THE HISTORY OF WHISKY

THE WATER OF LIFE

The history of whisky goes back hundreds of years. The practice of distilling alcohol made its way to Europe in the 12th century, but the earliest written evidence of distillation in Scotland is from the 15th century. Records show an order from the king in 1494 for enough malt to make 500 bottles of aqua vitae, Latin for 'the water of life'.

IN HET SCHOTSE GAELISCH WAS DIT 'UISGE BEATHA', MAAR 'UISGE' WERD STEEDS WEER VERKEERD UITGESPROKEN EN VERBASTERDE TOT 'WHISKY'.

Zon schijnt neer op een bergketen

The earliest whisky was fairly bracing stuff, distilled almost exclusively by monks. It was never left to mature and mainly seen as a medicine to treat everything from pox to palsy. Then along came Henry VIII, who dissolved the monasteries and turned out the monks. Whisky production made its way into the homes of regular Scots, who refined the process over time and discovered whisky could be enjoyable in its own right.

Whiskeyvat omringd door mist

Fast forward to the early 19th century and a dram of whisky was a staple of life. The trouble was, these whiskies tasted different every time.

Zwart-wit foto van mannen die whisky maken

Een jonge kruidenier, John Walker, vond deze inconsistentie onacceptabel. Hij wilde dat zijn klanten telkens opnieuw van dezelfde kwaliteit en smaken konden genieten. Daarom begon hij whisky's te mengen tot hij een whisky had waar hij trots op was. De rest is, zoals het spreekwoord luidt, geschiedenis.

THOSE PIONEERING

WHISKY BLENDS

HAVE LED US

TO THE ICONIC

RANGE OF

TODAY.

VISIT THE

JOHNNIE WALKER FLAGSHIP

IN EDINBURGH

AND DISCOVER

OUR WHISKY

MAKING STORY

Extra Whisky Knowledge