As Angela Youngman points out in the introduction to this handy guide, with over 240 whisky and gin distilleries spread around the country, a visit to one of these sites is a popular part of many people’s travel itineraries when visiting Scotland. With pictures, maps, hours, gift shops, tours and tasting schedules, this guide will help any travelers decide which gin and whisky destinations have to be scheduled in on their next visit to Scotland.
Gin fans will see just how vast Scotland's gin renaissance has been.
Whisky fans will gain a familiarity with the regions of whisky production in Scotland – Speyside, Campbelltown, Highland, Islay, and Lowland.
The rudiments of the process are spelled out in clear and informative prose, giving readers a deeper understanding of how the fuel used to dry the malted grain will affect the final flavor, whether it be peat bricks, seaweed or heather. The varying amounts of smoke produced in the drying process will leave its mark on the flavor as well, as will the type of casks used in the aging process. And you could say any number of other factors – like air, proximity to the ocean, and character of the soil impart key notes to the flavor of whisky.
As Youngman's book conveys, the picturesque scenery alone of many of these distilleries is reason enough to visit.
While there's plenty of history embedded in the story of these venerable distilleries and the traditions of whisky-making in Scotland, this book also showcases how many distilleries, particularly makers of gin, have popped up in the past 15 years. Scotland is clearly experiencing a gin boom, and it's a great time to explore.
198 page paperback.
