“Water of life” – one of the most famous drinks in the world really had to own a epithet that reflected all its power.

This is how whisky was called in scottish monasteries where it started to be produced, in 12th century. The drink that people believed to possess powers for the preservation of health and  prolongation of life, later started to be called “usquebaugh” from the gaelic “uisge beatha”. The name became “usq” and then was translated for the english whisky.

But, “whisky” or “whiskey”?

It’s a geographic question: according to the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, for the ones produced in Scotland, Wales, Canada, and Japan, the correct name is “whisky”. While “whiskey” is used for the ones distilled in Ireland and America.

Now that we are introduced with our “company drink”, sit down, grab your glass and enjoy a little bit about the history and the best whisky brands in the world…

The destillation process was developed to produce perfumes, later it was applied to wine, and after centuries, adapted to fermented mashes of cereals in regions where grapes were not plentiful.

Scotland acquired the right to be the only one in the world to produce the real scotch whisky. If the spirit comes from anywhere else, it can’t be called “scotch”.

Years of production and studies around the drink split it in three different types:

Malt whiskies: Made with only one barley, without mixtures, and in only one copper distillery.

Grain whiskies: It’s a soft whisky, commonly used in the production of the blended type.

Blended whiskies: The combination of malt and grain whiskies to improve the flavour aspects. The Master Blender is the one who coordinates the production, and he is the one that occupies the maximum charge in a distillery.

The power of this drink travelled through world and time and conquered the most exacting tastes. Luxury brands developed techniques to produce a spirit each time more pure and unique.

Between the top whiskies in the world we can stand out:

The Aberlour 1967 – sold only in a special kit that contains four crystal glasses, a water jug, a bottle of Speyside water and a transport case. Produced in Scotland, the kit with the 40 years old spirit costs € 8,580.00 or U$ 10,530.00.

Dalmore Candela – The special 50 year old single malt edition was released in only 77 bottles and may be acquired for € 10,160.00 or U$ 12,480.00.

Highland Park – This 50 year old single malt scotch whisky is a limited edition that features a sterling silver abstract ‘cage’ around the bottle by Scottish artist Maeve Gillies and a natural-looking wooden box. The price of the piece is € 12,640.00 or U$ 15,520.00.

And for all the rock n’ roll lovers, the japanese company Suntory prepared a special Rolling Stones edition in celebration of the band’s 50th anniversary. The 150 stylized bottles will be avaliable for sale at October 30 and there’s still no price revelead.

The blended whisky contains 6 different types, all of them fabricated in years that were milestones for the band’s history. Like a Yamazaki, made in 1962, Rolling Stones’ birth year, and a 1990 Hakushu, year of the band’s first visit to Japan.

Movie Star whisky

This drink was already used in plenty Hollywood movies to bring out the strong personalities of some characters. One of them is the journalist Call McAffrey, interpreted by Russel Crowe in “State of Play”.

Another remarkable that involved our drink was in the classic “The Seven Year Itch”, film that launched the unforgettable Marylin Monroe scene with a vaporous white dress.

The character Richard Sherman, interpreted by Tom Ewell, and “The Girl”, Marilyn Monroe, were fans of the Whisky sour, a drink made with whisky, sugar, lemon juice and marrasquine liquor.

Strong, tasty, and full of personality. There’s no better way to enjoy an intense lifestyle than with a good glass of whisky.

Cheers!