THE HISTORY OF SCOTCH WHISKY

Blended whiskies and malt whiskies are both produced differently. Although both are produced in the distilleries of Scotland, near to the natural ingredients which give them their unique flavor. For more information on how both these whiskies are produced continue to the next page of this guide.

Whisky has been distilled in Scotland for hundreds of years. Some evidence shows that the art of distilling was brought to the country by Christian missionary monks, but it has never been proved that Highland farmers did not themselves discover how to distil spirits from their surplus barley.

The earliest record of distilling in Scotland was in 1494, when an entry in the Exchequer Rolls stated "Eight bolls of malt to Friar John Cor wherewith to make aqua vitae" (Latin for 'water of life'). This was enough malt to produce 1500 bottles of whisky, and clearly indicates that distilling had already become a well established practice in Scotland.

The basic equipment used in these times and the lack of expertise meant the whisky that was produced in those early days was very potent, and sometimes extremely harmful. Distillation methods improved immensely over the years.

The term "whisky" evolved originally from the Gaelic "uisge beatha", meaning 'water of life'. Gaelic is the Celtic language spoken in the Highlands of Scotland and still is today in many areas of the Highlands of Scotland. Over time the word "uisge beatha" became abbreviated and corrupted to become known as whisky.

Whisky soon became an intrinsic part of Scottish life and was frequently used for medicinal purposes or as a reviver and stimulant during the long cold harsh Scottish winters, and it was featured more and more in everyday social life in Scotland.

It can only be called Scotch if it has been distilled and matured in Scotland. This most celebrated of spirits is distilled in a country of natural beauty and is produced with nothing more than what nature will not readily replace.

The craft of distilling and maturing Scotch has evolved over hundreds of years, and has been passed from generation to generation in a continual process of improvement and refinement.

Until the advent of the patent still in 1831, all the whisky produced in Scotland was of the malt variety. Now, there are two kinds produced, malt and grain. Malt whisky is used primarily to create the popular blended whisky of today, this is done by combining malt whisky with grain whisky. A small amount of malt whisky which is produced is bottled as Single Malt.

Blended whiskies and malt whiskies are both produced differently. Although both are produced in the distilleries of Scotland, near to the natural ingredients which give them their unique flavor.