Raw Spirit :In Search of the Perfect Dram
Raw Spirit :In Search of the Perfect Dram
hardback
Published:
17 October, 2019
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Description
New introduction by Ian Rankin
_________________________________________
‘One of the most playful and entertaining writers of our generation’
Val McDermid, Guardian
In an absorbing voyage as interesting to non-drinkers as to true whisky connoisseurs, sci-fi and literary author Iain Banks explores the rich heritage of Scottish whisky, from the most famous distilleries to the most obscure operations.
Whisky is more than a drink: it's a culture that binds together people, places and products far across Scotland's rugged terrain. Switching from cars to ferries to bicycles, Banks criss-crosses his homeland, weaving an engrossing narrative full of fascinating traditions, peculiar people, and the downright bizarre places he encounters on his journey down Scotland's great golden road.
'The book I return to most often . . . It's is like slipping into a warm bath.'
James Graham, THE TIMES (playwright and creator of ITV's Quiz)
'Filled withinsightful and witty observations . . . this is a rip-roaringand informative delve into the unique history and enduring appeal of this iconic spirit.'
VISIT SCOTLAND, 9 'must read' books
More Details
| Type | Book |
|---|---|
| ISBN13 | 9781529124781 |
| ISBN10 | 1529124786 |
| Number Of Pages | 384 |
| Item Weight | 489 g |
| Product Dimensions | 142 x 221 x 33 mm |
| Publisher / Reseller | Cornerstone |
| Format | hardback |
Media Reviews
It does what every good book should manage to do, and what a hundred other books on whisky (and a thousand other books on Scotland) have signally failed to do: makes you want to go for a drink with the author. * Observer *
Studded with bracing shots of pure insight and eloquence. And he's sound on the scotch as well. * Independent *
A very readable and hugely informative book, and Bank’s gentle humour permeates the pages. * Time Out *
It’s an engaging piece of work, part love letter, part memoir. * Esquire *
A very beguiling fusion of memoir, history and current affairs. * Glasgow Herald *
A voyage that a malt connoisseur of any level will find as enticing and as warming as that first sip of the nectar that has a history as rugged and unpredictable as Scotland’s enticing and formidable terrain. * The AND Guide *
A beautifully realised fusion of travelogue, social commentary and drinking guide. Scotland's most famous export is decanted into full-bodied, humorous prose. * Independent on Sunday *
Fiery, variegated, and full of delicious moments. * Literary Review *
Banks' finely-honed sense of place makes you want to get on a train, head to the Highlands and never come back. * Arena *
Raw Spirit charts its own course through the social landscapes of everywhere from Skye to Lothian, where obscure distilleries compete against the world-famous, with a wide cast of characters bringing them - and the liquor - to life. * Wanderlust *
GoodReads Reviews
Author's Bio
Iain Banks was born in Scotland in 1954. He came to widespread public notice in 1984 with the publication of his first novel, The Wasp Factory. He went on to gain enormous and popular critical acclaim with further works of fiction and science fiction. In 1993 he was acknowledged as one of the Best of Young British Writers. Iain Banks died in 2013 at the age of fifty-nine.