Polly: The True Story Behind 'Whisky Galore' | Roger Hutchinson

Polly: The True Story Behind ‘Whisky Galore’ by Roger Hutchinson tells the real story behind one of Scotland’s most famous whisky tales. In the winter of 1941, the cargo ship SS Politician ran aground in the treacherous waters of the Outer Hebrides.

On board were 260,000 bottles of whisky bound for the American market. For the people of Eriskay, whose own supplies had dried up under wartime rationing, the wreck seemed like a gift from heaven. News spread quickly, and boats came from far and wide to recover the bottles.

Before excise officer Charles McColl could intervene, more than 24,000 bottles had been “rescued”. The whisky was hidden, shared or drunk to remove the evidence. What officials regarded as smuggling and theft, many islanders considered legitimate salvage.

The strange and comic episode became famous through Compton Mackenzie’s novel Whisky Galore and the classic 1949 Ealing comedy of the same name. In Polly, journalist and Hebridean expert Roger Hutchinson tells the true story behind the legend.

A compelling book for lovers of Scotch whisky, island history, maritime stories and the folklore of whisky. Not a tasting guide, but a gripping whisky story about shipwreck, war, island community and thirst.

Book Details
Language: English
Format: Paperback
Pages: 163
Author: Roger Hutchinson
Weight: 0.3 kg
Subject: Whisky Galore, SS Politician, Eriskay, Outer Hebrides, Scotch whisky history, whisky stories, maritime history