Iain Banks, for me, was the individual responsible for introducing me to seriously good Scotch. ^_^ It was East(er)con '90, at the Adelphi Hotel - a rather won

Iain Banks, for me, was the individual responsible for introducing me to seriously good Scotch. ^_^ It was East(er)con '90, at the Adelphi Hotel - a rather wonderful example of architecture, designed by someone with a passion for steps, to the point that you couldn't walk more than 20' without at least a single step along the way - after a long, good day of con proceedings. We were gathered around in the lobby, around 3am, a circle of some dozen attendees, and he begins passing his whisky flask around. I forget what it was, specifically, but I believe something at least a dozen years old, maybe even a 21. It was a revelation. ^_^ There was no barrier - no Famous Person, just a bunch of people who all enjoyed sci-fi, chatting into the early hours. He made the world a richer place to inhabit.