16th century still ‘clue to origin of Scotch’

IT IS loved around the world and generates billions of pounds every year for Scotland’s economy.

And now researchers believe they may have found a major clue to the mystery of Scotch whisky’s origins – a still in 16th century Aberdeen.

A document from 1505 mentions a still for making ‘aquavite’ – ‘water of life’ in Latin and Scots for whisky.

University of Aberdeen researchers said the ‘significant discovery’, ‘reframes the story of Scotch’.

Paperwork from an inquest held at the bailie court of Aberdeen on June 20, 1505, following the death of Sir Andrew Gray mentions the still.

It is listed among his ‘moveable possessions’ and researchers said he probably made use of it.

Although not the first reference to whisky – widely recognised as being in 1494 when King James IV ordered malt to make ‘aqua vitae’ – researchers said it is the earliest found for a whisky still. The reference was found by Dr Claire Hawes as she worked on a project that will make the city’s burgh records available online.

Aberdeen University’s Dr Jackson Armstrong led the project to transcribe the records. He said: ‘This is a very significant find in the history of our national drink. It reframes the story of Scotch whisky.

‘All references to aquavite or whisky from this period are significant because its early development is largely unrecorded.

‘Others such as the first ever reference to malt for the king in 1494 are standalone references, but what is really exciting here is that it is part of our extensive Burgh Records.

‘That means we can trace those involved in the distillation of aquavite throughout the records, looking at their connections, where they lived, their professions and how all of this might be intertwined with the early development of Scotch whisky.

‘This could significantly change our understanding of the origins of our national drink.’