Whisky - In Search of the Perfect Dram

[dwndrgn]

Iain Banks is a scotch expert?

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire2005/index.php?id=31745

 

[Green]

Re: Iain Banks is a scotch expert?

Reading Raw Spirit made me wish I liked whiskey.

 

[Dave]

Re: Iain Banks is a scotch expert?

I already liked whisky, but this book really made my go out and try different single malts. I've since decided that I prefer a drier heather moors whisky, over a seashore salty whisky, but I would never have made that distinction before.

The book also gives great insights into the author himself. His car crash, which is obviously the inspiration for 'The Bridge', and his strong political views that come across more in his general fiction writings than in his science fiction.

 

[Matt Burnham]

Re: Iain Banks is a scotch expert?

I liked the book very much, though sometimes he comes across as being a bit smug (like when he talks about all his cars and how little he works for so much money.) He's still a great writer, but i think in his fiction he pays more attention to his style. This one is a bit... casually written.

 

[MeccaJoost]

Re: Iain Banks is a scotch expert?

They have a fair few drams in Dead Air (even though it's based in London) and the Scottish characters in it clearly know their whiskey

 

[gully_foyle]

Re: Iain Banks is a scotch expert?

I love his SF, but I found this a bit dull. I also found the idea of protesting the Iraq war whilst driving a Landrover Defender, amongst other oil guzzling behemoths, a bit galling.

Maybe one day I'll make it to Scotland, then I think it would be pretty useful as a guide book.

 

[iansales]

Re: Iain Banks is a scotch expert?

I also found the idea of protesting the Iraq war whilst driving a Landrover Defender, amongst other oil guzzling behemoths...

I'm not sure I follow the logic of that. Could you explain?

 

[gully_foyle]

Re: Iain Banks is a scotch expert?

The Iraq war was pretty much about trying to secure one of the last big oil reserves in the middle east. Banks made a bit of a point about attaching signs saying "Not in my name" to the top of his Landrover Defender in the opening chapters of this book. I think it's a bit hypocritical to flaunt your love of such machines, but protest a war for oil in that fashion.

I've since heard he got rid of the Landrover, the xjs and the M5 and got a Lexus hybrid. So perhaps he saw it too.

 

[iansales]

Re: Iain Banks is a scotch expert?

Not sure I agree with that. It's a bit like refusing to eat oranges because you hate Zionists. Jaffa is not the only place that grows oranges. And there are plenty of other nations which produce oil. Wouldn't it be less hypocritical to boycott US products?

 

[gully_foyle]

Re: Iain Banks is a scotch expert?

Maybe when the world starts to run low on oranges, and we go to war with Israel to ensure the supply of oranges so we can all boast how incredibly revved up on vitamin C we are, then I would consider moving on to an alternative source of vitamin C, like blackcurrant juice.

The culture of the automobile is one of the causes of the world's problems.

To quote "Big cars are the last expression of a dying civilisation" or something to that effect. Zorg in Betty Blue

or

"The more you drive... the less intelligent you are." Miller in Repo Man.

 

[Dave]

Re: Iain Banks is a scotch expert?

He was writing a book about Scotch Whisky, driving all over Scotland for several weeks, up and down isolated Glens, probably on single track roads, possibly not metaled, carrying the luggage and equipment he would need for that period of time, and you expected him to do it on a bicycle?

 

[gully_foyle]

Re: Iain Banks is a scotch expert?

No, but I had the feeling that if he was offered an Urban Assault Vehicle he wouldna said nae.

 

[Who's Wee Dug]

Re: Iain Banks is a scotch expert?

Reading Raw Spirit made me wish I liked whiskey.

If you liked Whiskey it would be the Irish stuff.

The Scotch ie WHISKY what Banksie is writing about is Scottish no e and he does like a dram or three.

 

[bruno-1012]

Re: Iain Banks is a scotch expert?

Could be worse WWD - they could have suggested it was bourbon or southern comfort!

 

[Montero]

Iain Banks - Raw Spirit - and SF definition

Just reading Iain Banks's Raw Spirit (In search of the perfect dram) which is a lovely book of him and various friends, in different cars touring Scotland visiting distilleries and commenting on the journey, the distilleries, the whisky and generally having fun. Entertaining, funny and informative - next time I'm near the right sort of shop I'm going to see if I can afford to try a couple of the whiskies mentioned.

Anyway, as well as saying the book is one I think is worth reading, one bit I just had to put up on the forum was this:

"The Highlands; their identification and use.

The Highlands are a bit like science fiction; you generally know with some certainty when you're in the relevant area, but as soon as you start trying to define it you end up getting into all sorts of messes."

 

[Vertigo]

OK It's not SF, not even fiction, but I was curious as to whether any of you Banks fans out there have read it.

It gives some fascinating insights into Bank's writing philosphy as well as little asides - for example how he came up with the world with the eteranl fire sweeping around it in Player of Games (at least I think it was POG as I remember).

 

[The Ace]

He's just done the sae as everyone else - sampled them until he found one he liked.

 

[Vertigo]

not a bad strategy IMO!!

However my particular interest is whether other Banks fans have read it - even if they're not interested in Malt Whisky (shame!!!) it does as I say give a lot of interesting insights into Banks and where his ideas come from etc.

Also some discussion about his two writing personas - SF and mainstream.

 

[J-WO]

I keep forgetting about this book. Indeed, where would one find it in a typical chain store bookshop? Food and drink? Biography? Travel?

 

[The Procrastinator]

I've read a good deal of this book, however not very effectively! Not because I was sampling whisky at the time, but because the friend that owned it had it in the loo as "thinking material" so I was reading dribs and drabs over a fairly long period of time. I remember enjoying it, and being very envious. I love single malts and Scotland and would love to have the money to travel round sampling here there and everywhere!

Anyway it was entertainingly written but I don't recall enough of the details to remember what I thought of where the ideas came from etc. All I remember is wanting to go to Islay! (God I love Laphraoig and the Lagavulin...)