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Holy Waters: Searching for the sacred in a glass
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.
- GenresFood
272 pages, Paperback
Published November 8, 2022
3 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Tom Morton
60 books5 followersLibrarian note:
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There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 8, 2022
A travelogue through the connections between various drinks, alcoholic and non alcoholic and religions and faiths. This book is a mixture of many things. A history of alcohol and the various countries it is brewed or distilled in. How these drinks have been associated with many religions and faiths. It also talks about the customs associated with these practices and how they have been distorted and changed to suit others needs.
An example of this would be the pictures most people have of witches. But this goes back to days when most brewers were women. The pointed hats were so they could be seen in the marketplace. The cauldron was for brewing the beer and a broomstick hung outside a house was the sign of a brewer. And the cat was to keep the mice away from the grain.
The reason that they're no blackcurrant bushes in the USA was because they carried a parasite which attacked pine trees a valuable source of material to the American lumber trade.
Tom goes all over the world in his search, Britain, Ireland, the USA and central America. Also, the countries of India and Japan amongst others.
An enjoyable book and thanks to Lovereading for the ARC
An example of this would be the pictures most people have of witches. But this goes back to days when most brewers were women. The pointed hats were so they could be seen in the marketplace. The cauldron was for brewing the beer and a broomstick hung outside a house was the sign of a brewer. And the cat was to keep the mice away from the grain.
The reason that they're no blackcurrant bushes in the USA was because they carried a parasite which attacked pine trees a valuable source of material to the American lumber trade.
Tom goes all over the world in his search, Britain, Ireland, the USA and central America. Also, the countries of India and Japan amongst others.
An enjoyable book and thanks to Lovereading for the ARC
October 30, 2022
Tom Morton’s book has, to someone not an aficionado of alcohol, a pleasant slightly chaotic quality. The drinks he samples seem a bit random, but none the worse for that, as he himself might say. And his musings on them are witty and down to earth.
The idea of considering the role of alcohol in religion across history and cultures is a great one, and the book is full of fascinating facts. Spirits and the spirit, after all, have long been linked. I would love to hear more about the ‘thin’ places in Unst, of Madge Coutts, the witch or the Death Bird of Colvadale, though.
Alcohol has long been used to preserve herbs and extract plant medicines, used by women for domestic medicine, and monks for their hospitals, and I found those parts of the book particularly fascinating.
There is a personal story woven into the book, and this makes it, for me, much more interesting and accessible. And it urges the reader to find the ‘middle way’ to enjoy the amazing arts demonstrated in drink making, without heading down a destructive path. Like Buddhists, who seem to find a middle way to interpret the Buddha’s advice on avoiding intoxication. He also acknowledges that, for some, this is not possible.
Ceremonies and rituals, including family meals, can be much more memorable with a good glass or wine. And a ‘digestif’ as the French know, helps the temper as well as the digestion.
It’s full of unexpected facts and observations, as well as thoroughly entertaining. I highly recommend it.
The idea of considering the role of alcohol in religion across history and cultures is a great one, and the book is full of fascinating facts. Spirits and the spirit, after all, have long been linked. I would love to hear more about the ‘thin’ places in Unst, of Madge Coutts, the witch or the Death Bird of Colvadale, though.
Alcohol has long been used to preserve herbs and extract plant medicines, used by women for domestic medicine, and monks for their hospitals, and I found those parts of the book particularly fascinating.
There is a personal story woven into the book, and this makes it, for me, much more interesting and accessible. And it urges the reader to find the ‘middle way’ to enjoy the amazing arts demonstrated in drink making, without heading down a destructive path. Like Buddhists, who seem to find a middle way to interpret the Buddha’s advice on avoiding intoxication. He also acknowledges that, for some, this is not possible.
Ceremonies and rituals, including family meals, can be much more memorable with a good glass or wine. And a ‘digestif’ as the French know, helps the temper as well as the digestion.
It’s full of unexpected facts and observations, as well as thoroughly entertaining. I highly recommend it.
November 13, 2022
Tom Morton’s book is hard to categorize. It’s autobiography, science, social and cultural history, travelogue, comparative religion, and a tasting guide to a wide range of drinks, not all of them alcoholic. Each chapter looks at a different stage of the author’s global journey to investigate the links between alcohol and spirituality, and is accompanied by tasting notes for the drinks consumed along the way.
He writes with an obvious sense of humour and a deep interest in the places, people, and drinks he visits. The huge amount of research done is worn lightly and gives a real insight into history and the human condition. It’s a book dense with information but which is easily accessible and rewards close attention.
To use an apt metaphor, it’s a book for sipping, not gulping. Each chapter can stand alone, complete in itself and can be accompanied by the drinks listed. The text ties together the drinks and their wider significance, whether that’s historical, psychological or in religious terms. There’s lots of food (drink?) for thought here.
I’d recommend Holy Waters to a wide audience of those interested in any or all of the subjects covered. It would make a great gift, accompanied by a bottle or two of the hard stuff mentioned.
He writes with an obvious sense of humour and a deep interest in the places, people, and drinks he visits. The huge amount of research done is worn lightly and gives a real insight into history and the human condition. It’s a book dense with information but which is easily accessible and rewards close attention.
To use an apt metaphor, it’s a book for sipping, not gulping. Each chapter can stand alone, complete in itself and can be accompanied by the drinks listed. The text ties together the drinks and their wider significance, whether that’s historical, psychological or in religious terms. There’s lots of food (drink?) for thought here.
I’d recommend Holy Waters to a wide audience of those interested in any or all of the subjects covered. It would make a great gift, accompanied by a bottle or two of the hard stuff mentioned.
November 2, 2022
In Holy Waters, Tom Morton investigates the connections between various drinks and religion. Spirits and spirituality are closer linked than we might think, although he does turn his attention to some less and even non alcoholic beverages occasionally.
He travels the world, taking in places as diverse as India, Mexico, Germany and Martinique, and an equally wide ranging variety of drinks such as sake, rum and mead. As is befitting of a Scottish author however, there is a heavy bias towards Scotland and whisky.
It's a fascinating read over a wide range of topics. There's the history of brewing, holy wells, wassailing and voodoo. Each chapter is accompanied by a set of tasting notes for some drinks related to the subjects covered.
This book would make a great Christmas present for a whisky lover - especially if it came wrapped with a bottle.
Thanks to LoveReading for the review copy.
He travels the world, taking in places as diverse as India, Mexico, Germany and Martinique, and an equally wide ranging variety of drinks such as sake, rum and mead. As is befitting of a Scottish author however, there is a heavy bias towards Scotland and whisky.
It's a fascinating read over a wide range of topics. There's the history of brewing, holy wells, wassailing and voodoo. Each chapter is accompanied by a set of tasting notes for some drinks related to the subjects covered.
This book would make a great Christmas present for a whisky lover - especially if it came wrapped with a bottle.
Thanks to LoveReading for the review copy.
November 8, 2022
I love learning about how people see something differently around the World, and this book hits the mark with Whisky. Learn how it’s used in religions and cultures around the world. You can travel the world without ever leaving home. Grab a dram or two and enjoy while you see how others are enjoying it as well.
November 9, 2022
A travelogue, a book about the relationship between religion and alcohol, an intriguing book that talks about travels and experiences.
Loved it, made me wish I could visit the different places.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
Loved it, made me wish I could visit the different places.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews