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Title: Raw Spirit
Author: Iain Banks
Narrator: Tom Cotcher
Format: Unabridged
Length: 12 hrs and 23 mins
Language: English
Release date: 11-24-17
Publisher: Whole Story Audiobooks
Genres: Nonfiction, Social Sciences
Publisher's Summary:
In a bid to uncover the unique spirit of the single malt whisky, author lain Banks has decided to undertake a tour of the distilleries of his homeland.
His tour of Scotland combines history, literature and landscape in an entertaining and informative account.
Members Reviews:
self-description epit-o'-me
I think the title of this book "Raw Spirit" is autobiographical, i.e., Iain is describing himself in his usual way of making puns where it suits him. Iain is someone who almost can't believe that he is making a living doing what he does (writing) while having the relative freedom to live life his way and on top of that get hired to go walkabout (mostly on wheels) through Scotland to drink single malt scotch.
He spends as much time reflecting on the Scottish roads and countryside, the Iraq war, British taxes, Australian red wine (of a specific bottling), Scottish cooking, favorite cars and motorbikes, the US President, firecrackers, and personal friends who accompany him, as he does on tasting single malt scotch whiskey. This is why I gave the book only 3 stars, because someone seeking more information on Scotch should go elsewhere, and that's the honest part of me as a reviewer.
OTOH, if, like me, you adore Penfolds Grange (I have the largest 3 decade collection in the East US), damn good scotch, well-engineered motor vehicles on twisty roads, close/old friends, & warped skiffy stories; and you hate the Iraq war, the 'dubya' President, the use of taxes for miltary and complete BS properness, then the rating for this book should be 5 stars. And it doesn't hurt that this book drove me to my fave stores to hunt rare SMs as well for a small fortune.
The fact that I like Iain's stories, particularly the skiffies, is just the best icing on the cake. Aside from the Glenfiddich Havana Reserve, that is. An' heer's tu ya.
Fine Drams of a Small Country
Having been there, appreciated the almost Personal Guide to the Distilleries of Scotland- with the help of google earth too.
The personal touch is a nicely written, with help from his friends and family, we get to travel and enjoy the landscape, the whiskeys and Iain's fine humour.
Of course his finest dram coincides with mine, and that was thanks to my friend Chris. He is getting this book as a Real Book, in the mail.
Iain Banks or as Iain M. Banks, has been a touchstone for me for a long time, and I have not read all his offerings,
Disappointing
This book is more like a rambling, diarrhea-of-the-mouth blog about the author's past adventures and escapades than it is about the landscape and whisky distilleries of Scotland. I slogged through it, but it was disappointing from such a well-known writer.
Felt like I was noodling around Scotland with a friend!
And I discovered Laphroaig and Bowmore among many others in the process. Thank you Iain!
A Brilliant trip through Scotland
A fun read in its own right, for any fan of Iain Banks this is a warm invitation into a joyful life that ended too soon. The book is filled with Banks' self-effacing humor and not just a little education on the regions of Scotland and their best known export.
