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For whisky professionals, connoisseurs and lovers, Jim McEwan is an icon like Steve Jobs, Paul McCartney and Pelé. Growing up in the small village of Bowmore on the "whisky island" of Islay, he started his career in 1963 at the age of 15 as a cask maker in the Bowmore distillery. This developed into an unprecedented career in which Jim was to shape and revolutionise the world of whisky like no other. The worldwide success of single malt whisky is inextricably linked to him. The highlight of his work was the revival of the Bruichladdich distillery, today one of the most innovative and respected representatives of the whisky world. How a journey began with two men and a dog that would lead to new universes of whisky is only part of the story that Jim McEwan tells here anecdotally and with much humour. Lavishly designed, lavishly illustrated and sumptuously appointed - a delight for lovers of wonderful books and wonderful drinks alike.
List of contents
Contents
Prologue / 11
1 This is Where I Come From / 21
2 From the Potato Holidays Into the Wild West / 35
3 Follow Your Nose / 49
4 Inspiring People - James McColl / 65
5 Davy Bell - Always a Penny in Your Pocket / 77
6 The Lifeline of Islay - the Puffers / 95
7 5 O'Clock - Tea Time? / 107
8 Queen of Port Charlotte / 119
9 Arrival in Glasgow Bridgeton / 135
10 From Bridgeton to Bellshill / 147
11 Back to Bowmore / 157
12 Giving Something Back to the Community - Swimming Pool / 167
13 A New Era Starts / 177
14 Being on the Road is Not a Holiday / 187
15 Big in Japan / 195
16 With Suntory on Top / 205
17 Farewell From Japan / 215
18 Legendary Drams - a Piece of Home / 223
19 Don't Mess With Jim / 233
20 Expensive Hangover / 243
21 Where Did it All Go Wrong For You, Jim McEwan? / 255
22 Judgement Days / 263
23 Bringing Cinderella to the Ball / 275
24 Soulmates - Duncan McGillivray / 287
25 Recruiting Allan and Adam / 301
26 First Drops / 317
27 The Botanist / 329
28 The Story of Ugly Betty / 341
29 Ursula / 349
30 Yellow Submarine / 359
31 Legendary Drams - Port Charlotte / 369
32 Legendary Drams - Octomore / 381
33 Legendary Drams - Black Art / 389
34 Legendary Drams - Space Mission Bruichladdich One / 399
35 Retirement?!
36 Height of the Hollow / 419
37 Babylon Bags / 433
38 Highland Toast / 449
39 Thank You at the End / 459
Mary's Poem / 465
Hall of Fame / 469
Epilogue / 473
List of Illustrations / 483
About the author
Jim McEwan is a legend among whisky lovers. The amount of innovation with which he has developed the industry is simply breathtaking. Now he presents his biography.
As a religion teacher, Udo Sonntag's main occupation is spiritual matters. But in his spare moments, his passion belongs to spirits, especially single malt whiskies from the island of Islay.
Summary
For whisky professionals, connoisseurs and lovers, Jim McEwan is an icon like Steve Jobs, Paul McCartney and Pelé. Growing up in the small village of Bowmore on the "whisky island" of Islay, he started his career in 1963 at the age of 15 as a cask maker in the Bowmore distillery. This developed into an unprecedented career in which Jim was to shape and revolutionise the world of whisky like no other. The worldwide success of single malt whisky is inextricably linked to him. The highlight of his work was the revival of the Bruichladdich distillery, today one of the most innovative and respected representatives of the whisky world. How a journey began with two men and a dog that would lead to new universes of whisky is only part of the story that Jim McEwan tells here anecdotally and with much humour. Lavishly designed, lavishly illustrated and sumptuously appointed - a delight for lovers of wonderful books and wonderful drinks alike.
