Everyone Has an Opinion
There are so many questions concerning not only the origins but the types of whiskey. Historically, all the opinions are extremely different according to the native origin/country of the individual you ask. More so, it clearly appears that most spectators tend to approve the hypothesis of an Irish origin. Even though there is no exact date indicating when whiskey was first produced, ultimately the origin of whiskey migrated to Scotland where the first sure making of whiskey as a transaction in the Royal Courts was recorded.
Whiskey Origins – Roe Whiskey
In early 1757, Peter Roe bought a rather small distiller for a business called George Roe and Company situated on Thomas Street. This distilling was at that time powered by the largest windmill in the entire continent – Europe. Up till now, the Windmills Tower still stands strong and is famously known as the St. Patrick’s Tower. The Thomas Street Distillery grew to become famous for providing very fine and smooth whiskey, Roe Whiskey, though for many years, it was considered by many as “curse of the people.”
Subsequently, the early 20th century clearly defined a very challenging era for the whiskey production in Ireland. Obviously, the Roe Distillery was greatly affected. The Irish industry would fall victim to the very competitive whiskey industry in Scotland with their blended whiskeys. There was also a ban in the U.S. as well as economic and social uncertainties in Ireland. The combination of these prominent issues resulted to the crumbling of many distillers. Roe Distillers and its partners were no longer producing whiskey by 1926. By mid-1940’s, Geo. Roe and Company Distillers closed down completely. However, the Roe family quickly established a distillery in New Ross, Co. which is today called Waterford Brewery. As a matter of fact, it was the 16th and 17th centuries that really made the history of whiskey extremely productive.
Whiskey’s Rise in Popularity
Whiskey became increasingly popular and part of daily life in Scotland around the 16th century. And it was in the 17th century that the massive production of whiskey caught the attention of the Scottish parliament. The parliament then introduced a taxation system on the final products. Because of the adversity that this system forced in the distillers, it gradually began the mysterious period of illicit smuggling and distilling of whiskey. In the United States of America, this is commonly referred to as “moon-shining”.
Whiskey Made Legal
After nearly 140 years of smuggling, the Duke of Gordon suggested to the House of Cords that the ruling government could possibly implement a considerable profit if whiskey was to be produced legally. It was after this that the new law was fully implemented. The law demanded that Distillers pay a £10 license fee as an indebted payment for every gallon of whiskey. Actually, this new law drastically reduced smuggling of whiskey.
Water of Life
Whiskey, which actually means “water of life,” is a liquor refined from mush of grains that are fermented, normally oats, rye, barley, wheat or even corn. Inferior whiskeys are however usually distilled with potatoes, beets, and also other roots. But the most impressive whiskeys globally are Irish, Scotch, American and Canadian. Made in pot stills, the Lowlands (patent stills) as well as the Scotch Highland Whiskey greatly differ when it comes to the amount of barley used, the amount of peat used in the curing of the malt and the quality of the water. They also differ in the type of casks in which they are matured and the way the distilling is done.
The Irish whiskey known to be the oldest whiskey and has a rather full, sweet taste as opposed to a dry, and somewhat smoky flavor of scotch. The Bourbon, American whiskey had a relatively deeper color and higher flavor than either Scotch or Irish and requires between two to three years longer to mature. Lawfully, the Canadian whiskey must be made strictly from cereal grains. It has a distinctive lightness of body. Subsequently, almost all whiskeys are stored for about seven to eight years before marketing.
Whiskey in Today’s World
Relatively speaking, the distillation of whiskey is fairly new. In fact, most distilleries produced whiskey specifically for blenders. Because Scotch whiskey is absolutely characteristic, and the taste differed from one distiller to another. Whiskey was in fact confined to Scotland for several years hence making it the most popular whiskey. Coincidentally, blended whiskey became the ultimate solution for global market.
With the versatility and varieties of blended whiskey, most would say it’s the reason whiskey has come back into the mainstream world and broken down the stigmas linked to whiskey only being for a night cap in a smoke filled, leather furniture room in front of a fire place.
Now that you know a little more about the origins of whiskey, come and check out our hints and tips on Serving Whiskey.
