Random Whisky Facts:

1.       Whisky starts life as Beer.

Simple beginnings for this great spirit.  Whisky is made from ‘wort’, which is the ‘beer’ that gets distilled.  Wort is a combination of water, yeast and malt.   The sugars in the liquid from this mash specifically maltose and maltotriose will be fermented by the brewing yeast to become alcohol.

2.       Whisky means “Water of Life”.

Coming from the Gaelic word which reads ‘Uisce beatha’ translates as ‘Water of Life’.  This later came to be pronounced as ‘Uisge’ which turned into Whisky!.  And here we are. 

3.       The Angels Share.

Roughly 2% of whisky evaporates through the wooden barrels each year while it is aging.  This is known as the angel’s share this brings images of drunken angels to mind.  But it is unavoidable and both a blessing and a curse.  As some of the whisky is lost through this process the higher proof whisky will also evaporate and leave a soft clean finished whisky.

4.       Who invented Whisky?

It is not really clear who was the first to distill whisky with strong claims coming both from Ireland and Scotland.  But it is believed that this spirit was originally distilled by monks in monasteries until King Henry VIII dissolved that practice.  The other theory is that the farmers of the Highlands discovered the distilling process and Whisky was born.    

5.       The Oldest Whisky in the world is over 160 years old.

There exists a 400ml bottle of Glenavon Special Liqueur Whisky that is recorded in the Guinness World Records for being the World’s Oldest Whisky.  Packaged between 1851 and 1858 and now in the possession of Bonhams in London. 

Sources:

https://www.scoopwhoop.com/inothernews/whisky-facts/

 Principles of Brewing Science, 1991, George Fix, ISBN 0937381179

https://www.edinburghwhiskyacademy.com/blog/whisky-words-uisge-beatha

https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-styles/american-whiskey/what-is-the-angels-share/

https://www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk/about-whisky/history#:~:text=Whisky%20has%20been%20distilled%20in,spirits%20from%20their%20surplus%20barley.

https://www.oldest.org/food/whisky-bottles/#:~:text=Glenavon%20Special%20Liqueur%20Whisky&text=According%20to%20the%20Guinness%20Book,bottle%20of%20whisky%20is%20uncertain.