Holy Waters

Tom Morton, keen motorcyclist, funeral celebrant and whisky aficionado, takes us on a journey around the globe, exploring the links between famous alcoholic spirits and spirituality.

Winner Best Drink Book at the Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards 2023

Waters of life. Distilled spirits of all kinds have borne that name, in various tongues, since time immemorial. Aqua vita. Eau de vie. Uisge Beatha.

Tom Morton has travelled the world in search of the finest drams the planet has to offer. His journeys reveal the links between faith and alcohol, between spirits and the spiritual. From Christianity’s Holy Communion to the temple libations of Japan, through the rum concoctions of Haitian Voodoo to the monastic producers of every liquid from beer to "tonic" wine. And of course Tom’s beloved whisky, brewed in many corners of the world.

Holy Waters is Tom’s journey to the spiritual heart of whisky, sake, rum, Champagne, beer, mead and a variety of wines. With great insight, humour and for the most part sobriety, he traces the links between brewing, winemaking, distilling and worship, from ancient pagan rites to the most modern Trappist technology. He revels in the lore and mysteries of craft production, the elemental, magical love stories, the passionate relationships between human and landscape, grain and pure water, grape and fire. And he does so on a motorcycle which, to his astonishment, runs very well on cask-strength Islay single malt. This book is a celebration of cultures and artisan craft, a book for food and drink, travel and history lovers.

Tom Morton is a Scottish writer, broadcaster, journalist, musician and funeral celebrant. He lives and works mainly in the Shetland Islands. Tom has written several books. His most recent publications include It Tolls for Thee, a book about death positivity, also published by Watkins, and a book he wrote jointly with his son James, Shetland: Cooking on the Edge of the World. He is currently hosting a weekly internet radio show called The Beatcroft Social. He blogs regularly about food, island life and music.