Whiskey-a spirit distilled from malted grain, especially barley or rye.
What better way to kick off a new business and blog than by talking about whiskey?
It is no secret that I personally enjoy imbibing in the occasional whiskey. In fact, I am sipping on a glass of Wild Turkey as I write. My wife, a teacher, has a much longer Christmas break than I do, so she elected to stay with her family in Wisconsin until what feels like the end of time.
She also has the dog.
This leaves me with nothing but time to drink whiskey, eat her share of popsicles from the freezer, and research very important facts about this marvelous drink.
According to a Gallup poll, “Alcohol and Drinking”, which tracks alcohol consumption by year for at least a couple of decades, liquor consumption went up 6% from 2016 to 2017 by respondents. In the same time period, beer consumption dropped 3%, and wine dropped 2%.
With this “statistically significant” sample of increased liquor consumption, and my love for whiskey, I thought it appropriate to share some of these whiskey nuggets of knowledge.
(PS-These are things I found interesting, also things that I feel like a dumbass when I hear but don’t know the difference.)
1. Whiskey versus Whisky?
This comes down to a geographic and translation difference. The Scottish spell it “whisky”, and the Irish spell it “whiskey”.
When Irish immigrants came to the United States in the mid 1800’s, they brought the “whiskey” with an “e” spelling with them.
Pretty much the rest of the world, other than the US and Ireland, use the “whisky” spelling (Canada, Germany, India, Japan). Source
2. Whiskey is the “Water of Life”
The ancient Celts gave whiskey the name, “uisge breatha”, meaning the “water of life”.
It is unknown exactly when whiskey was first produced, but the “fiery amber nectar” was first recorded in 1495 on the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, where Friar Cor was ordered to make “aqua vitae” (water of life) by order of King James IV. Source
Whiskey was thought to preserve health, extend life, and provide relief from smallpox, colic and palsy. Needless to say, the Scottish were accustomed to whiskey from birth to death.
3. Water in My Whisky
In August, 2017, researchers Bjorn C. G. Karlsson and Ran Friedman from Sweden published results showing that a few drops of water in whisky can release aromas and enhance the taste.
See the study here.
Molecules of ethanol and guaiacol stick together in whisky. Guaiacol is the molecule that gives whisky its smoky and bitter flavor. In a glass of whisky, the sticky ethanol and guaiacol molecules hang out in the body of the liquid. But, when you add water, it marches the guaiacol molecules from the middle of the pack to the vanguard, showing off its smoky aroma and flavor to your senses before you take a sip.
Try using filtered or bottled water for best results.
4. Angels really like their whiskey, especially American ones
“Angel’s Share” refers to the amount of evaporation that occurs within a cask or barrel each year as the whiskey ages.
With average summer highs in Scotland at 66° F, Scottish distilleries estimate 2% of their yield is taken by the Angels each year. However, since Kentucky sees an average summer high of 89° F, Kentucky distilleries estimate the Angels take 4% of their cut each year. Source
Due to the increased temperature in Kentucky, the rate of maturation is also increased. It is believed that if two barrels of the same whiskey were produced and one barrel stayed in Kentucky while the other went to Scotland, it would take the Scottish barrel three years to match the Kentucky barrel’s level of maturation in one year.
5. Whiskey & Paper, a Rockefeller, Carnegie Gag Christmas
John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie were not friends.
Rockefeller, an oil baron, intruded on Carnegie’s steel industry when Rockefeller decided to branch out and purchase the Mesabi iron ore mines in Minnesota. At the time, Carnegie believed the ore was useless and clogged up the blast furnaces. Shortly after buying, steel manufacturers figured out how to use Rockefeller’s ore.
Rockefeller began selling to Carnegie’s competitors at rock bottom prices, and Carnegie was eventually forced to buy Rockefeller’s interest in steel to end the competition. Source
The rivals would send each other gag Christmas gifts.
Rockefeller would send Carnegie a “paper vest”, making fun of Carnegie’s poor childhood upbringing. In turn, Carnegie would send Rockefeller an “excellent” bottle of whiskey. Rockefeller was a teetotaler, practicing complete abstinence from alcohol. Source
6. Alcoholics Anonymous Founder Really Wanted Alcohol
In “My Name is Bill”, author Susan Cheever reveals that the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, Bill Wilson, was suffering from chronic emphysema days before his death in 1971.
On four separate occasions, Bill asked his nurse for whiskey.
His nurse refused to give it to him.
Apparently, protecting Bill’s legacy was more important than giving a dying old man what he really wanted-some damn whiskey. Source
7. Jack Daniel, a 13 Year Old Orphan Entrepreneur Trained by a Minister
In 1850, Jasper “Jack” Newton Daniel was born in Tennessee. At seven years old Jack’s mother died. At ten, Jack’s father decided it was time for Jack to learn a trade. A Lutheran Minister, who also owned a local general store in Lynchburg, TN, hired Jack.
Reverend Dan Call also had his own technique for making whiskey, leaving “sour mash” from previous brews in storage vats to use for subsequent mixes in fermentation. Reverend Call also used the “Lincoln County Process”, where he would filter whiskey through sugar maple wood charcoal before putting it into barrels.
Jack learned the Reverend’s technique, and in 1863, following the death of Jack’s father, the Reverend was given the choice by the congregation and his wife to give up distilling or give up the ministry. The Reverend gave up distilling and sold the business to 13-year-old Jack. Source
8. Founding Fathers Staggering Bar Tab Before Signing the Constitution
Three days before signing the Constitution on September 17, 1787, George Washington and his 54-man crew spent £89, the equivalent of roughly $16,887.70 in 2018, at the City Tavern on the following:
-54 Bottles of Madera
-60 of Claret ditto
-8 ditto of Old Stock
-22 Bottles of Porter ditto
-8 of Cyder ditto
-12 ditto Beer
-7 Large Bowels of Punch
See the bill here
9. Whiskey, Scotch, Bourbon, Rye Whiskey, Single Malt, Blended, What is the Difference?
I’ll be honest, in the past, I have heard some of these terms and not known the difference between them. I’ve felt embarrassed when someone uses them, and I have no idea what they mean. It’s even worse when someone talks to you personally about them, and you have to play it cool, act like you know what they are talking about and just nod and smile.
I know I can’t be the only one.
So to mitigate some of the embarrassment for the future, I wanted to do a quick definition of each so you don’t have to just nod and smile next time someone says “single malt scotch” to you.
Whiskey (with or without the “e”)-general term for distilled alcohol made from fermented grain mash
Scotch–whisky without the “e” that has been distilled and aged in Scotland. This is made mainly from malted barley
Bourbon– whiskey generally made in Kentucky that must be made in the USA with at least 51% corn
Rye Whiskey– whiskey that must contain at least 51% rye (in the United States)
Single Malt–Scotch made with 100% malted barley from the same distillery
Blended–Scotch made with barley and wheat, rye, or corn, which can be combined, into one product from several distilleries.
Well, thanks for reading. We hope you learned a few things about whiskey that you can tell your friends about. Who knows, maybe something here will help in bar trivia the next time you play.
We will continue putting out decent content and look for our first product coming soon.
Thanks again!
-Chris