Peat Smoke and Spirit: A Portrait of Islay and Its Whiskies

Those who discover malt whisky quickly learn that the malts made on the Isle of Islay are some of the wildest and most characterful in the malt-whisky spectrum. In PEAT SMOKE AND SPIRIT, Islay’s fascinating story is uncovered: from its history and stories of the many shipwrecks which litter its shores, to intimate descriptions of the beautiful wildlife, landscape and topography of the island. Interwoven through these different narrative strands comes the story of the whiskies themselves, traced from a distant past of bothies and illegal stills to present-day legality and prosperity. The flavour of each spirit is analysed and the differences between them teased out, as are the stories of the notable men and women who have played such a integral part in their creation. PEAT SMOKE AND SPIRIT is the last word on Islay and its whiskies.

Reviews of Peat Smoke and Spirit: A Portrait of Islay and Its Whiskies

Andrew Jefford writes so beautifully that I suspect he could make a history of galvanised steel bolts seem graceful and absorbing. And so this is not simply an appreciation of whisky, but a voyage into the history and geography of a tiny Scottish island Daily Mail The attention to detail and thoroughness of this book brings the distilleries so vividly alive that you can almost smell the whisky. Thoroughly recommended to whisky connoisseur and dabbler alike Birmingham Evening Mail There's no better book about these whiskies than Andrew Jefford's PEAT SMOKE AND SPIRIT… Jefford is an excellent writer… In PEAT SMOKE AND SPIRIT, Andrew Jefford has written a compelling narrative that succeeds on every level Mid-Atlantic Brewing News