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The SS Politician

Eriskay, Outer Hebrides

A ship full of whisky that inspired Whisky Galore!

In February 1941 the SS Politician ran aground off Eriskay, carrying about 28,000 cases of whisky. With wartime rationing, the islanders quietly helped themselves to thousands of bottles before customs officers arrived.

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When
February 1941
Where
57.1000, -7.2700
Group
Shipwrecks

Visiting

The Am Politician pub on Eriskay has some original bottles.

Cover of Blood and Gold by Cale Mills
Read the full story in the book

Blood and Gold

Sixteen true stories of mutiny, mercy, treasure and the gallows from the Golden Age of Piracy: Henry Every, Bartholomew “Black Bart” Roberts, Edward England, Howell Davis, Christopher Moody, Anne Bonny, Mary Read, Charles Vane, Benjamin Hornigold, Blackbeard, Stede Bonnet, Israel Hands, Calico Jack, Edward Low, Captain William Kidd and Samuel “Black Sam” Bellamy. Where the record is uncertain, the book says so.

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