10 ^th June 2008

Stuart Rivans is the author of a new book about Bruichladdich “Whisky Dream – Waking A Giant”. Not a dry and dusty history but the tale of how it came to be awakened from its slumbers in 2000. Not necessarily by a handsome prince (sorry guys, no offence) but by a band of dedicated men – and soon joined by equally dedicated women.

A history graduate who trained as a print journalist, Stuart’s day job is with an independent Glasgow-based production company which makes programmes for TV and radio. In January this year their documentary about Bruichladdich was aired on British television. They were commissioned for a 30 minute programme but there was so much to say he decided to write a book about it. The fascination turned out to be the people and how they managed to buy the distillery and get it up and running again to be the successful and innovative distilling company it is today.

Stuart’s father is a serious whisky fan but Stuart freely admits he knew very little about it before starting these projects - “not an anorak or well-versed” as he put it. Now he has learned so much about the natural process, the people and the environmental issues and is much more deeply into whisky learning and appreciation.

His interview and research process for the book took about eight months working evenings and Sundays and going to Islay each month for a couple of days working morning till evening to interview the Bruichladdich team. He also spoke to some of the students at Bruichladdich’s Academy where you can go and work for a week to learn more (and it isn’t sitting around watching - you are expected to put in some hard graft). After all this Stuart had 34 hours of interviews to sift through and reduce for the book.

Not to mention the print research and consultations with other writers like Dave Broom and Neil Wilson and whisky people like Grant Mitchell, former manager at Caol Ila.All were positive about Bruichladdich’s activities and mines of information.

I asked if he had previous experience of Islay and the answer was no. He went to do a couple of reconnaissance trips for the documentary and those were his first visits. His thoughts on the island are “mystical” and “wildness” and how you really need time there to breathe its magic. True - the only ways to get there are by a short plane trip or almost a whole day by car and ferry. I would never recommend anyone go there for less than two nights. As a history buff, he found it fascinating to think about life there in past centuries and why the whisky was essential. He mentioned in our conversation that a ceilidh was not originally about music and dancing as it is today but neighbours taking turns to visit each other’s houses for evenings of storytelling where doubtless the food and whisky played a part. That was something new I learned.

The highly readable introduction to the book was penned by Lord George Robertson and Stuart does say this is entirely down to the publisher. For those who don’t know him, George Robertson was a Labour Member of Parliament and a former Minister of Defence in the UK government. He went on to become Secretary General of NATO. All this from more humble beginnings on Islay where he was born and where his father and one grandfather were policemen.

The enthusiasm of the author shines through in the book and much of it is direct quotation from his interviews with the directors and manager at Bruichladdich. Also his amazement at what they and their colleagues have achieved in such a short time. The enthusiasm and passion of the Bruichladdich people themselves also beams out from the pages. At one point Master Distiller, Jim McEwan, Poet Laureate of distillers is talking about whisky he is producing now but which he may never see at its peak. Jim reckons he will be “With the angels, enjoying my share.” And still waxing lyrical about it no doubt.

This book is an amusing and often heartwarming tale. It’s not very long at just under two hundred pages and a good one for a few pages with an evening dram or a read in a sunny garden.

Stuart and his wife, as I write this, are expecting their first baby any day. He tells me if it’s a girl they will probably not name her after the island but I would certainly recommend an investment in a cask of Bruichladdich for baby’s 21 ^st birthday and a bottle now to celebrate its arrival.