the Grand Fleet in terms of the resources consumed. And finally, it describes the effects of the post-war recession, industrial contraction, and the very different conditions that influenced the last generation of British battleships built before and during the Second World War.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56298547708277,"sku":"9781399092043","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781399092043_8df551f1-3d07-4bf9-b7e6-c38deb689db2.jpg?v=1786019920"},{"product_id":"9781472292254","title":"101 Whiskies to try Before you Die,","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFifth edition, fully revised and updated.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'something of an institution ... We highly recommend you get a copy for its amusing tone, on-the-nose criticism and Buxton's unerring nose for value' \u003ci\u003eMaster of Malt\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'excellent' \u003ci\u003eThe Sunday Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'a must-buy for whisky enthusiasts who prefer high-level expertise executed with humour and irreverence rather than lofty academic pretensions ...  accessible, funny and fact-packed' \u003ci\u003eRobb Report\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die\u003c\/i\u003e is a whisky guide with a difference. It is not an awards list. It is not a list of the 101 'best' whiskies in the world in the opinion of a self-appointed whisky guru. It is simply a guide to the 101 whiskies that enthusiasts must seek out and try in order to complete their whisky education. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAvoiding the deliberately obscure, the ridiculously limited and the absurdly expensive, whisky expert Ian Buxton recommends an eclectic selection of old favourites, stellar newcomers and mystifyingly unknown drams that simply have to be drunk.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe book decodes the marketing hype and gets straight to the point; whether from Canada, India, America, Sweden, Ireland, Japan or the hills, glens and islands of Scotland, here are the 101 whiskies that you really want. Try them before you die - Slainte!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56300205113717,"sku":"9781472292254","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781472292254_2468ddbd-8a42-4a6b-94b0-50dce05fe37e.jpg?v=1786020827"},{"product_id":"9781526777294","title":"Battleship","description":"Unlike the United States, which has preserved a number of battleships as museums or memorials, not a single British dreadnought survives in the country that invented them. This book is an ambitious attempt to achieve the next best thing--a level of documentation in plans, photographs and words that portrays every aspect of the ship, albeit in two dimensions. Although the ship was chosen primarily because of the wealth of source material, Duke of York enjoyed a distinguished wartime career that included sinking the German battleship Scharnhorst in 1943 and serving as the flagship of the British Pacific Fleet in 1945, so is a fitting subject for such in-depth treatment.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The core of the book is the reproduction in full color of a complete set of as-fitted plans of the ship, including many details and close-ups. These are complemented by an unusually thorough set drawn after the ship's major refit in March 1945, showing all the modifications undertaken to prepare the ship for service alongside the US Navy in the Pacific. Photographic coverage begins with the stunning views taken by the builder's professional cameraman during every stage of construction, continues with many shots of the ship during her active service, and concludes with an illustrated chronology of the breaking up. This last is included not just for completeness but because photos of the ship at various stages of demolition demonstrate many aspects of the interior structure, compartments and their fittings that are otherwise invisible.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e While the emphasis may be primarily visual, the accompanying narrative and captions display the expertise and in-depth knowledge of the authors, making the text as enlightening as the illustration. The result is a uniquely comprehensive portrait of a great ship in all its complexity, and a book that no warship enthusiast will want to miss.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56302170931573,"sku":"9781526777294","price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781526777294_33da1a70-2e7e-4957-bdc4-2813d34fe126.jpg?v=1786021853"},{"product_id":"british-naval-gun-mountings","title":"British Naval Gun Mountings","description":"\u003cp\u003eHeavy gun mountings dominated the design of larger warships, on account of their size, weight, protection and cost. In the 1890s, British gun mountings developed rapidly with new gun technologies (wire winding, cordite) and the rise of the two major ordnance companies, Armstrongs and Vickers, producing large numbers of weapons for the Royal Navy and for worldwide export. But by 1960, aircraft and guided missiles had made the big gun redundant, so the period from 1890s to 1950s covering the two world wars is the most historically significant.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe focus of this book is on the larger mountings and those fitted in the larger ships – the massively engineered ‘non transferable’ mountings, whose complexities and associated magazines took up a huge volume of the ship, unlike the smaller calibre ‘transferable’ mountings mostly bolted to the deck. Such mountings could weigh over 1000 tons, take two years to build and make up a quarter of the cost of a battleship.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlthough they existed in many variants, there were only about forty basic mountings from 4.5in to 18in calibre fitted to the majority of the RN’s larger ships so these take up the bulk of the book. For each, well illustrated handbooks with coloured plates were produced, but are largely inaccessible to the public, so about 50 of these highly detailed drawings are reproduced at large scale.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe smaller mountings and the guns themselves each have a separate chapter. Although the impact of the book is largely visual, there is an expert account of the design, construction and installation of such mountings, and their manufacturers, supported by a range of internal and close-up photographs. The reference value of the work is enhanced by a comprehensive table of mountings and their characteristics, plus a list of all the mountings made by Vickers of Barrow between 1900 and 1950.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eProviding easy access to so much rarely seen material, this handsome volume will appeal to modelmakers, ship enthusiasts and technical historians.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57483553800565,"sku":"9781399059961","price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781399059961.jpg?v=1786178734"},{"product_id":"101-rums-to-try-before-you-die","title":"101 Rums to Try Before You Die","description":"Rum, once the poor relation of the spirit world, has undergone a revival and is no longer seen just as the preferred tipple for tipsy pirates. The craft drinks movement has certainly stimulated the rum world, with high numbers of new artisan rum brands launching around the world in the last few years. The rise of the rum cocktails is another successful trend, with the popularity of mojitos and mai tai contributing greatly in the growth and development of the rum market.Ian Buxton, the UK’s No.1 bestselling author on spirits, takes us on a tour of the different colours, flavours, creation methods and characteristics, and makes his pick of the best rums in the world. Whether you like your rum in cocktails, or prefer to sip it neat, this is the only book on rum you will ever need.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57487948087669,"sku":"9781780275444","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781780275444.jpg?v=1786355171"},{"product_id":"whiskies-galore","title":"Whiskies Galore","description":"From the author of the bestselling 101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die.   Island whiskies have long held a fascination and a powerful emotional draw on whisky drinkers the world over. Their special combination of heritage, mystique and remote location captures the imagination; their highly distinctive flavours are often imitated but seldom bettered.   Join Ian Buxton on a personal journey across Scotland’s islands, where he learns to fish with high explosives, ends up hurling his dinner into the sea and comes face to face with a basking shark. Combining an expert’s knowledge of whisky with a travel writer’s fondness for anecdote, and with a keen description of place, he provides a special treat for all who love the islands’ magical drams.   This new edition brings the acclaimed book up to date, capturing changes on the island whisky scene, including new and proposed distilleries such as Benbecula; Ardnahoe, Gartbreck Farm, Ili, Laggan Bay, Port Ellen and Portintruan (Islay); Orkney; Lerwick and Shetland Reel (Shetland); Isle of Tiree and others, along with Ian’s typically acerbic comments on whisky investment, luxury marketing and private cask sales.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57487961325941,"sku":"9781780279923","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781780279923.jpg?v=1786355189"},{"product_id":"101-whiskies-to-try-before-you-die-6th-edition","title":"101 Whiskies To Try Before You Die 6th Edition","description":"\u003cb\u003eSixth edition, fully revised and updated.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'something of an institution . . . We highly recommend you get a copy for its amusing tone, on-the-nose criticism and Buxton's unerring nose for value' \u003ci\u003eMaster of Malt\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'excellent' \u003ci\u003eThe Sunday Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'a must-buy for whisky enthusiasts who prefer high-level expertise executed with humour and irreverence rather than lofty academic pretensions . . . accessible, funny and fact-packed' \u003ci\u003eRobb Report\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die\u003c\/i\u003e is a whisky guide with a difference. It is not an awards list. It is not a list of the 101 'best' whiskies in the world in the opinion of a whisky expert. It is simply a guide to the 101 whiskies that enthusiasts must seek out and try in order to complete their whisky education.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Avoiding the deliberately obscure, the ridiculously limited and the absurdly expensive, whisky connoisseur Ian Buxton recommends an eclectic selection of old favourites, stellar newcomers and mystifyingly unknown drams that simply have to be drunk.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The book decodes the marketing hype and gets straight to the point; whether from Canada, India, America, Sweden, Ireland, Japan or the hills, glens and islands of Scotland, here are the 101 whiskies that you really want. Try them before you die - Slainte!","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57502105403765,"sku":"9781035429318","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781035429318.jpg?v=1786780921"}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/author-ian-buxton.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}