Whisky |
The spirit of Scotland - "Slainte" |
 Whisky to a Scotsman is as innocent as milk to the rest of the human race  |
| - Mark Twain |
"The milk's for the cat"
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There is always a stereotypically drunk Scot in the Hollywood movies. This isn't fair, there should be two or three. The Scots have always been seen as a hard drinking nation. Having spoken to various nationalities, I'd say several countries are in a position to claim this tottering accolade. So, who drinks the most? Scotland would probably win if we didn't export so much of our whisky.
It was once said that Scots would only drink Irish whiskey if they ran out of water. An old Scottish proverb states, 'Never drink whisky with water and never drink water without whisky'. In Scotland, a seven-course meal is a bottle of whisky and six cans of lager.
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A Scotsman was rushed to hospital with glass and splinters stuck in his lower lip. He told the doctor he'd dropped a half bottle of whisky on the dining room floor.
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The history of distilling is shrouded in mystery. The process seemingly found its way from Asia to Europe via Egypt. How's that for a vague introduction to whisky? Looks like we set up another adoption agency to follow the successful stealing of kilts and bagpipes.
The ancient Celts produced a fiery liquid - 'uisge beatha' - the water of life. Considering the primitive
equipment available at the time, the brew must have been potentially lethal - the water of putrid sheep's urine, perhaps?
Whisky can trace its distilling process back to 1494, when a certain Friar Cor took a delivery of 'eight bolls of malt... to make aquavitae'. It's hardly surprising to see a monk involved in the production of the 'demon drink'.
 Did You Know? | |
At one time, gunpowder was used to determine the strength of whisky.
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Whisky was at one time commended for its medicinal benefits, deemed to be good for the health. It became a huge part of Scottish social life, an ideal winter warmer and a symbol of hospitality. The Scots heat their veins from the cradle to the grave.
With the popularity of Scotland's spirit, the Scottish parliament stuck their big red noses in, sniffing out the potential tax revenue. Before long the greedy government were taxing not only the end product but also the initial malt. After the Union of the Parliaments in 1707, the distillers were virtually driven underground by ever increasing taxes and smuggling became a run of the mill pastime. In 1823, an Excise Act was passed making the production of whisky legally profitable.
"That was a strong one"
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In 1831 Aeneas Coffey developed a whisky still which enabled a continuous process of distillation to take place. This led to the production of grain whisky. The process was further enhanced in 1860 by Andrew Usher who blended malt and grain together to produce a lighter flavoured liquor. This extended the appeal of Scotch to a larger audience.
France unwittingly helped the case for Scotch. By the 1880s, the vineyards of France were ridden with disease. The French, short of wine and brandy, turned to Scotland. By the time the French industry recovered, Scotch whisky had replaced brandy as the preferred tipple.
The USA had a healthy hand in advancing the Scotch whisky industry too. At the end of prohibition, Scotland took advantage of the lack of production in the United States and exported a bountiful supply of potent liquor.
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Fact or fiction?
Edward VII arrived in Scotland overnight on the Royal train. High-flying members of the railway company were to officially welcome him the next morning. It was tradition for the King to offer the reception party a dram of whisky. However among the visiting group was a strict teetotaller who was rather anxious about the impending forenoon call. Sure enough, on boarding the train the King offered all the dignitaries a dram. The teetotaller, not wishing to insult the Royal Family, quickly downed his glass of whisky with one gulp. The King looked at him admiringly and said, "What a man, have another one".
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Did You Know? | |
The saying 'the real McCoy' relates to Captain Bill McCoy who smuggled whisky into the USA during prohibition.
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Even the American soldiers based in Britain during World War II took to the taste of Scotch, spreading the good news on their return to home soil.
Scotch Whisky is of immense importance to the economy of Scotland. The liquor is exported to more than 200 countries around the world. A true international success story. Visit www.whiskyweb.com for more whisky related information.
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