June 1908
Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2005 11:53 am
Almost 100 years ago the British empire was faced with a serious debate - "What is Whisky?" There were people that Scotch and Irish whiskey had to be made in a pot still and only of Malted Barley. The blending houses stated that this was not the case and whiskey could be made in a "patent" still and of other grains, and this whiskey could be mixed with other malt whisky and sold as whisky. They put together a commission of law makers and chemist to make a decision on this debate. In August 1909 they announced their decision and the blending houses won the day. If the decision had fallen the other way, there would have been single malt whisky world wide at the beginning of the 20th century instead of the end.
Mike Veach
Mike Veach