Origin Of Distillation

The origin of distilling is not clearly understandable, but it's generally accepted that Chinese and Indian alchemists were responsible for making the first spirits. Their secrets then travelled to Egypt and the Middle East.

During the early 13th century, Arab scholars living in Moorish Spain introduced distilling to Western Europe. Arnaud de Villeneuve (1238 -1311), a professor at the great medical school in Montpellier, France, wrote the first known distilling manual.

 The secrets of distillation may have reached Ireland before the rest of the British Isles courtesy of wandering monks. What is certain is that the spirits were first made for medicinal purposes; only later did they develop more enjoyable uses.

           Distillation In Ireland

The evidence for early distilling in Ireland is a mix of myth and legend, but by the early 1600s the British Crown was granting licences to distil all over Ireland. The Old Bushmills Distillery in County Antrim claims to have received the first, granted in 1608 by James I, King of England, and Ireland.

Registration for a licence remained voluntary until 1761. Then the British government changed the law in 1779 so that tax had to be paid in advance which few distillers could afford.

 Smaller licensed operators either went out of business or took the risk of distilling without a license.

 Private distilling in Britain and Ireland was banned altogether the following year, and illicit distilling became widespread soon afterwards.

        Distillation In The USA

Many Scots and Irish emigrated to the New World during the 1700s, taking their distilling skills with them, only to find that the newly established Congress soon imposed a duty on all whiskey, whether intended for private enjoyment or for sale.

 Violent protests ensued. To save face, Washington made an arrangement with the settlers, providing incentives for those prepared to move to Kentucky and raise 'native corn' (maize).

 Here they met the Reverend Elijah Craig, a Baptist minister who established his distillery around 1789 and is credited as the inventor of corn - based bourbon whiskey.