A Brief History of Whisky

So often it has been said that no companion could ever measure up to a glass of whisky. Let’s venture into the world of whisky and become members of the prestigious whisky club.

The Origins Of Whisky Production

Often referred to as the ‘nectar of the gods’ and for good reason, the origins of whisky production are not known to many.

The earliest whisky distilleries date back to the late 1400s in Scotland. Scotch whisky, which can only be called scotch if it was made in Scotland, was first made in monasteries and used for medicinal purposes.

The ancient practice of distilling spirits, namely whisky, is rather fascinating and filled with a strong heritage.

It wasn’t long before the “water of life” was taxed by governments, in fact, in 1823 the excise act was put in place which sanctioned distilling whisky.

How Is Whisky Made?

There are multiple ingredients used in the production of whisky. Some of the most common are fermented grain mash or fermented mash, malted barley, rye grain or cereal grains.

Then comes the distillation, every distillery has a unique process but almost age their whiskey in wood barrels.

The aging process can be anywhere from 2-3 years up to 12 years for a high-quality whiskey.

Types Of Whisky

Whisky lovers around the world have their particular favourite when it comes to whisky. It’s not surprising that there are multiple varieties of whisky, unique to certain regions.

Irish Whiskey

Irish whisky, or whiskey, dates back more than 400 years! The oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world, the old Bushmills distillery, is located in Northern Ireland.

Irish whisky is typically triple distilled from unmalted barley, though some distilleries produce malt whisky. The flavour profile of Irish whiskey is light and slightly sweet.

Scotch Whisky

Typically known as Scotch is grain whisky or malt whisky. Although larger commercial distilleries started producing rye whisky towards the end of the 18th century.

The Scottish are known as some of the most prominent whisky connoisseurs. There are many distilleries in Scotland, more than 130 to give you an estimate. Single grain scotch whisky is made from cereal grains as opposed to only malted barley. The flavour profiles include oak, malt and smoke.

Blended whiskey is known to be delightfully aromatic with hints of caramel and vanilla.

Japanese whisky

Native to Japan, the local whisky industry produced some fine blended style whiskies in the 1870s. Blended whiskies from Japan are modelled similarly to scotch whiskies, by distilling malted barley which is then placed in wooden barrels.

American Whiskey

Bourbon is the whisky produced by American distillers. Bourbon is made primarily a corn whiskey. American blends are different to other whiskeys because bourbon is a grain whisky.

Bourbon is distinctly sweet when compared to other whiskies. Rye whiskey is another favourite that is similar in style to bourbon but must be distilled from rye grain.

How to Drink Irish Whisky

The whisky guide to enjoying these perfectly distilled spirits. Purists would always suggest drinking whiskey neat, and never adding ice.

Technically, there is no right or wrong way to drink whisky. Some would argue that adding a tiny bit of water tends to smoothen the taste, especially because of the high alcohol content.

Whiskeys vary drastically in taste but it’s advised that you at least try whiskey neat to fully immerse yourself in palatable sensation.

Whether you’re drinking Tennessee whiskey or Irish whisky, you’re privileged to enjoy a masterfully crafted drink of the ages.

Summary

The magic of whiskeys has been around for centuries and keeps touching mouths and hearts around the globe. The tradition behind whisky can be characterized by articulation and immense pride.

For many, whisky is the finest drink of them all. An absolute taste of perfection is an understatement.

It’s believed that the entire UK economy was on the backs of master crafters who envisioned whiskey to be the saviour of the nations.

Some even suggest that world wars have been waged and ended over a bottle of the finest scotch. Although it may all sound like hearsay, once you quench your lips on the nectar of the gods, you too will have a newfound respect and appreciation for the magical drink.

Becoming a member of the whisky club should be your easiest ‘yes’.