- They say whisky was first made by Irish monks.
- In Gaelic, whisky is uisce beatha, meaning ‘water of life’.
- The sneaky ‘e’ tells you if the product is Scottish (whisky) or from somewhere else (whiskey)
- Whisky from Kentucky is called bourbon.
- Whisky is essentially beer that’s been distilled two or three times; the ‘beer’ here is called whiskey wash
- About 4% of whisky evaporates from the barrel each year. This is known as the Angel’s share or Angel’s tax.
- Whisky is best drunk without ice. Rather add a drop of still water, as this enhances the flavour, and it prevents the strong alcohol from numbing your senses.
- In the old days, they used to light whisky to judge the alcohol content. The flames’ colour would show when the alcohol content was just right.
- Generally, there are five regional whiskies: Scotch Whisky, Irish Whiskey, Kentucky Bourbon, Canadian Whiskey and Tennessee Whiskey.
Whisky 101
16 May is World Whisky Day. Want to sound like a whisky connoisseur? Drop these 9 factoids into conversation – your friends will be impressed. By Leah van Deventer
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