Book #56 Raw Spirit: In Search of the Perfect Dram

Raw Spirit by Iain Banks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My brother picked this up in a charity shop and thought I would enjoy it, knowing my love of single malt Scotch whiskies. It was originally published in 2003 and remarkably the content remains fairly contemporary. A poignant read in many respects; Iain Banks died in 2013 aged just 59. So, to talk about having enough single malt after this trip around the distilleries of Scotland, to last him into his 70s lent a subliminal tone to the content of this book.

I did enjoy it. I love single malt, I love Scotland. I would love to embark on the same journey that Banks took, sometimes alone, sometimes with his wife, often with close friends. He drives around in a number of vehicles he owns (or should I say owned), including a BMW M5, a Landrover Defender and a classic Jaguar MK ll. His quest is for the perfect dram and his conclusion(s) include some of my favourites, 12 years later. So not a great deal has changed in the world of single malt. He journeys to remote shores and hidden glens, discovering the breathtaking and often inaccessible distilleries where tiny quantities of malt whisky are produced.

Banks was a left-wing fanatic, a hell-raiser, an atheist, a confessed petrol-head - and a great writer. At times his irreverence echoes loudly through these pages. He does it to 'Dubya' and Blair (this was written at the time of the Iraq war and the search for those WMDs), pours scorn on Faslane and the nuclear deterrent, admits to being 'stoned' and inebriated on many occasions and buys shed-loads of whisky as he continues his journey through Scotland and the Isles. The book is not just a drinking guide but a travelogue and a social commentary on the early 21st century. In places it is highly amusing, at times it made me laugh out loud, but moreover it provided me with an education about the creating of the greatest spirit on earth.

That's it. I love single malt whiskies and I enjoyed sharing Banks' journey. It made me want to get on a train or a plane and head for the Highlands. And, perhaps, never come back....

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Early Christmas Spirit

Well, there is only a month to go so I have started to stock up with a few choice single malts.

The Inchmurrin 12 YO is aged predominantly in bourbon casks and is light, grassy, and floral. It was a big hit at The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show 2015. The enchanting isle of Inchmurrin is the largest of Loch Lomond's islands and was once home to a chapel built by Christian monks in the 7th century. Known as the 'grassy isle' this single malt scotch whisky is soft, rounded and wonderfully wooded. It is aged in three types of cask selected by hand - bourbon, refill and re-charred. These whiskies are then brought together delivering a perfectly balanced single malt.

Scapa Skiren is a 2015 release from the Orkney distillery. Aged in first-fill American oak casks, this is creamy and sweet with notes of tropical fruit and heather. Within reach of the Arctic Circle, Scapa is part of the Orkney Isles. The Scapa distillery is perched on the tranquil shores of Scapa Flow. Inspired by summer's bright, glittering skies, described in Old Norse as skiren, this expression is exclusively matured in first-fill American oak casks, which produces a smooth creamy sweetness with that hint of tropical fruit, citrus and coastal heather.

Whether or not these bottles remain unopened for a further 30 days is however another matter....

Packed and Ready...

We are packed and ready to go tomorrow. A pleasant drive along the Sussex coast to Rye Harbour and 'Harbour Lights' cottage, our 'home' for the next five days. Plenty of R&R, birding, seafood, good wine, real ale, single malts, books, music, local pubs, beach-combing, antique shops, shoe shops (Ros only), book shops, Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, wellingtons, Tilley hats, Barbour coats, OS maps... and perhaps an umbrella!

Lifespan

Well, I'm beginning to wonder. I had prepared a delicious meal of lightly smoked salmon fillets, English asparagus and Jersey Royal new potatoes served up with Hollandaise sauce for the asparagus and whey butter on the potatoes. Glasses filled with a delightful Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, accompanied with compliments from my wife for another tasty dinner. I finished my meal with some wonderful Brin-de-Paille soft cheese and a glass of Mondelli Chianti Riserva.

Time for a Double Chocolate Mocha and a dram of 10 YO Jura single malt. Perfect. Awash with hubris I decided to tackle the dishes, the washing up, whilst my wife indulged her passion for "Casualty" on BBC1. I told her I would be 'plugged in' to music whilst I performed this domestic duty and got stuck in to Pat Metheny's album 'We Live Here'. Soundmagic earbuds are astonishing, terrific bass, no roll-off on the top notes, amazing stereo separation. I stood at the sink with my head nodding and my feet tapping. Dishes done in no time.

I needed to 'phone my mate Graeme so I went off in search of my iPhone, still listening to Pat Metheny. I found the 'phone case but no 'phone. I looked upstairs in the bedroom, in the lounge, in the dining room, in the kitchen - still unconsciously nodding my head to the fantastic rhythm of Pat Metheny. 'Best track coming up', I muttered to myself as the edge of panic set in over the whereabouts of my iPhone. 'Damn it', I thought, 'I had better use the landline to ring it, that'll locate it'. Better switch Pat Metheny off though before I do.

I dug in my shirt pocket and pulled out...... my iPhone, connected to my Soundmagic earbuds....

I shrugged it off, laughed to myself and took another loading dose of Vitamin B Complex. And took another look at 'Lifespan', the UK's leading health magazine, to see if it can help me remember that I listen to music on my F***ING iPhone!

 

Soixante-neuf...

I reached this landmark birthday today. Soixante-neuf sounds better than sixty-nine. One short of the 'three-score-and-ten'... Hmmm.

Anyway, I had my usual jaunt around Sainsbury's this morning. The 'Big Issue' seller, Stan, wished me a happy birthday then asked what I was doing shopping on my birthday. I always do the weekly shop on a Friday (well, mostly). Nothing changes there.

I will be enjoying a steak dinner with my wife Rosalind, a bottle of Carta Roja Gran Reserva 2007 (a rich, intense red from Spain) and a couple of Aberlour single malts from Speyside.

Amongst my presents I received from my brother a 2 CD set of Chris Barber & His Jazz Band, recorded in 1956, 1957 and 1958 originally on the Pye label. The sound quality is astonishing and many of these tracks take me back to my youth, particularly 'Petite Fleur'. He also found a book by Malcolm John entitled 'Around Historic Kent' published in 1978 by Midas Books. It's a little gem. Each entry of village, town or other location is accompanied by a beautiful line drawing. Much nostalgia here for me being a 'Man of Kent' (born south of the River Medway - those born to the north are 'Kentish Men').

As I write this I am listening to the wonderful pianist Ivana Gavrić playing 'Grieg Piano Works'. My favourite is the Lyric Piece 'Notturno Op.54 No.4'. And I am awake, daydreaming... Here is a link to this piece played by Mark Farago:

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And now, the sun is below the yardarm, somewhere - time for a birthday beer!

Old Age and Machinations...

It is a fact that you never accept old age. Sinatra sang about 'The September of My Years' and I have always tried to discredit that as wistful humbug. You are as old as you feel, aren't you? But the mind can continue to convince you that physical endeavour is well within your bounds of capability when the reality is somewhat different...

Today the weather was perfect. Blue sky, sunshine and 18℃. Shirt sleeve weather. Time to continue the attack on 25 years of Forsythia growth in my garden. Bow saw, pruning saw, loppers and secateurs were mustered and I hacked away for 4½ hours. Still haven't finished but I'm getting there. Another two large bags of green waste were deposited at the local municipal tip with just enough time remaining to enjoy a large, builders cup of tea before collecting my wife from her place of work. Time to head home for a well deserved roast dinner, a couple of glasses of Cotes-du-Rhone and one or two single malts....

Relaxed and in good humour I sat back to watch one of my favourite TV programmes and enjoy the machinations of DCI Banks as he solved yet another unfathomable crime. I'm not sure that he did though as the young mind was overtaken by the old body and I succumbed to dozing off and missed, not only the entire episode, but most of News at Ten as well.

Mind you, I reckon this young mind in an older body will sleep well tonight...

Goodnight all...