The History of Whisky
The origins of distillation are distant and shrouded in fascination and mystery, making it nearly impossible to pinpoint the date of the first whisky distillation. What we can say is that the history of whisky is closely tied to the history of the main producing countries: Scotland, Ireland, and the United States.
Where does the art of distillation come from?
To answer this question, we need to go back a long way, roughly to 7,000 BC, specifically in India, where doctors and religious figures used the principle of boiling liquids at different temperatures to prepare disinfectants using flowers and plants. The principle of distillation then spread to China and later to Egypt (around 4,000 BC), where this principle was used in mummification processes and in the preparation of cosmetics.
Now, let's talk about alchemy and the search for the "quintessence"
The method used today for whisky distillation was discovered by the Persians and dates back to 1,000 BC, but it was particularly the Arabs who developed it through their alchemical studies. It is precisely here, in alchemy, that the remote origin of whisky can be found. Between the 8th and 9th centuries, the Arabs created the alembic, an instrument used by alchemists in their search for the "quintessence," the fifth element after Air, Earth, Fire, and Water, which was believed to have the power to control and dominate matter. The quintessence was never discovered, but the alchemists nonetheless extracted "firewater," a cure-all for every ailment! After the Indians, Chinese, ancient Egyptians, Persians, and Arabs, it was the Romans' turn. They perfected the alembic and began using other substances besides medicinal herbs to obtain alcohol. The Romans distilled wine, cider, and fermented grains, creating beverages for not only therapeutic but also "dietary" purposes.
Irish or Scottish: Who is the father of whisky, and what does the Christian Church have to do with it?
Traditionally, the first practices of whisky distillation are attributed to Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, and his monks. However, there are no documents that confirm the Irish origin of whisky. The first documented reference to aqua vitae was found in Scotland, dating back to 1494: a document from the Scottish Exchequer Rolls mentions a consignment of malt sent to Friar John Corr for the production of aqua vitae. Thus, as with Saint Patrick, it was also the monks and the Church in Scotland that played a crucial role in spreading this beverage. So, is whisky Scottish or Irish? This is a debate that has been ongoing for hundreds of years, but the Scots like to point out that Saint Patrick was born in Scotland, so even if he were credited with the discovery of the water of life, the credit would still remain in Scottish territory.
In the first part, we tried to summarize the history of distillation and its spread, without actually finding the true inventor of whisky! In the following parts, we think we've done our homework better and will divide the history of whisky—or whiskey, as the Irish and Americans call it—by analyzing in more detail the events and developments that led Ireland, Scotland, and the United States to become reference points for this distilled spirit.