The Gaelic "usquebaugh", meaning "Water of Life", phonetically became "usky" and then "whisky" in English.
Scotland has internationally protected the term "Scotch". For a whisky to be labelled Scotch it has to be produced in Scotland. If it is to be called Scotch, it cannot be produced in England, Wales, Ireland, America or anywhere else. Excellent whiskies are made by similar methods in other countries, such as Japan, but they cannot be called Scotches. They are most often referred to as "whiskey". While they might be splendid whiskies, they do not captivate the tastes of Scotland.
FACTS
The proof of Scotch whisky used to be tested using gunpowder.
An ounce and a half of Scotch whisky contains only 104 calories - less than a standart glass of wine or half pint of beer.
Although not a cure, but definite aid to combating a heavy cold, a hot Scotch whisky toddy is hard to beat.
The well-known phrase "the real McCoy" was originally coined in reference to Scotch whisky smuggled into the USA during Prohibition by Captain Bill McCoy. During Prohibition, Scotch whisky could be legally obtained through a doctor, but only for "medical" purposes.
Queen Victoria, responsible in part for creating a demand for Scotch whisky outside Scotland, used to enjoy a daily dram in her tea.
The most expensive bottle of spirits ever sold in the world is a bottle of aged Single Malt Scotch Whisky, which was sold by auctioneers Christies for �6,375.
The oldest rock through which a distillery`s spring water source flows is over 800 million years old and is found on the Isle of Islay.
Information courtesy of the Scotch Whisky Association |
