Whisky! A word that is associated with a lot of magic, tradition and history. The art of distilling probably came to Europe from the Orient with the Moors. At that time, the distillates were used as medicine. Celtic monks from Ireland brought the secret of distillation to Scotland via the Hebridean Islands (Islay). The water of life “aqua vitae” or “uisge beatha” in Gaelic was first mentioned in a document in 1494. In English, “uisge beatha” became “usky”, which later led to the spelling “whisky”.

As early as the 16th century, there were monasteries and countless small rural distilleries in Scotland that produced malt whisky. Mash made from fermented grain was used to produce the distillate. A revolution in production came around 1830 with the invention of Robert Stein and Aenean Coffey: their continuous distillation process enabled the cost-effective production of high-proof, almost tasteless alcohol. This was the birth of grain whisky. Business-minded traders with names such as G. Ballantine, J. Walker and Chivas Brothers subsequently began to produce blends of malt and grain whisky. Blends were invented. They had a milder taste than the smoky malts and were more in line with the preferences of the buyers of the time. Excellent marketing and a phylloxera plague in the wine-growing regions of Europe, which brought Cognac production to a standstill, helped the blends to their final triumph.

In the 1980s, global concentration on the spirits market led to the closure of many Scottish distilleries. Today, the remaining distilleries are owned by a few multinational corporations. Inspired by Glenfiddich, the first distillery to market its whisky as a single malt, many distilleries began to offer their whisky as a single malt. Today, malts are all the rage. A steadily growing fan base is enthusiastic about the variety of flavors and intensity of this traditional product.

In our store you will find a selected range of different high-quality whiskies from all over the world. Let us surprise you!