The Whisky of the Scottish Islands, a tour, an investigation, a fact-finding mission done with the utmost geniality by a man who’s blood is probably a pale amber hue. You can almost smell the peat, hear the clink of glasses and see the wind on the heather! Ian Buxton knows the islands well and there is much anecdotal history of past holidays and visits which add to the interest. I am moderately interested in whisky but the attractions of the islands – and their people interest me more and I was pleased to find the journey with Ian Buxton worthwhile – and most enjoyable. ~ Sue Baker
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. There have been few books on island whisky and none written in recent years. But Whiskies Galore is not your average whisky book. It is not simply a catalogue of distilleries, but a story of discovery and adventure. 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.
'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
'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
'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
'This is unlike any other whisky book yet published, and better than most!' Charles MacLean
Author
About Ian Buxton
Ian Buxton is a former Marketing Director of Glenmorangie and has worked in the industry for more than 20 years. He was elected a Keeper of the Quaich in 1991, and is a member of the tasting panel for the World Whisky Awards and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Distillers. He lives in Perthshire on the site of a former distillery.