THANKS to Duncan and Wendy Graham, I've found the perfect guide for my latest venture across the border - Visiting Distilleries.

If only they'd let me know of their research, I would have happily accompanied them on such a splendid endeavour.

As it is, when I once again head for Scotland later this year, I will follow in their footsteps, armed with an impressive companion for the task in hand.

Visiting Distilleries is such a good idea, I'm surprised no-one has thought of it before.

So it's hats off to Duncan and Wendy, who used to live in Scotland but have now retired to Appleby.

They were first off the ball to spot the potential of such a guide, bearing in mind that every year more than one million people visit distilleries in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Indeed, servicing the needs of those visitors is now a growing part of Scotland's tourism industry.

Having visited every distillery and whisky-making facility in the space of one summer - and what a happy summer it must have been - the Grahams are expertly qualified to take an objective yet shrewd stance on what each distillery has to offer visitors - the best tours, the worst, the friendliest guides, access, whether or not children are welcome, the best picnic spots and so on.

The guide is packed full of absolutely everything you need to know, although I would have preferred slightly larger print.

I've only visited two distilleries previously, and I sort of imagined they would all be the same.

Not so, according to Duncan, former chief executive of the National Curriculum Council who was awarded the CBE for services to education, and Wendy, who serves as a JP.

For example, I was delighted to see a sterling write-up for Talisker, my favourite single malt.

"One of the best," say the Grahams.

"The pace is gentle, the explanations clear and simple with just the right amount of detail, questions are fielded and dealt with impressively."

On the other hand, the distillery at Tobermory (which has to be my favourite Scot-spot) is described as " distinctly average" with a "muted" welcome.

Ah well, at least I have Oban to look forward to later this year - "this is in the top echelon of tours"; Lagavulin (Islay) - "timeless tradition, a magic end product, and a setting to die for"; and Bowmore (Islay) "there is no better tour".

The Grahams report that very few people expressed sympathy for the "ordeal" of compiling their book.

Lucky so-and-sos I say!

l Visiting Distilleries is published in hardback price £9.99 by Angels' Share (an imprint of Neil Wilson Publishing of Glasgow).