The master of whisky crafts a travelogue through the distillery regions evoking the magic of Scotland's landscapes and its most famous exports-the great malts.With his Malt Whisky Companion, Michael Jackson was the first writer to describe in detail the aromas and flavors of Scotland's most famous product. Now he depicts the country that shapes the whiskies, with a calm clarity that doesn't hide his passion for Scotland and its whiskies. Ten chapters take us to each of the great distilleries, detailing the influence of climate and geography. Also included are a directory of distilleries and their malts, and a glossary.Whether studying the ancient varieties of barley in the Orkney Islands, drinking tea with peat cutters while a storm brews over Islay, or relishing the finished product by the shore at sundown, Jackson and photographer Harry Cory Wright bring a personal understanding to the magic of malt. Anyone with even the slightest fancy for Scotland or its water of life will gain from joining their exploration. Their collaboration has produced an original contribution to the literature of whisky and a dazzling composite portrait of Scotland.