Whiskey Trivia, Facts and History
1. “Whiskey” is a Gaelic word which means “water of life.”
2. In 1830, American consumption of alcohol, per capita, was insane. It peaked at what is roughly 1.7 bottles of standard strength whiskey, per person, per week or 88 bottles a year.
3. Both the “Whisky” and “Whiskey” words are correct. Whiskey is specific to Irish, and Whisky is Scotch.
4. The first blended whisky in the world, was a mixture of malt and grain produced under the name Green Stripe in 1860.
5. The Guinness World Records for most variety of whiskeys commercially available in the world is right here in San Diego at The Whiskey House. Over 3000 different bottles. Another fun whiskey fact.
6. Whiskey is the official state beverage of Alabama.
7. Jack Daniels learned how to make Whiskey from a Lutheran minister at the age of 6.
8. Jameson sells more Irish Whiskey than all other Irish producers.
9. Nikola Tesla drank Whiskey every day because it supposed it would make him live to 150.
10. 90% of Scotch Whisky is made in Scotland.
11. George Washington made Washington the largest American Whiskey producer in the 18th century.
12. Diabetics’ urine can be transformed into whiskey due to high sugar content.
13. There are a number of kinds of Scotch Whiskey, but the main ones are Blended Whisky, Single Grain Whisky, Blended Malt Whisky and Single Malt Whisky.
14. There are around one hundred distilleries and five regions to produce Whiskey in Scotland.
15. An incredible one billion bottles of scotch are exported from Scotland every year.
16. The Glenavon Special Liqueur Whisky holds the Guinness World Record for being the World’s Oldest Whisky.
17. Macallan’s’ Whiskey is the most expensive in the world.
18. A Lalique decanter of Macallan’s’ Whiskey was auctioned for $510,882 in Hong Kong.
19. Scotch Whiskey produces $175 of income every second.
20. Due to poor harvest, the licensed whisky production was banned from 1757 to 1760.
21. Drinking Whiskey can prevent cancer and also reduces possibilities of heart diseases.
22. Whiskey is one of the basic ingredients of Tabasco. Unknown whiskey fact.
23. Most Whiskey is made in Bourbon barrels.
24. Barrels can be used up to four times when making Scotch.
25. Different version whiskys are called ‘expressions’.
26. There are four main areas of whiskey production in Scotland: Lowlands Speyside, Highlands, and Islay.
27. A couple Famous Whiskey brands are The Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, Glen Grant and The Macallan.
28. Islay is famous for its peaty single malt Whiskeys.
29. It was illegal to make spirits until 1823.
30. July 27 is celebrated as a Scotch Whisky Day in the world.
31. The earliest known record of Whiskey production dates back to 1494.
32. Charles Dickens used both whiskey and whisky in “The Pickwick Papers”.
33. The leading whiskey drinkers in the world are the French.
34. Before the maturation process in their cask, Whiskey is completely colorless.
35. Whiskey comprises more than double the flavor congeners of it’s nearest competitors – Rum and Cognac.
36. The evaporation of Alcohol from a Whiskey barrel during maturation is referred to as the ‘Angel’s Share’.
37. The largest percentage of new distilling activity is in Ireland.
38. In 1644, Whisky was first taxed by the Scottish Parliament.
39. There are over 5000 types of Single Malt Whiskey.
40. 90% of Whiskey produced in the UK is intended for export.
41. In 1875, 13 people died of alcohol poisoning in Ireland.
42. Buffalo Trace claims to be the oldest continuously-operating distillery in the USA, though the name has changed over the years. More Whiskey Trivia with Freddie Johnson of Buffalo Trace: Click Here
43. Maker’s Mark has the oldest bourbon distillery in the world
45. Jack Daniel’s is the oldest registered distillery in America.
46. The world’s largest bottle of single malt Scotch whisky has gone on display in Edinburgh. Standing at 4ft 9ins, the giant bottle of Tomintoul 14-year-old single malt contains 105.3 litres and would serve up 5,250 drams.
47. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the oldest whisky in the world is believed to be a bottle of Glenavon Special Liqueur Whisky. Bottled by the Glenavon Distillery in Ballindalloch, Scotland, UK, the exact age of the bottle of whisky is uncertain. With the closing of Glenavon Distillery in the 1850s, it is estimated to have been bottled between 1851 and 1858, making it roughly 160 years old.
48. In 2018, the United States had over 2000 licensed distilleries.
49. The so-called “whiskey tax” was the first tax imposed on a domestic product by the newly formed federal government. It became law in 1791, and was intended to generate revenue for the war debt incurred during the Revolutionary War.
50. The Scottish Parliament first taxed whisky in 1644.
More Whiskey Trivia
51. Kentucky is home to more barrels of maturing bourbon than people.
52. However, with a population of 5.3 million, and more than 20 million barrels of whisky in store, Scotland has almost four casks of whisky per citizen. For Today’s Whiskey and Spirits News and more – Click Here
53. U.S. government banned the manufacture of whiskey due to World War II from 1942-1946.
54. World Largest Bottle of Scotch – Click Here
55. Old Ingledew Whiskey: Currently Believed to be the Oldest Known Whiskey in Existence – Click Here
For Today’s Whiskey and Spirits News and more – Click Here
Competitions
2021 Canadian Artisan Spirit Competition Results