Brother Goats Pub
Hunlock Creek PA
2018

THE HISTORY OF WHISKY
THE WATER OF LIFE

The history of whisky goes back hundreds of years. The practice of distilling alcohol made its way to Europe in the 12th century, but the earliest written evidence of distillation in Scotland is from the 15th century. Records show an order from the king in 1494 for enough malt to make 500 bottles of aqua vitae, Latin for 'the water of life'.

THE SAME NAME IN SCOTTISH GAELIC IS UISGE BEATHA. 'UISGE' WAS MISPRONOUNCED TIME AND TIME AGAIN, AND EVENTUALLY BECAME 'WHISKY'.


Johnnie Walker Black Label
Blended Scotch Whisky

For one young man named John Walker – the owner of a grocer's in Kilmarnock – this inconsistency wasn't good enough. He wanted his customers to enjoy the same quality and flavor time after time. So he started to blend them together until he created a whisky he was happy to put his name to. And the rest, as they say, is history.

https://www.johnniewalker.com/en-us/whisky-guide/the-history-of-whisky/


Dewar's Victoria Vat
Blended Scotch Whisky

The Dewar's whisky brand was created by John Dewar, Sr. in 1846. Under the control of his two sons, John A. Dewar Jr. and Thomas "Tommy" Dewar, the brand expanded to become a global market leader by 1896. Tommy became famous as the author of a travel journal, Ramble Round the Globe, which documented his travels while publicizing the Dewar name. Dewar's eventually expanded their product by constructing the Aberfeldy Distillery in 1896.

The company joined Distillers Company in 1925. Distillers was acquired by Guinness in 1986, and Guinness merged with Grand Metropolitan to form Diageo in 1997. Diageo sold Dewar's to Bacardi the next year.

https://www.whiskyhammer.com/item/84515/Dewars/Dewars---Victoria-Vat-1940s-Bottling.html


A rare blend from John Dewar & Sons, this (US Import) whisky has been distilled, blended and bottled in Scotland. Presented in an older style bottle with original packaging and springcap seal.

The circa 1940s bottling is marked as 86.8 proof and comes in a 4/5 quart size.


FOUNDED IN 1846 BY JOHN DEWAR. JOHN DEWAR & SONS LTD HAS GROWN FROM A SMALL WINE AND SPIRITS MERCHANT SHOP IN PERTH, SCOTLAND, TO BECOME A GLOBALLY RENOWNED AND CELEBRATED BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY. ENJOYED AROUND THE WORLD.


Our story started with a shop in Perth and founder John Dewar. Together with sons John Alexander Dewar and Tommy Dewar, these three men changed the course of whisky history, and created some mighty fine products along the way.

Our Celtic truth knot, a sign of strength and longevity, is constructed from the three D’s representing our founders – John, Tommy and John Alexander Dewar.

https://www.dewars.com/us/en/dewars-heritage/


Haig Pinch
Old Blended Scotch Whisky

Haig Whisky is the oldest of all scotch whiskies and may even be the oldest whisky in the world.


Haig whisky is steeped in history since it was first distilled by John Haig in the old Cameronbridge Distillery Scotland in 1824. From these humble beginnings, Haig Whisky quickly rose to become one of the most successful and popular Scotch whiskies in the world before falling into decline some 30 years ago as it left the Haig family ownership and was passed through a series of multinational drinks companies.

The distillery meanwhile went from strength to strength and now in the ownership of Diageo is one of the largest distilleries in Europe.

https://www.haigwhisky.com/haig-pinch-scotch-whisky/