Chasing the Dram: Finding the Spirit of Whisky

Description

Whisky is Scotland's national drink and has been for over five hundred years, since then becoming a global phenomenon. It is a drink that is a profound and important part of Scottish life and culture but, unlike other countries and their national libations, it has hardly been used in food. Rachel McCormack is going to change that with this book. Limiting whisky to a drink, she believes, is similar to the traditional Presbyterian attitude to sex; it should only be done with the lights off and in the missionary position. Rachel believes that there is an entire Karma Sutraof whisky use out there and she has put it in this book. Interspersing an engaging mix of anecdotes, history and information on distillers and recipes, this book will appeal to everyone from the cooking whisky connoisseur, to the novice whisky learner looking for some guidance on what to eat and cook. Rachel travels the length and breadth of Scotland, discovering a myriad of unique and interesting people and facts about this remarkable drink, with interviews with the key people who create it around the country, as she visits the famous distilleries of her country, as well as the more home-grown variety.

Rachel McCormack is the daughter of a Macallan drinker, Rachel was introduced to whisky via flu-alleviating hot toddies. At seventeen years of age she had a rude awakening in a Glasgow pub after asking for the house whisky and discovered that not all whiskies were the same. Her Father maintains to this day that he ruined her taste buds with quality malt at far too young an age. She would like to think he gave them a crash course in discernment. She is a regular panelist on BBC Radio 4s The Kitchen Cabinet since the first pilot. She has also broadcast on the station's From Our Own Correspondent, the Food Programme and appeared as an expert guest on BBC Radio 2 on both the Simon Mayo show and the Chris Evans show.