happy? - June 1

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happy? - June 1

01 Jun 05 - 09:25 AM (#1497342)
Subject: happy? - June 1
From: Abby Sale

The first written record of whisky production anywhere in Scotland: by distiller, Friar John Cor on
6/1/1495. The name whisky (no 'e') is derived from usquebaugh, itself derived from the
Scottish Gaelic uisge beatha, spelled uisce beatha in Irish Gaelic, literally meaning the "water of life".

From the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland: "Eight bolls of malt to Friar John Cor wherewith to make aqua vitae"
(water of life) - more than a ton of malted barley, enough to produce 1,400 bottles of spirit.

Seems that Dalriadan Scots monks brought distillation with them when they came to Caledonia to convert
the Picts to Christianity in the fourth and fifth centuries CE. The first taxes on whisky production were
imposed in 1644, creating a whole new cottage industry in the countryside. Ever been to a shebeen?

Crossing then in to the isles of heather
Friendships renewed where the folks forgather
Welcomes the word everyone together
Says with scotch on the rocks.

"Scotch On The Rocks"

02 Jun 05 - 05:47 PM (#1498567)
Subject: RE: happy? - June 1
From: Joe Offer

The last time Joe Offer was hired for a job was in June, 1974. Well, he did it again today.
-Joe Offer, no longer retired-
(but my new job is 6 to 12 hours per week)

02 Jun 05 - 06:04 PM (#1498587)
Subject: RE: happy? - June 1
From: GUEST,Allen

Abby, have you ever read the George MacDonald story about getting rid of an illegal still in the Highlands just after the War?

02 Jun 05 - 10:22 PM (#1498813)
Subject: RE: happy? - June 1
From: Abby Sale

Joe: My deepest comiserations - breaking a superb 31 year streak like that. Oh well, I hope they have a good long lunch break.

GUEST,Allen: No, not familiar with that. Should I make a point of it? Although I've had the pleasure of being invited to some traditional comunal illegal activities in the Outer Hebs, I've never gotten to enjoy a shebeen.

My impression is they were mostly modest affairs run by little old ladies with no other source of income - generally in "black houses" (thatched cottages). But for all I know they could be something out of Al Capone.