Last Friday saw the launch of Whiskey Burn at Whiskey Live Dublin, a lively affair if ever there was one. I was there with a batch of 56 books - hot off the press - and shortly into the Saturday session they had all sold out, so we were left with just the display copy on the table for the rest of the evening – but, can’t complain about that.

Torabhaig Distillery

Puni distillery

The first thing that strikes you arriving at Italy’s first and only whisky distillery is that it looks nothing like a distillery.  We are more used to seeing traditional old Doig pagoda chimneys, or at least modern representations of them, but here there is not a chimney in sight.

Designed by local architect Werner Tscholl, it looks at first sight more like a modern art museum than a distillery, which is kind of apt, because making whisky is an art, after all.

'Whisky Burn' author at Vespa World Days in Belfast

After the success of his first book, Whisky Burn - Distilleries of Scotland by Vespa, Wittenborg writer Ben Birdsall has just finished the draft for his second book, which this time explores the distilleries of Ireland. It will be published in time for the summer season by Wittenborg University Press.