There is geographical diversity, reflecting the whisky heartlands of Speyside and Islay, as well as many other locations, and diversity, too, in the subjects who have participated in this project. Warehousemen, mashmen, stillmen, coopers, coppersmiths, excisemen, managers, owners and even the occasional illicit distiller give us a unique insight into what the whisky industry has been like to work in during the past half century or so, and how it has changed during that time. Their stories make fascinating reading, and also serve as an invaluable contribution to Scottish social and industrial history. When Philip Morrice retraced Barnard's steps one hundred years later he had the foresight to record every conversation with the distillery managers and other personnel hosting him during his visits. We therefore know the value of oral history and the contribution it can make to keeping the story fresh and animated. The text of "The Whisky Men" is accompanied by a wide range of intriguing black & white photographs. Some are contemporary, but many are borrowed from the personal albums of the subjects themselves, and serve to reinforce the intimacy and sense of personality at the core of this book. Similarly, Morrice made an extensive photographic record of his epic journey and we shall consider how to make that available in the future. This book may take 3-4 weeks for delivery from date of order.
