As a native of Scotland bestselling author Iain Banks has decided to undertake a tour of the distilleries of his homeland in a bid to uncover the unique spirit of the single malt Visiting some of the world's most famous distilleries & also some of its smallest & most obscure ones Banks embarks on a journey of discovery which educates him about the places people & products surrounding the centuries-old tradition of whisky production Using various modes of transport
- ferries to the islands cars across the highlands even bicycles between bus stops
- Banks' tour of Scotland combines history literature & landscape in an entertaining & informative account of an exploration in which the arrival is by no means the most important part of the journey