Whiskey is an Irish legend – trademarks like Paddy‘s, Tullamore Dew, Powers, Bushmills or similar great names resound around the world. Unfortunately the „liquid gold“ is now priced along the lines of the precious metal.
Whiskey - What's in a Name
Whiskey (in Ireland always with an „e“, the Scottish variety being spelled „whisky“) as a name is derived from the Latin aqua vitae, the „water of life“. This was translated into Irish and became uisce beatha. This in turn was shortened and Anglicized into „whiskey“. Which literally would mean „water“, so be not confused if access covers for urban water mains are marked uisce .... don‘t get your hopes up!
Whiskey - A Short History
Whiskey came to Ireland via the monasteries. Apparently copying the Arabic methods used to produce perfumes, Irish monks decided to stay smelly but have a good time being so. They distilled aqua vitae, for purely medicinal purposes of course. A treatise from the 14th century outlines this. Then in the 15th century tales of wild parties and alcoholism followed. Culminating in an act by the Irish parliament, forbidding the distillation of whiskey without a license from 1556 onwards. Of course this was a neat money-spinner for the government too.
Whiskey - Variations on a Theme
There are basically three varieties of whiskey today – the straight, single malt, the blended variety and the aged versions. The discussion whether single malts or blended whiskeys are better is down to taste. The question of aging has a more direct impact on the consistency of the whiskey. As the liquid is allowed to mature in casks that were first used for sherry, a longer time in the cask will influence the taste. Please note that whiskey cannot „age“ once bottled – even if you lock away your five-year-old „el cheapo“ for twenty years it will not improve.
Whiskey - The Potential Pitfalls
Often you get what you pay – the cheaper the whiskey the more likely you´ll awake with a headache and a sour stomach. Then again expensive whiskeys might not agree with you as well. In the end it comes down to taste.
What Makes Whiskey Unique?
Irish whiskey is distilled three times, Scottish whisky only twice. But foreign whisk(e)ys are otherwise catching up – an Austrian company has started to export to Ireland and the winner of the „Best Single Malt“ contest in 2008 was a Japanese product ...
Whiskey - What are the Alternatives?
None, full stop.
Whiskey as a Souvenir?
Yes, but only a few special varieties are worth the effort. The „common and garden“ Irish whiskeys will more than likely be cheaper in your own country.
