Overview

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.

Full Product Details

9781780279923

Table of Contents

Reviews

'A knowledgeable and lively writer' * West Highland Free Press * 'You will learn far more in this offbeat odyssey than in a hundred more straightforward whisky books' * The Guardian, Best Drinks Books * 'A delightful grand tour of island distilleries' * Sunday Post * 'A fascinating new book' * The Spectator * 'A tour, an investigation, a fact finding mission, done with the utmost geniality by a man whose blood is most probably a pale amber hue… you can almost smell the peat, hear the clink of glasses and see the wind on the heather!'  -- Sue Baker * Lovereading * 'A delightful grand tour of island distilleries. A great read: it mixes childhood recollections, laments about Hebridean weather, historical anecdotes and 101 astute, humorous observations' -- Brian Townsend * Dundee Courier * '[Ian Buxton] writes on the subject with a fondness and knowledge, not to mention humour, which comes from a lifetime surrounded by whisky. His relaxed and conversational style makes the book a very enjoyable read' * The Ileach * 'Full of interest for whisky lovers and non-lovers alike - funny stories and full of obscure nerdy information from an expert in the field'  * Malt Musings * 'This is unlike any other whisky book yet published, and better than most!' -- Charles MacLean 'Something special, too, about this fascinating book ... All in all, this is the real thing - a single malt of a book - a lovely and loving read' -- Alexander McCall Smith 'Sardonic, unsentimental and often very funny ... the most original drink book I’ve read in a long time ... this book will make you love Scotch whisky all the more' -- Henry Jeffreys, prize-winning author of Empire of Booze 'His often hilarious travelogue mercilessly exposes cant, yet his profound love of these extraordinary places and our spirits is never in doubt' -- Carl Reavey, Bruichladdich Distillery

'a knowledgeable and lively writer' * West Highland Free Press * 'You will learn far more in this offbeat odyssey than in a hundred more straightforward whisky books' * The Guardian, Best Drinks Books * 'A delightful grand tour of island distilleries' * Sunday Post * 'A fascinating new book' * The Spectator * 'A tour, an investigation, a fact finding mission, done with the utmost geniality by a man whose blood is most probably a pale amber hue… you can almost smell the peat, hear the clink of glasses and see the wind on the heather!'  -- Sue Baker * Lovereading.co.uk * 'A delightful grand tour of island distilleries. A great read: it mixes childhood recollections, laments about Hebridean weather, historical anecdotes and 101 astute, humorous observations' -- Brian Townsend * Dundee Courier * 'Ian Buxton is one of the country's best known and most prolific whisky writers and he writes on the subject with a fondness and knowledge, not to mention humour, which comes from a lifetime surrounded by whisky. His relaxed and conversational style makes the book a very enjoyable read' * The Ileach * 'If you’ve read any of Bill Bryson's books you’ll understand exactly where Ian's coming from ... Full of interest for whisky lovers and non-lovers alike - funny stories and full of obscure nerdy information from an expert in the field'  * Malt Musings * 'This is unlike any other whisky book yet published, and better than most!' -- Charles MacLean 'something special, too, about this fascinating book ... All in all, this is the real thing - a single malt of a book - a lovely and loving read' -- Alexander McCall Smith 'Sardonic, unsentimental and often very funny ... the most original drink book I’ve read in a long time ... this book will make you love Scotch whisky all the more' -- Henry Jeffreys, prize-winning author of Empire of Booze 'his often hilarious travelogue mercilessly exposes cant, yet his profound love of these extraordinary places and our spirits is never in doubt' -- Carl Reavey, Bruichladdich Distillery

Author Information

Ian Buxton has been working in and around the drinks industry for close to 30 years, but has been drinking professionally for a good deal longer. He writes in a variety of trade and consumer titles here and abroad.

Tab Content 6

Countries Available