Origin Of The Term Whisky
Description
This section is from the book "Beverages And Their Adulteration Origin, Composition, Manufacture, Natural, Artificial, Fermented, Distilled, Alkaloidal And Fruit Juices", by Harvey W. Wiley. Also available from Amazon: Beverages And Their Adulteration.
Origin Of The Term Whisky
There is a very common consensus of opinion, based upon historical error, however, in the belief that the term "Usquebaugh" as used in Ireland, and by Burns in some of his poems, is synonymous with, and identical in composition with, modern whisky. Nothing could be more erroneous than this, as can be shown by numerous historical works.
In all the works relating to the making of cordials and punches practically similar recipes are given for the material known as "Usquebaugh." It is not, therefore, historically correct to consider ancient or modern whisky as the same substance as usquebaugh. On the other hand, usquebaugh was a punch which could be made either with whisky or brandy, as the case might be, and it was a punch or a cordial, and not a straight distillate.
In 1731, we find a recipe for making usquebaugh, in a book entitled:
"A complete Body of Distilling, Explaining the Mysteries of that Science," by G. Smith, of Kendall in Westmoreland. London: Printed for Henry Lintot. In this book is a recipe for making fine usquebaugh, as follows:
£. | s. | d. | |
5 gallons of proof Molossus spirits at 2s. 7d. 1/2......................................... | 00 | 13 | 01 1/2 |
6 gallons of proof rectify'd malt spirits at 20d...................................... | 00 | 10 | 00 |
Mace and Cloves each one ounce and a half................................................... | 00 | 03 | 09 |
Nutts four ounces and a half Cinnamon 3 ounces .............................................................. | 00 | 05 | 01 1/2 |
Coriander-seed, Ginger, each 3 ounces.................................................................. | 00 | 00 | 03 |
Cubebs 1 ounce and a half.................................................................... | 00 | 00 | 04 1/2 |
Raisins 4 pound 1/2.............................................................................. | 00 | 01 | 06 |
Dates 3 pound.......................................................................................................................... | 00 | 04 | 00 |
Liquorice 2 pounds 1/4 ................................................................................................... | 00 | 01 | 06 |
Best English Saffron 4 ounces and a half........................................... | 00 | 11 | 03 |
10 pound Lisbon sugar at 7d. 1/2........................................................ | 00 | 06 | 03 |
02 | 17 | 01 1/2 |
For Sale | |||
£. | s. | d. | |
10 gallons of fine Usquebaugh at 20s. per gallon....... | 10 | 00 | 00 |
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