“Books from the Whisky Library” (Volume 1)

Book Cover: The Whisky of Scotland in Fact and Story

A favorite whisky book from my library is a first edition by Sir Robert Bruce Lockhart, KCMG*, published in London in 1951. Scotch – The Whisky of Scotland in Fact and Story bears the bookplate of a Mr. Frank Hardy, who owned it in 1952. It smells like an old book. In this 175 page narrative, Sir Robert sprinkles short verses and humor among the book’s three chapters about The Water of Life, The Whisky Barons, and War, Prohibition and Dollars:

On how to drink Scotch whisky:

“To-day pure malt whisky is rare. To those who can still obtain it, a little water is permissible with the whisky, but preferable after it. Soda water is an abomination and degrades both the spirit and the soul. By and large, the connoisseur still abides by the old Highland saying: ‘There are two things a Highlander likes naked, and one is malt whisky.’”

On the Glenlivet Distillery:

“Glenlivet it has castles three, Drumin, Blairfindy and Deskie, And also one distillery, More famous than the castles three.”

… and about Glenfiddich, founded by the Grant family:

“Lord grant guid luck tae a’ the Grants, Likewise eternal bliss, For they should sit among the sa’nts That make a dram like this.”

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