The History of Scotch Whiskey

by Takuto
(Kanagawa, Japan)

Distilled liquor had already been drunk in Ireland before the 12th century. It was said to be invented by alchemists, and that in the 15th century Christian missionaries introduced distilled liquor to Scotland. At first, it included just a little alcohol and didn’t ripen.

In 1707, England and Scotland were united. England said they were united equally and fairly. But people in Scotland felt it was not fair and that they were just absorbed, and so they were dissatisfied.

Actually, England enacted a law to tax distilled liquor. To resist this law, Scottish people started to produce liquor illegally and secretly. They used peat to dry malt. Peat is abundant in Scotland. This would make the peculiar flavor of Scotch. And to hide their liquor, they used empty barrels.

This illegal liquor became Scotch. There was no intent to invent a new kind of whiskey, but the rebellious heart of Scotland did anyways. Still now many Scottish people think Scotch is the pride of Scotland.

In 1822 when the King of England visited Scotland, he drank Scotch and liked it so much. For this reason, the liquor tax was reduced and Scotch then spread all over the world.