History

The word ‘whisky’ comes from a corruption of the Gaelic usige beatha, meaning ‘water of life’. Gradually over time the word usige became usky and eventually ‘whisky’. The earliest recording of Scotland's national drink appears in the Exchequer Rolls in 1494 which states that Friar John Cor, a Tironensian monk of Lindores Abbey, paid duty on 8 bolls of malt in order to make Aqua Vitae for King James VI. Distilling had been practiced in Scotland for hundreds of years undeterred until 1707 when the Scottish and English parliaments amalgamated to form the Treaty of Union and subsequently banned illicit distilling a few decades later. The role of regulating the illicit distillers was given to excise men or gaugers as they were known. The job of the gauger was to confiscate distilling equipment and any whisky from the illicit distillers; this in turn made many distillers relocate to the highlands where the terrain was harsher and where being spotted was harder. Legal distilling was finally made attractive to many illicit distillers in 1823 when a new act was passed in Parliament meaning that if distillers took out a distilling licence they would be given help from the government and lower tax duties. One George Smith of Glenlivet was one of the first distillers to take advantage, although it did not go down well with his illicit distilling neighbours and many threatened to burn down his distillery!

1494 - First written record of the production of aqua vitae by a Friar John Cor.

1505 - Barber Surgeons in Edinburgh granted monopoly to sell whisky.

1644 - Charles I employ a tax to be paid on each pint of Aqua Vitae that is produced.

1738 - First known reference to ‘whisky’ a corruption of ‘Usige Beatha'.

1772 - Littlemill distillery founded

1775 - Glenturret distillery founded

1779 - Bowmore distillery founded

1781 - Private distilling banned after new legislation passed.

1784 - Wash act introduced to encourage legal distilling in the Highland by giving them lower duty rates, also defining the ‘Highland line’.

1786 - Strathisla distillery founded

1788 - Duties increased on Lowland distillers.

1790 - Balblair distillery founded

1794 - Ardbeg distillery founded

1794 - Oban distillery founded

1795 - St Magdalene distillery founded

1797 - Glen Garioch distillery founded

1798 - Rosebank distillery founded

1798 - Tobermory distillery founded

1798 - Highland Park distillery founded

1798 - Blair Athol distillery founded

1805 - Seager Evans is founded.

1807 - Millburn distillery founded

1810 - Glenburgie distillery founded

1810 - Jura distillery founded

1810 - Laphroaig distillery founded

1812 - Royal Brackla distillery founded

1814 - Matthew Gloag starts up as a whisky merchant in Perth.

1816 - Lagavulin distillery founded

1817 - Teaninich distillery founded

1817 - Bladnoch distillery founded

1819 - Brora distillery founded

1820 - North Port distillery founded

1820 - John Walker opens a grocery and wine & spirits store in Kilmarnock

1821 - Linkwood distillery founded

1823 - Auchentoshan distillery founded

1823 - Mortlach distillery founded

1823 - A new law is passed stating that a licence is required to distil whisky therefore suppressing illicit distilling.

1824 - Macallan distillery founded

1824 - Glenlivet distillery founded

1824 - Banff distillery founded

1824 - Cardhu distillery founded

1824 - Miltonduff distillery founded

1824 - Fettercairn distillery founded

1824 - Balmenach distillery founded

1825 - Port Ellen distillery founded  

1825 - Ben Nevis distillery founded

1825 - Edradour distillery founded   

1825 - Glencadam distillery founded 

1825 - Glenury Royal distillery founded

1826 - Robert Stein invents a patent for continuous distilling.

1826 Glendronach distillery founded  

1826 - Pulteney distillery founded

1826 - Benrinnes distillery founded

1827 - George Ballantine opens a grocery and wine store in Edinburgh.

1828 - Springbank distillery founded

1828 - J & A Mitchell & Co is founded.

The whisky produced was lighter and less harsh than Highland Pot Still whisky. The Excise allowed the blending of whiskies in 1860 and so many whisky merchants and grocers began experimenting with the blending process.

1830 - Aneas Coffey patents an improved version of Steins Patent still; it is named the Coffey still.

1830 - William Teacher opens a spirits shop in Glasgow.

1830 - Talisker distillery founded

1831 - Justerini & Brooks formed.

1831 - Glenugie distillery founded

1832 - Glen Scotia distillery founded

1833 - Glengoyne distillery founded

1836 - Glenfarclas distillery founded

1837 - Glenkinchie distillery founded

1838 - Glen Ord distillery founded

1839 - Dalmore distillery founded 

1840 - Glen Grant distillery founded

1841 - James Chivas opens a grocery and spirits store in Aberdeen.

1842 - William Cadenhead Ltd is formed.

1843 - Glenmorangie distillery founded

1844 - Glen Albyn distillery founded

1845 - Royal Lochnagar distillery founded

1846 - John Dewar is established as a wine and spirit merchant in Perth.

1846 - Caol Ila distillery founded

1852 - Dailuaine distillery founded

Also at this time a blender by the name of Andrew Usher began experimenting with the blending of malt and grain whisky, which created an even smoother resultant product. Scotch whisky was dealt a stroke of luck in 1870. The phylloxera vastrix insect devastated the vineyards of France and in turn the production of brandy, the English gentleman's drink of choice. Blenders pounced on the opportunity and soon flooded England with their blended Scotch whisky. By the end of the 19^th century the industry with the booming industry many whisky merchants had began blending and many new brands were introduced such as Teacher's Highland cream Scotch whisky, Dewar's White Label, Chivas Regal, Buchanan's blend, Johnny Walker and Whyte & Mackay. Dewar's became one of the most famous brands throughout the world thanks to the extensive promoting by Tommy Dewar who would partake on many world tours. To supply the boom many whisky distilleries were built which totalled 33 by end of the 1890's.

1853 - Andrew Usher & co start to produce blended whisky.

1857 - Joseph Seagram & Sons is established.

1858 - John and James Chivas establish Chivas brothers.

1865 - Scotch Distillers Association formed from eight lowland grain distilleries.

1869 - Cragganmore distillery founded

1870 - Phylloxera Vastrix destroys the vineyards of France, increasing the demand for whisky.

1871 - Inchgower distillery founded

1874 - The North of Scotland Malt Distillers Association formed.

1875 - Glenglassaugh distillery founded

1875 - William Teacher & Sons formed

1876 - Glenlossie distillery founded

1877 - Distillers Company Limited (DCL) is formed by six-grain distilleries - Port Dundas, Carsebridge, Cameronbridge, Glenochil, Cambus.

1878 - Glenrothes distillery founded

1879 - Aberlour distillery founded 

1881 - Bruichladdich distillery founded 

1881 - Bunnahabhain distillery founded

1882 - Whyte & Mackay founded.

1885 - North British distillers company formed.

1885 - Scapa distillery founded

1886 - Glenfiddich distillery founded

1886 - John Walker & Sons founded.

1886 - William Grant & Sons founded.

1888 - Haig & Haig founded.

1890 - Mackie & Co founded by Peter Mackie.

1891 - Strathmill distillery founded

1891 - Craigellachie distillery founded

1892 - Glen Mhor distillery founded

1892 - Balvenie distillery founded 

1893 - Knockdhu distillery founded

1893 - Macdonald & Muir founded.

1894 - Convalmore distillery founded

1894 - Longmorn distillery founded

1895 - Gordon & MacPhail founded.

1895 - Arthur Bell & Sons founded.

1896 - Aberfeldy distillery founded

1896 - Tamdhu distillery founded

1896 - The Grouse whisky is established by Matthew Gloag & Son.

1896 - Dufftown distillery founded

1896 - Aultmore distillery founded 

1897 - Imperial distillery founded 

1897 - Coleburn distillery founded 

1897 - Glen Esk distillery founded 

1897 - Speyburn distillery founded 

1897 - Glentauchers distillery founded 

1897 - Tomatin distillery founded

1897 - Caperdonich distillery founded 

1897 - Glen Moray distillery founded 

1897 - Dalwhinnie distillery founded 

1897 - Glendullan distillery founded 

1897 - Benriach distillery founded

1898 - Ardmore distillery founded 

1898 - Dallas Dhu distillery founded 

1898 - Benromach distillery founded

1898 - Glenlochy distillery founded

1898 - Glen Elgin distillery founded 

1898 - Knockando distillery founded

The Pattison Brothers has been trading fraudulently, passing off low quality coloured spirit as high quality whisky and fixing their accounts to show that the company was making a profit when it was not. The collapse of the Pattisons left a decline in whisky prices, excess whisky in the market and unfulfilled orders to distillers. The brothers were eventually tried for fraud and sent to prison. The demand for whisky also fell in the international markets with firstly, the Boer War and then World War I suppressing the need for whisky and interrupting the trading routes. Feuding broke out between blenders and distillers as to what real whisky could be specified as. This in turn led to a new Act entitled the Immature Spirit act to be passed which specified that to be called whisky a malt spirit must have been matured in a cask for a minimum of three years. Another blow to the industry came when the Chancellor of the Exchequer increased the distillers licence fee and duty payable on whisky in 1915. The poor state of the industry led to the closure of 77 distilleries over the 26-year period from 1898 to 1924. This was not helped by the introduction of Prohibition in the United States from 1920 to 1933, where all alcohol was banned and the Second World War, where supplies of barley were rationed and only two distilleries were allowed to operate.

1898 - The Pattison crash. Whisky recession starts forcing the closure of many distilleries over the next decade.

1914 - Scottish Malt Distillers is founded by the distilleries - Clydesdale, Glenkinchie, Rosebank, St. Magdeline and Grange.

1916 - Law passed that whisky must be bonded for three years prior to bottling.

1917 - DCL acquires J & G Stewart.

1919 - John Haig & Co and Andrew Usher & Co join DCL.

1920 - Prohibition starts in the United States.

1924 - Mackie & Co change name to White Horse Distillers.

1925 - DCL buys Scottish Malt Distillers.

1927 - White Horse Distillers is acquired by DCL.

1928 - Distillers Corporation of Canada buy Seagram's.

1933 - The end of prohibition.

Many closed or mothballed distilleries re-opened and soon Scotland was flush with whisky. Much of this was supplied into the United States and Europe and huge demand was created. The marketing departments in the major distillers went into overdrive to push the demand further. Soon many new distilleries were being built. These new distilleries incorporated state-of-the-art production methods and many become computerized to make the distilling process easier to run. The growth in the industry saw many multi-national companies enter, buying small distilling companies or distilleries. By the end of the 20^th century the major players in the industry were Diageo, Bacardi, Pernod Ricard, Suntory and the Edrington Group. The late 20^th century also saw the emergence in single malt whisky. William Grant & Sons was one of the first distilling companies to capitalise on the demand. They were shrew enough to lay down stocks of whisky in the 1960's to age and then be sold twenty or thirty years later as single malt whisky when the demand grew.

1935 - Hiram Walker purchases Ballantines.

1936 - Seager Evans acquires Long John International.

1936 - Lundy & Morrison buy Chivas Brothers.

1937 - Hiram Walker (Scotland) is formed.

1938 - Inverleven distillery founded

1941 - SS Polition is lost with a cargo of whisky off of the Isle of Eriskay.

1943 - Berry Brothers changes name to Berry Brothers & Rudd.

1949 - Tullibardine distillery founded

1949 - Seagram's purchase Chivas Brothers.

1950 - Seagram's buy Strathisla distillery.

1950 - Douglas Laing formed.

1951 - Morrison Bowmore Distillers founded.

1956 - Inver House Distillers founded.

1956 - Seager Evans acquired by Schenley Industries.

1957 - Glen Keith distillery founded

1957 - Kinclaith distillery founded

1957 - Lochside distillery founded

1958 - Tormore distillery founded

1959 - Schenley buys Gordon Graham, owners of Black Bottle.

1960 - The Edrington Company is founded.

1960 - The Scotch Whisky Association is formed.

1960 - Whyte & Mackay acquires Dalmore distillery.

1961 - Allied Breweries formed.

1962 - Seager Evans becomes owner of Laphroaig.

1962 - Macduff distillery founded

1964 - Inver House Distillers becomes a subsidiary to Publicker Industries.

1964 - Glen Flagler distillery founded

1964 - Tomintoul distillery founded

1965 - Invergordon distillers formed.

1965 - Loch Lomond distillery founded

1965 - Deanston distillery founded

1965 - Ben Wyvis distillery founded

1966 - Tamnavulin distillery founded

1966 - Ladyburn distillery founded

1967 - Clynelish distillery founded

1967 - Glenallachie distillery founded

1969 - Seager Evans changes name to Long John International.

1970 - Highland Distillers acquires Matthew Gloag & Sons.

1971 - Mannochmore distillery founded

1972 - Watney Mann along with International Distillers & Vinters is acquired by Grand Metropolitan

1973 - Braeval distillery founded

1974 - Auchroisk distillery founded

1974 - Pittyvaich distillery founded

1975 - Allt-a-Bhainne distillery Founded

1975 - Whitbread & Company acquire Long John International.

1976 - Speyside distillery founded

1978 - Seagram's Ltd purchase Glenlivet Distillers.

1981 - Allied Lyons becomes the new name of Allied Breweries.

1985 - Bells acquired by the Guinness Group.

1987 - Guinness buys DCL, who merge with Bells to become United Distillers.

1987 - Louis Vuitton and Moet Hennessey merge into LVMH.

1988 - Signatory is founded.

1988 - Management buyout of Inver House from Publicker Industries.

1989 - Allied Lyons acquire Whitbread's wine and spirits division.

1990 - Fortune Brands purchase Whyte & Mackay.

1991 - Allied Lyons buy Long John International and Laphroiag from Whitbread.

1993 - Arran distillery founded

1993 - Gordon & MacPhail by Benromach distillery.

1993 - Whyte & Mackay acquire Invergordon Distillers.

1994 - Allied Lyons acquires Pedro Domecq and change name to Allied Domecq.

1997 - Guinness and Grand Metropolitan merge to form Diageo.

1997 - United Distillers sell Balmenach to Inver House.

1998 - Bacardi acquire Dewars from Diageo.

1999 - The Edrington Group and William Grant & Sons buy Highland Distillers.

2001 - Pernod Ricard and Diageo buy Seagram's spirits & wines.

2001 - Murray Mcdavid purchase Bruichladdich from Whyte & Mackay.

2001 - Inver House Distillers acquire by InterBev.

2004 - LVMH purchase Glenmorangie distillery.

2004 - Glengyle distillery founded

2005 - Pernod Ricard acquires Allied Domecq.

2005 - Daftmill distillery founded

2005 - Kilchoman distillery founded

2007 - United Spirits part of Vijay Mallya's United Breweries Group purchases Whyte & Mackay.

The image of whisky is changing with it gaining more favour with younger drinkers. New distilleries are being built to supply the demand for whisky with many of these distilleries distilling their first drops in 2010 or 2011.

2009 - WhiskiesofScotland.com launched