Timeline
History of Whisky
Nine centuries of distilling tradition, from medieval Scotland and Ireland to the modern era.
c.1100s
Monastic Distillation
Earliest distillation records in medieval monasteries of Scotland and Ireland.
1494
The Exchequer Rolls
First written record of Scotch whisky — the Scottish Exchequer Rolls note malt supplied to a friar 'to make aqua vitae'.
1608
Old Bushmills
Old Bushmills granted the world's first official distilling licence, in County Antrim.
1644
Excise Tax
Scotland introduces excise tax on whisky, driving much of the industry underground for over a century.
1780
Jameson Founded
John Jameson establishes his distillery on Bow Street in Dublin, at the height of the Irish whiskey trade.
1801
Chivas Brothers
Chivas Brothers established as a grocer and provisions house in Aberdeen.
1820
Johnnie Walker's Shop
John Walker opens his grocery shop in Kilmarnock — the origin of Johnnie Walker.
1823
The Excise Act
The Excise Act removes barriers to legal distillation across Scotland.
1831
The Column Still
Aeneas Coffey patents the continuous column still, enabling industrial-scale grain whisky.
1857
Alexander Walker
On his father's death, Alexander Walker takes over the Kilmarnock business and formalises the blending house.
1887
Glenfiddich Founded
William Grant & Sons founds Glenfiddich Distillery in Dufftown on Christmas Day.
1909
Chivas Regal Blend
The Chivas Regal blend is created, one of the first Scotch whiskies with an age statement.
1920–1933
US Prohibition
American Prohibition devastates global export markets, hitting Irish whiskey particularly hard.
1960s
Single Malt Goes Global
Glenfiddich launches internationally, opening the world to single malt Scotch.
1988
Classic Malts
Diageo's Classic Malts campaign revives single malt globally.
2000s
Craft Renaissance
Craft distilling renaissance across Britain and Ireland; new distilleries emerge across both countries.
2020s
Global Peak
Global whisky market reaches record international demand, with strong growth in Asia and North America.