World Whisky (Whiskey) Day
World Whisky Day is celebrated every year on the third Saturday of May to honor the craftsmanship, rich heritage, and enjoyment of every sip across its many variants.
Whether you love Bourbon, Scotch, Irish Whisky, Single Malt, or any other style, this day is the perfect time to pour yourself a glass and make a toast to the spirit of whisky culture.
World Whisky Day was created by Blair Bowman in 2012 who was a whisky enthusiast and student at the University of Aberdeen.
He had a vision to create a day dedicated to the beverage that would bring people across the globe together to cherish and celebrate the drink responsibly.
History of Whisky
The history of whisky goes back to a long time ago with studies suggesting that distillation started with the Babylonians in Mesopotamia around the 2nd millennium BC, but there's no clear evidence of that.
The first recorded chemical distillations took place in Alexandria Greece, during the 1st century AD, but not for alcohol.
This technique, spread to the Arab world in the 9th century and later to medieval Europe in the 12th century.
The earliest documented records of alcohol distillation goes back to 13th century Italy where wine was utilized.
Monks played a big role in spreading distillation across Europe, using alcohol mainly for medicinal purposes.
The trend of making whisky spread across Ireland and Scotland by the 15th century, and it was termed as “aqua vitae” that transforms to “water of life”.
Ancient whisky was strong, fresh, and rough compared to the smoother versions available today.
The first written mention of whisky in Ireland was in 1405 when a chieftain presumedly drank too much at Christmas.
In Scotland, records from 1495 mention whisky production for the king. By the early 1500s, whisky became popular, and Scottish kings were known to enjoy it.
Whisky was heavily taxed in the 18th century especially after the unification of England and Scotland in 1707.
Scottish distillers started making whisky in secret and hiding it in untraceable places to avoid being taxed.
To avoid heavy taxes in the 18th century, Scottish distillers made whisky in secret, often at night to hide the smoke. At one point, illegal whisky made up more than half of Scotland’s production. Meanwhile, in America, whisky was so valuable it was used as currency during the American Revolution. When the government taxed it in 1791, farmers revolted in the Whiskey Rebellion.
The 19th century brought major changes. In 1823, the UK legalized distillation for a fee, reducing illegal production. Aeneas Coffey’s 1831 invention of the Coffey still made whisky cheaper and led to blended whisky, though Irish distillers resisted the change. By the 1880s, whisky gained even more popularity when a pest devastated the French brandy industry.
During U.S. Prohibition (1920-1933), whisky was banned except for medicinal use, allowing pharmacies like Walgreens to profit. Despite challenges, whisky remained a beloved spirit and continues to be enjoyed worldwide.
Celebrating World Whisky Day
World Whisky Day is the ideal occasion to savor and cherish the rich notes of whisky with fellow lovers.
Several whisky bars and distilleries conduct special tastings to give you an opportunity to sample premium and rare selections.
Whisky lovers and everyone else who celebrates this day share their experiences on social media using the hashtag #WorldWhiskyDay.
You can also host a whisky-themed party with friends and family to explore different brands together.
For a more immersive experience, visiting a distillery can provide insight into the craft of whisky-making, with guided tours and exclusive tastings.
Interesting Facts About World Whisky Day
- In 2014, around 250,000 people attended registered World Whisky Day events, showcasing its global popularity.
- By 2015, celebrations had spread across all seven continents, proving whisky’s universal appeal.
- In February 2015, the assets of World Whisky Day were sold to Hot Rum Cow, a renowned drinks magazine, ensuring its continued success.
- The Scottish Parliament recognized the significance of World Whisky Day with motions passed in May 2014 and again in 2015, highlighting whisky’s cultural and economic importance.
- Between 2012 and 2014, Master of Malt released exclusive World Whisky Day blends, offering whisky lovers limited-edition drinks to mark the occasion.
- World Whisky Day supports charitable causes, including Just a Drop, an organization dedicated to providing clean drinking water to communities in need.
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