| Over the years, wine consumption has become | | | | distillers, it began the mysterious period of |
| more and more popular. With more and more | | | | illicit distilling and smuggling of whiskey. |
| money going into wine both as an investment | | | | In the United States, this is commonly known |
| and for later consumption, the history of the | | | | as moonshining. |
| wine will always be in question. | | | | |
| | | | After about 150 years of smuggling, the Duke |
| There are many questions regarding the | | | | of Gordon proposed to the House of Cords that |
| origins of Whiskey. Historically, the | | | | the government could perhaps execute a |
| opinions are drastically different according | | | | substantial profit if whiskey was produced |
| to the native country of the person you ask. | | | | legally. It was then that the new law was |
| More so, it appears that more spectators tend | | | | implemented. It demanded that Distillers |
| to agree on the hypothesis of an Irish | | | | must pay a £10 license fee as an obligated |
| origin. Although, there is no actual date as | | | | payment per gallon of whiskey. Indeed, this |
| to when whiskey was first produced, | | | | new law instantly diminished smuggling of |
| eventually the origin of whiskey migrated | | | | whiskey. |
| from Ireland to Scotland where the first | | | | |
| definite record of whiskey making as a | | | | Whiskey, which means "water of life," is |
| transaction in the Royal Courts. | | | | liquor distilled from a mash of grains that |
| | | | are fermented, generally rye, oats, barley, |
| In 1757, Peter Roe purchased a small | | | | corn or wheat. Inferior whiskeys are |
| distiller for a business called George Roe | | | | distilled with beets, potatoes, and other |
| and Company on Thomas Street. This | | | | roots. The most impressive whiskeys |
| distilling was powered by the largest | | | | nationwide are Scotch, Irish, Canadian and |
| windmill in Europe. To date, the Windmills | | | | American. Made in pot stills, the Scotch |
| Tower still stands and is known as the St. | | | | Highland Whiskey as well as the Lowlands |
| Patrick's Tower. The Thomas Street | | | | (patent stills) differ in the amount of |
| Distillery became well- known for providing | | | | barley used, the quality of the water and the |
| fine whiskey, Roe Whiskey, yet it was | | | | amount of peat employed in the curing of the |
| considered "curse of the people" for many | | | | malt. They also differ in the way the |
| years. | | | | distilling is done and the type of casks in |
| | | | which they are matured. |
| Subsequently, the late 19th and early 20th | | | | |
| centuries defined a challenging era for the | | | | The Irish whiskey similar to Scotch, however |
| whiskey industry in Ireland. Of course, the | | | | there is no peat used for curing. More over, |
| Roe Distillery was affected. The Irish | | | | the Irish whiskey has a full, sweet taste as |
| whiskey industry would fall victim to the | | | | opposed to a dry, somewhat smoky flavor of |
| competitive whiskey industry of Scotland with | | | | Scotch. The Bourbon, American whiskey had a |
| their blended whiskeys. There was also a | | | | higher flavor and deeper color than either |
| prohibition in the United States as well as | | | | Irish or Scotch and requires two to three |
| social and economic instabilities in Ireland. | | | | years longer to mature. According to law, |
| The combination of these prominent issues | | | | the Canadian whiskey must be made from cereal |
| caused many distillers to crumble. Roe | | | | grains only. It has a characteristic |
| Distillers and its partners no longer | | | | lightness of body. Subsequently, nearly all |
| produced whiskey by 1926. By the mid 1940's, | | | | whiskey is stored seven or eight years before |
| Geo. Roe and Company Distillers cease to | | | | marketing. United States bonded whiskey is |
| exist. However, the Roe family established a | | | | required to remain a minimum of four years in |
| distillery in New Ross, Co. which is | | | | bond before the item can be labeled a |
| currently known as Waterford Brewery. | | | | bourbon. |
| Ideally, it was the 16th and 17th centuries | | | | |
| that made the history of whiskey productive. | | | | Legal distillation of whiskey is fairly |
| | | | recent. Most distilleries produced whiskey |
| Whiskey became very popular and was a part of | | | | exclusively for blenders. Because Scotch |
| daily life in Scotland around the 16th | | | | whiskey is very characteristic, and the taste |
| century. It was the 17th century that the | | | | varied from one distiller to another, whiskey |
| production of whiskey attracted the Scottish | | | | was actually confined to Scotland for many |
| parliament. The parliament introduced a | | | | years. Coincidently, blended whiskey was the |
| taxation system on the end products. Due to | | | | solution for international market. |
| the hardship that this system forced in the | | | | |