Lockhart's book has long been regarded as a whisky classic. Including the fully updated and revised foreword written by his late son in 1995, this book covers some of the lesser-known episodes in the industry's history—these include the author's family's involvement with Balmenach Distillery on Speyside, the polemics of the Scots, their relationship with whisky, and where it might be heading. The book is considered essential reading for the whisky enthusiast. This edition has a publisher's note that outlines the main changes to the whisky industry in the last 15 years.