Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #636589 in Books
• Published on: 2003-06-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

Synopsis
The memoirs of John McDougall, one of Scotland's best known whisky distillers. The book covers his time in the industry from 1963 to 1999, during which McDougall has worked in distilleries in Speyside, Ayrshire, Islay and Campbeltown, before setting up his own business in Kelso. The memoirs reveal the characters John has dealt with in the many differing places he has worked and portray a picture of the distillery shop floor, the stillroom and the mashroom, and the changes that have been made in them over the past 35 years.

Customer Reviews

A Stillman's eye view of the whisky industry
As a fan and student of whisky I read McDougall¹s memoir with great interest. He covers the highs and lows of working in the odd and fascinating whisky industry candidly with humor and affection. Written in a straightforward fashion that I think would have been greatly enhanced by a good ear for Scots English, McDougall¹s breadth of experience is nonetheless impressive (and possibly unique in the field). Some of the scenes of distillery life - from both sober and inebriated perspectives - are entertaining and they occasionally reminded me of Somerville & Ross¹s Experiences of an Irish R.M. One story set on the ³whisky island² of Islay involving the confusion of glass panes in a cucumber frame with ice-covered puddles made me laugh out loud. There is lots - probably too much - written about whisky, but very little has been written about day to day distillery life by a bona fide expert. McDougall has enriched the lore and provided useful insights into what is often a rather secretive and easily romanticized industry. I would recommend this book for serious whiskyphiles and anyone interested in this important aspect of Scottish life.

A Stillman's eye view of the whisky industry
As a fan and student of whisky I read McDougall¹s memoir with great interest. He covers the highs and lows of working in the odd and fascinating whisky industry candidly with humor and affection. Written in a straightforward fashion that I think would have been greatly enhanced by a good ear for Scots English, McDougall¹s breadth of experience is nonetheless impressive (and possibly unique in the field). Some of the scenes of distillery life - from both sober and inebriated perspectives - are entertaining and they occasionally reminded me of Somerville & Ross¹s Experiences of an Irish R.M. One story set on the ³whisky island² of Islay involving the confusion of glass panes in a cucumber frame with ice-covered puddles made me laugh out loud. There is lots - probably too much - written about whisky, but very little has been written about day to day distillery life by a bona fide expert. McDougall has enriched the lore and provided useful insights into what is often a rather secretive and easily romanticized industry. I would recommend this book for serious whiskyphiles and anyone interested in this important aspect of Scottish life.

A Stillman's eye view of the whisky industry
As a fan and student of whisky I read McDougall¹s memoir with great interest. He covers the highs and lows of working in the odd and fascinating whisky industry candidly with humor and affection. Written in a straightforward fashion that I think would have been greatly enhanced by a good ear for Scots English, McDougall¹s breadth of experience is nonetheless impressive (and possibly unique in the field). Some of the scenes of distillery life - from both sober and inebriated perspectives - are entertaining and they occasionally reminded me of Somerville & Ross¹s Experiences of an Irish R.M. One story set on the ³whisky island² of Islay involving the confusion of glass panes in a cucumber frame with ice-covered puddles made me laugh out loud. There is lots - probably too much - written about whisky, but very little has been written about day to day distillery life by a bona fide expert. McDougall has enriched the lore and provided useful insights into what is often a rather secretive and easily romanticized industry. I would recommend this book for serious whiskyphiles and anyone interested in this important aspect of Scottish life.