Jack Daniel's and Ballantine's - when we say whiskey, that's what we mean. The two most popular brands of this drink - one Scottish, the other American - have settled in our hearts for good. Alcohols with tradition, the taste of which we all know ...
However, do we know something more about them? Most of us are not interested in the subject of whiskey, limiting our knowledge only to the basics - the taste, appearance, or origin of given alcohol.
But let's take a closer look at the mysteries of this magic drink.
Do you know that…
Whiskey is not from Scotland at all?
Of course, the famous Ballantine's is a Scottish brand of liquor, however, this alcohol was invented by Iranian monks. Still doesn't it tell you anything? Whiskey comes from… Ireland! It was only you who brought the high-percentage drink to the areas of Scotland, where the peasants took care of its production.
The most unusual place where whiskey was found is Antarctic ice cream?
All thanks to a traveler named Ernest Shackleton. The Irishman set himself the goal of discovering the as yet unconquered South Pole. Unfortunately, in 1909 he was forced to end his trip in a hurry. His team left many everyday items at the base, including alcohol. The bottles were found over 100 years later by New Zealanders.
Is whiskey also available for those who can't drink alcohol?
We are not persuading you to sin here! Almost 10 years ago, a non-alcoholic whiskey-flavored drink entered the world market. Sold in cans and bottles, it has almost the same taste as real liquor. Of course, it does not contain alcohol. A liter of alcoholic beverages costs several dollars. However, it can be purchased in slightly smaller packages. This is a great option for those who do not want to or cannot drink alcohol, and at the same time do not want to give up its taste.
Doesn't "older" mean better?
Well, you say: "the older the whiskey, the better". Yes and no. Bottled liquor does not mature with age. The 20-year-old liquor spilled into the bottles, let's say in 2000, will still be 20 today, and its value will not change. The taste qualities of whiskey change during maturation in wooden barrels and only in this case we can talk about any maturation.
Once upon a time it was believed that whiskey is a drink of ... angels?
Whilst it matures, the whiskey evaporates. This process, now known, was a mystery to humans in the old days. It was widely believed that it was due to the angels (Angel's Share). Heavenly beings were to charge us a fee for producing "the water of life." But times have changed ... Now no one would call an angel an alcoholic.
The most expensive bottle of whiskey costs more than you can imagine?
The record in this matter was set in 2018. The Scottish Macallan Valerio Adami, dating from 1926, was purchased by an Asian collector. He paid over a million dollars for it! This specimen was unique, as it was stored in the vat for 60 years.
The most unusual whiskey was created in space?
In 2011, ingredients for the production of the liquor and pieces of fired oak wood were sent to the International Space Station. The astronauts put the whole thing together by recreating the process of alcohol maturation.
The same was done on Earth. After 2.5 years, alcohol was brought to the earthly distillery for sample comparison. The cosmic drink changed its smell and taste. Experts found that it smells like gum, a bottle, and smoked fish, while the taste resembles sweetened plum. These differences resulted from the inhibition of biological processes in the state of weightlessness.