THREE BOOK ARTICLES: 1. BOOK FAIR MARCIN MILLER My job, as Editor & Publisher of Whisky Magazine, does not make me an ‘expert’ on whisky. I ask others to supply expertise, or—more accurately—experience, authority, knowledge and the ability to write. I mention that as, although I am an enthusiast of whisky, I certainly cannot hold a candle in terms of dedicated application to the majority of our readers. I don’t know the answer. But I can get it from the person who does and, I hope, package it up attractively for you. On my desk today, there are five new whisky books. It is the season for gifts, but more and more whisky books are being published. Book publishers are working in ever-decreasing circles. It would not be unfair to say that only one of these titles is worth looking at. In order to find one ground-breaking whisky book you have to wade through dozens of half-baked, poorly designed, cut-and-paste jobs. These are a danger because mistakes and half-truths are repeated so often they become accepted as fact and it is too easy to miss the gems that really deserve your attention. The joy I feel at opening something original is enormous and this is only enhanced by my enthusiasm for the subject matter. Similarly, I am depressed by missed opportunities. We know what the established classic whisky books are. What is required is innovation rather than imitation. I enjoyed Visiting Distilleries for the simple reason that no-one had done it before. I found the fact that it was so clearly a personal account quite charming as well. Dave Broom’s Handbook of Whisky attempted a new approach by focusing on individuals rather than the process, the distillery or the whisky itself (although, naturally, none of these was ignored). Michael Jackson’s Scotland and its Whiskies allowed him free rein to write about impressions rather than tasting notes. Coupling his prose with the breathtaking landscape photography of Harry Cory Wright was a masterstroke. The departure here was to concentrate on the beauty of the land rather than the shape of the stills. So many whisky authors, so few innovative whisky books... 2. BROUGHT TO BOOK NEIL WILSON Three years ago Duncan and Wendy Graham came to me, as a publisher of specialist whisky books, with an idea; ‘We want to visit every distillery that claims to have visitor reception facilities and do a Good Distillery Guide from a punter’s perspective. If they don’t come up to scratch we’ll say so and when they do, we’ll shout their praises.’ As a million visitors a year traipse around the Scottish countryside visiting distilleries the market was strong and there would be retail opportunities at the distilleries featured. In Visiting Distilleries Duncan and Wendy made judgements on a number of factors. These included the practicalities of access, the cleanliness of the loos, the quality of the catering, the quality, depth and duration of the tour, the way the staff took care of them and so on. Most importantly, the overall ambience was critical to them in their final analysis. On publication I naively assumed that there would be healthy sales to be had in the top ranked distilleries. However the reactions and ratings were curiously variable. While all the Seagram centres came out top with excellent ratings, they would not take the book for retail. Why? Because their visiting times had been changed at the time of publication! Disappointing tours of another distillery resulted in a less than glowing report. Tours? Well, Duncan and Wendy went three times just to be certain their experience was typical. When the book was considered by the parent group for sales throughout its many distilleries, it was declined. No reason has been offered. The others? Many had good reasons for not selling it—“We don’t sell books”—or were simply miffed at what was said about them. But those distillers seem to have missed the point about this book. It is all about raising standards in the tourism industry and getting more people to buy Scotch. Spare a thought for the two French tourists in tears after one distillery tour, stating if that was what was on offer, they would never enter another in their lives. It transpired that this was their first-ever visit to a distillery and after a few minutes conversation Duncan and Wendy had sent them on their way deciding to continue with the other distillery visits they had planned. Duncan and Wendy weren’t paid for doing that, but the abusive visitor centre manageress who berated them was! Where the book has been stocked, it has sold well with rewarding feedback. One helpful member of the public has written because we stated there was no catering at Tomatin—‘There’s a Little Chef across the road!’ 3. BOOK FARE Two German whisky enthusiasts have reprinted The Whisky Distilleries of the United Kingdom, a record of Alfred Barnard’s two year journey first printed in 1887. The book is a fascinating snapshot of the emerging whisky industry during its greatest period of expansion. This reprint is a faithful facsimile even including the fascinating advertisements for contemporary whiskies and distilling equipment such as ‘Lockwood’s Patent Oscillating Furnace Bars’. One of the most essential books for a SWR reader. £25. Malcolm Greenwood has assumed Barnard’s coat and stick and retraced the journey by visiting 22 ‘modern’ distilleries singled out for their uniqueness. Unique Distilleries features Barnard’s prose for each and then Malcolm’s present day impressions and photographs. Like Barnard the description is of both the distilleries and the travel in between. The book also features advertisements and one wonders if they will be as fascinating in 100 years’ time. ‘A modern day Barnard’ is how we describe Visiting Distilleries. Surprisingly none of the legions of whisky authors has thought to make a new record of the industry today, perhaps detailing the capacity of process logic processors and articulated vehicle turning areas(!) however the Grahams have found a very entertaining compromise by recording not only the yumminess of the baguettes and cleanliness of the loos but also the construction and capacity of the mash tun. A worthwhile read regardless of any intention to visit a distillery. £9.99. Dave Broom’s Handbook is a recommended buy for the whisky enthusiast while the much travelled Michael Jackson’s Scotland and its Whiskies is for the whisky and/or Scotland fan; both are £16.99.