The Whisky Distilleries of the United Kingdom
by Alfred Barnard

This is a reprint of the original 1887 edition.

titleauthorpublisheryear (first)isbnlanguageppbooksizeedition
The Whisky Distilleries of the United KingdomAlfred BarnardAugustus M. Kelley, NY/USA 1887-english457hardcover, ill(bw)193x2542nd; 1969


 

frontcover On the picture on the front cover of this work is a pen-drawing of the interior of the still house of the Bowmore Distillery on the isle of Islay at that time. Notice that one of the stills has a unique double head!

This book contains over 160 pen-drawings of distillery buildings (exterior and interior) by Walker and Bontall. (Below I included two of them on this page.)

At this moment, in 2002, it's 117 years ago that Alfred Barnard and the two artists started on their journey to visit, describe and illustrate 161 distilleries in Scotland, Ireland and England.


The 1969 introductory text reads:
It is over eighty years since Alfred Barnard Made his remarkable tour of the Scotch and Irish whisky distilleries, and his book has long been unobtainable, having become a collector's piece. It gives a lively account of the distilling industry at a tikme of change and growth in the late nineteenth century, with ver 160 pen portraits of indivudual distilleries, embellished by fine illustrations.

Although the majority of the studies concern Scottish whisky distilleries, Ireland too is well represented, while for good measure, four English ones are also included. Barnard took his investigations seriously, visiting all the units he so graphically describes, accompanied by artists who prepared on-the-spot sketches. Most of the distilleries he saw in Scotland continue to prosper: others like the vanished pot stills of Campbeltown have passed out of existence, and sadly only a few Irish whiskey distilleries have survived.

This authorative work is now being reprinted and its reappearence will not only be warmly welcomed in distilling and trade circles, but also by connoisseurs of whisky everywhere. They are sure to find it of great historical interest, enlivened by keen observation and refreshing wit.


The contents of this book consist of:
Introduction to the 1969 editionby I.A. Glen, MA BLitt
Referenceslist of 28 references
Prefaceby Alfred Barnard, London, January 1887.
ContentsList of the 161 distilleries in Scotland (129), Ireland (28) and England (4)
Distillation 
Distillery map of Scotlandfollowed by an index to it
161 chaptersEach dealing with a Scottish distillery
Distillery map of Irelandfollowed by an index to it
28 chaptersEach dealing with an Irish distillery
List of four (out of 10) English distilleries(no map for these)
4 chaptersach dealing with an English distillery
AdvertisementsAt the end of the book are 37 pages of advertisements.

 

drawing of Lochruan distillery
Pen drawing (1885) of the Lochruan distillery in Campbeltown, one of the survivors of the 1850s depression in the industry.
Lochruan was founded in 1835 and was silent from 1925.

 

pen drawing of Laphroaig distillery  in 1885.
Pen drawing (1885) of the Lagavulin distillery on Islay.
There were two distilleries on this site. The earlier founded in 1816 by John Johnston, the later by Archibald Campbell in 1817.
By 1837 there was only one distillery occupied by Donald Johnston.
In 1908 another distillery was built here; 'Malt Mill Distillery', which was closed about 1960. In 1962 the stills from Malt Mill distillery were incorporated in the Lagavulin stillhouse.


Back to books overview
Back to frontpage

This page was created on january 14th, 2002