The Language of Whisky | David McNicoll

The Language of Whisky by David McNicoll is an original whisky book for readers who want to understand what lies behind the names on whisky bottles. It looks at whisky not only as a drink, but also as language, landscape, history and identity.

Whisky is now a global, billion-dollar industry, from New York to Tasmania. Yet the word whisky remains strongly associated with Scotch. McNicoll therefore asks a simple but fascinating question: how did a drink from the far reaches of north-west Europe become a worldwide phenomenon?

Much of the book focuses on names. Many Scotch whisky names come from farms, places, landscapes and the historic languages once spoken across Scotland. In this way, distillery names offer a glimpse into the past.

McNicoll strips away the veneer of inflated expert-speak and brings whisky back to where he believes it belongs: hearth, home and good company. This makes The Language of Whisky accessible for beginners, while also offering experienced enthusiasts a fresh perspective.

The author’s background adds real depth. David McNicoll grew up in the Scottish Highlands, worked at Blair Athol Distillery, studied geography and later organised whisky and ancestral travel through Scotland. His knowledge of whisky, place and history comes together neatly in this compact book.

Book Details
Language: English
Format: Paperback
Pages: 208
Author: David McNicoll
ISBN / barcode: 9781733568210
Weight: 0.25 kg
Subject: whisky language, Scotch whisky, Scottish place names, distillery names, language history, whisky history