The book begins with a sort of gonzo history of distillation, where facts are liberally sprinkled with sheer madness - Mayan Hangover Masks, Pyramids as distilleries, Scots turning Haggis into Gold. After a brief encounter with the Loch Ness Monster and a vicious badger-rabbit attack, the book settles down into a fascinating travelogue of Scottish Whisky distilleries with occasional reversions into madness.

Almost every one of the 159 pages is illustrated by Steadman's paintings and drawings, and some of the artwork is among his best - the Loch Ness Monster, his map of Scotland, Hunter getting a Glenlivit transfusion, and the Highland Bottle Dance stand out.

There are several places where Steadman repeats himself word for word, as if he were writing the sections of the book for separate publication; this and other minor editorial misfires are the book's only flaw.

This book is a must for Steadman fans. ( )