10 curiosities about whiskey you probably don't know
The millenary peat
Peat used to dry barley and impart this distinctive smoky aroma to some of your favorite whiskeys it probably had among the 1000 ei 5000 years.
Yes, peat bogs only grow about 1mm every year… Whiskey is a product built with a lot of patience!
The tallest stills in Scotland
I'm from Glenmorangie the tallest stills in Scotland, as tall as an adult giraffe!
The most chic whiskey cocktail in the world
You could have sipped it at Dubai's Burj Al Arab Skyview bar - no wacky creation of a crazy bearded bartender, it was actually a simple Manhattan made with a Macallan, 55 years old...
€ 5700 well spent, the elegant blend was mixed with a very special oak stick, made from a barrel of Macallan. It was also served with ice made from the same water used to make The macallan. Unfortunately, there were only 10 of these cocktails and they were all ordered between April 16 and December 15, 2008. Too bad!
Most popular whiskeys
Even today 90% of the whiskeys sold in the world are blended, that is blended whiskey...
The most "prolific" cat
Towser (1963-1987) was the most famous cat of the distilleries, having earned his reputation by killing as many as 28.899 mice ... He also got a mention in the famous Guinness Book of Records for his prolific career, officially recognized as the "best cat in the world". He lived for 24 years at the distillery Glenturret in Scotland.
Single malt, a modern trend
Single malts are actually quite a modern business success since until the 60s most single malts were used to produce blended whiskey (appreciated for its consistency).
Glenfiddich it was probably the first single malt to be sold as such and became popular around the world, as it was also the first to be sold in airport retail stores.
The scotch whiskey decisive for the success of Japanese whiskey
Masataka Taketsuru (considered the founding father of Japanese whiskey) went all the way to Scotland to learn several things about the art of whiskey making (completing a degree in Organic Chemistry from the University of Glasgow and gaining experience at the Longmorn and Hazelburn distilleries, among others) and replicated some techniques in Japan when he founded his distillery, Nikka (adding, of course, its Japanese twist!).
The largest market in the world for scotch is French
Some might not believe it, yet in reality, more Scotch Whiskey is sold in France in a single month than Cognac in a whole year.
One of the most taxed products in the world
About 80% of the price of a bottle of whiskey is actually tax. Official bodies and manufacturers are in a constant struggle to reduce the tax bill.
The most profitable investment in recent years
Much better than gold and wine, investment whiskey has performed extremely well in recent years. The most popular brand in investment auctions remains Macallan, Followed by Ardbeg e Bruichladdich.
