Whiskey

Whiskey (also spelled whisky) is a type of distilled alcohol, or spirit, made from grains such as wheat, rye, barley, malt, and corn and then aged in wooden barrels. Whiskey is popular worldwide, and many types exist. Each type has its own strict distilling requirements regulated by the country of origin.

Brief History

The term whiskey derives from the Gaelic words uisge beatha and Latin words aqua vitae, meaning "water of life." The distilling process can be traced back to ancient times, but the technique was brought to Ireland and Scotland about 1100 CE from monks who learned how to distill perfumes in the Mediterranean. The monks decided to use the process to make alcoholic drinks. Most grains could be used, but barley became popular for making whiskey in these areas. Monasteries and apothecaries were the first to use these distilling methods. Because wine was not easily procured in Ireland and Scotland during this time, they distilled barley beer into whiskey.

The whiskey produced at this time was very harsh since it was not aged. Medical professionals used it as both an anesthetic and antibiotic. After the fifteenth century, many people learned how to use distilling processes to make their own whiskey. In the early 1500s, German alchemist and surgeon Hieronymus Brunschwygk wrote Liber de Arte Distillandi about distilling techniques. In it, he explained how alcohol could be used as a medication. The Old Bushmills Distillery in Northern Ireland became the first company to receive a license to distill Irish whiskey in 1608.

The spirit eventually made its way to the New World. However, in the seventeenth century, rum remained the most popular distilled spirit in the colonies. It was easy and cheap to procure because it was part of the African slave trade. Rum could be found in nearly every tavern throughout the colonies. Whiskey did not become popular until right before the American Revolution (1765–1783) when many Sottish and Irish immigrants traveled to America. Their fondness for whiskey helped to popularize the drink in the colonies.

Whiskey was made using mainly rye and corn, which was plentiful in the American colonies. Corn became the favored grain in Virginia and Kentucky. Farmers here used charred oak barrels to age the whiskey and give it dark and rich color and flavor. This style of corn whiskey became known as bourbon.

Whiskey became so valuable that it was used as currency during the Revolutionary War. Whiskey also became a catalyst for several major events in the United States. The newly established nation needed a way to produce funds to pay the expenses from the war, so the country levied a tax on whiskey distillers to generate income in 1791. This angered many people, both distillers and those still upset over taxes, which had led to the break with Britain. This anger led to the Whiskey Rebellion. Groups called whiskey boys burned down the homes of tax collectors and committed other acts of vandalism. They took over Pittsburgh, but President George Washington sent in the militia to end the rebellion in 1794. The tax later was repealed.

In the years that followed, alcohol consumption, including whiskey, continued to increase. The low cost coupled with the unsanitary water of the nation only increased the consumption of whiskey. People began to abhor drunkenness in the early nineteenth century, leading to the temperance movement of the 1830s. Whiskey consumption further declined after the American Civil War (1861–1865) when another tax was levied on whiskey. While Prohibition in the 1920s legally curbed whiskey consumption and production, several areas refused to stop making the alcohol. This led to the production of illegal moonshine. Once Prohibition ended, people went back to drinking and making whiskey, although the nation required people to have a license to produce and distribute it.

Overview

Into the twenty-first century, whiskey remained popular worldwide. The spirit is made from fermented grains and aged in charred white oak barrels, also called casks, giving the beverage a brownish color. Many types of whiskey exist, and each has its own distinct color, smell, and taste. Some whiskeys are distilled several times to make them smoother or higher in alcohol. In addition, different blends exist.

Bourbon is the most popular American whiskey, and while all bourbon is considered whiskey, not all whiskey is bourbon. Bourbon got its name from Bourbon County, Kentucky, although it can be made anywhere in the United States. For a spirit to be considered bourbon, it has to made of at least 51 percent corn and aged in new charred oak barrels. Bourbon must be distilled to 80 percent alcohol and combined with water to decrease the level to 62.5 percent and then bottled at 40 percent alcohol. Bourbon also must be free of additives, colorings, and flavorings. It has a sweet flavor and picks up notes of vanilla, caramel, or coconut from the aging process. Tennessee whiskey is a type of bourbon that is made in Tennessee and filtered through sugar maple charcoal. One of the most popular brands of Tennessee whiskey is Jack Daniel's.

Rye whiskey is another type of whiskey popular in North America. While it dates back to the 1700s and 1800s in the northeastern United States, it all but disappeared after Prohibition. Interest in rye whiskey resurged in the twenty-first century. Rye whiskey must be made from 51 percent rye and aged in new charred oak barrels. It also must be distilled to a maximum of 160 proof alcohol. This style of whiskey is noted for its bold and spicy flavors.

Corn whiskey is made from at least 80 percent corn and distilled to a maximum of 160 proof alcohol. It can be unaged or briefly aged in either new uncharred oak barrels or previously used oak barrels. Unaged whiskey is clear and usually high in alcohol.

Scotch is only made in Scotland. It is made from malted barley and distilled to 94.8 percent alcohol. It must be aged for at least three years in oak barrels and bottled at 40 percent alcohol. The only additives allowed are water and caramel coloring. Scotch is distilled twice and tastes like bourbon with a smoky finish.

Irish whiskey is only made in Ireland. It is made with malted and unmalted barley. It must be distilled to 94.8 percent alcohol and aged for at least three years in oak barrels. Irish whiskey is typically distilled three times to yield a smooth and high-proof alcohol.

Bibliography

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