History of Whiskey
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Whiskey lovers cannot help but agree when they know what the name of their favorite beverage stands for. The word whiskey is said to have originated from the Gaelic word 'uisge', which is the shortened form of 'uisge beatha' or 'water of life'!
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Early use of whiskey was mainly medicinal, and this spirit was used both as an antibiotic for external use, as well as an internal anesthetic. Between 1100 and 1300, Scotland and Ireland were introduced to distilling techniques, and as wine was not available easily in both these places, beer made from barley was used instead. This was then distilled into a type of liquor, which, in turn, became what we know as whiskey.
Till the late fifteenth century, distilled spirits were only manufactured in monasteries and apothecaries. The first book on how to do distillation, as recorded in history, came out in 1500. It was authored by Hieronymus Brunschwygk and is called 'Liber de arte distillandi'. Brunschwygk had only good things to say about alcohol in his book, as he penned down its medicinal benefits and the way it could be made. Whiskey played a prominent role in the American Revolutionary War, and why not, since it was used as a form of currency then!
In Pennsylvania, Scottish and Irish immigrants, who were farmers, had rebelled when Alexander Hamilton had imposed an excise tax on whiskey. The Whiskey Rebellion, as it was famously called, was brought under control by the militia approved by the government. The militia acted on the orders of President George Washington.
If you are a whiskey fan, you may not be too pleased to know that it may be largely responsible for the dreaded outfit we all known as the Internal Revenue Service.
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