scotch-whisky

 

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Aberlour - Glenlivet - 12 year old

Whiskey

Aberlour - Glenlivet - 12 year old

About Scotch whisky

Whisky has been produced in Scotland since the 1400s. This particular style of spirit has the distinction of being the only one in its genre to be spelt "whisky". All other whiskies are spelt "whiskey."

The first recorded purchase of aqua vitae made with malted barley appeared in the Exchequer Rolls of 1494-1495. The King ordered Friar John Cor to produce eight "bolls" of distillate. The first taxes on whisky production were imposed in 1644, causing a rise in illicit distilling.

Around 1780, there were about 8 legal distilleries to 400 illegal operations. In 1823, Parliament eased restrictions on licensed distilleries with the "Excise Act", while at the same time making it harder for the illegal stills to operate.

The invention of the Coffey Still during the 1830s improved the quality of smoothness achieved in the distillation of whiskies and helped usher in the development of blended scotches. The market for whisky dramatically increased worldwide with the decimation of the French wine and cognac industry during the 1860s by the phylloxera plague.

Exclusively distilled in Scotland, Scotch whisky is made from malted barley mash to an alcoholic strenght of less than 94.8 ABV to retain its distinctive character. The distillate must be matured in oak casks housed in Scotland for no less than three years and a day. But these are not only strictures laid done by the Scotch Whisky Order of 1900.

Scotch whisky cannot contain any other substance than distillate, water, and caramel colouring for visual quality control. It cannot also be bottled at less than 40 percent ABV.

Currently there are nine Scottish regions producing Scotch whiskey: Speyside, Islay, Islands, Western Highlands, Central Highlands, Northern Highlands, Eastern Highlands, Lowlands, and Campelltown.


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