Some Whiskey History

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