The memoirs of John McDougall, one of Scotland's best known whisky distillers. The book covers his time in the industry from 1963 to 1999, during which McDougall has worked in distilleries in Speyside, Ayrshire, Islay and Campbeltown, before setting up his own whisky consultancy business in Kelso. However, it is perhaps his insights into the goings on at Strathclyde Distillery in Glasgow and his time with Long John International which give this book a particular relevance, not least in respect of Itinerary 1 of the Great Whisky Journeys. The memoirs reveal the characters John has dealt with in the many differing places he has worked and portray a picture of the distillery shop floor, the stillroom and the mashroom, and the changes that have been made in them over the past 35 years. Some great insights into Scotland's most individualistic distiller - Hedley Wright of Springbank. The style of the book owes something no doubt to Gavin Smith's involvement and full marks to the Angel's Share for first publishing this amusing work in 1999 and reprinting it subsequently. A great bed-time read.
