Owing to wartime rationing, the thirsty islanders had nearly run out of the "water of life" and see this as an unexpected godsend.

They must thwart the efforts of the authorities to confiscate the liquor, particularly in the shape of misguided, pompous Home Guard Captain Paul Waggett.

The story was based on a real-life incident that occurred in 1941 on the Hebridean island of Eriskay[5] when the SS Politician ran aground with a cargo including 28,000 cases of malt whisky as well as other trade goods headed for Jamaica and New Orleans.

[1] The novel was first adapted in 1949 as Whisky Galore!,[3] a British comedy film produced by Ealing Studios, starring Basil Radford, Bruce Seton, Joan Greenwood and Gordon Jackson.

[3] A theatrical adaptation of the novel, licensed by the Society of Authors (the managers of Compton Mackenzie's literary estate) and written by Paul Godfrey, was first performed as a "bar show" at Perth Theatre in the late 1980s.

Another adaptation of the novel was staged by the Brunton Theatre Company, Musselburgh, under the direction of Charles Nowosielski, in October 1989.

The book was adapted by Shona McKee McNeil and the music was composed by Ian Hammond Brown.