Scotch whisky is an alcoholic drink made in Scotland from grains like barley or a mix.
People often just call it whisky or Scotch.
The earliest written record shows making it in 1494.
Today, about 150 distilleries make it worldwide famous.
All real Scotch must be aged in oak barrels for at least three years.
A stated age means the youngest whisky is that old.
If no age is listed, it's at least three years old.
The minimum alcohol is 40%.
There are different types: single malt, single grain, blended malt, blended grain, and blended Scotch.
The word whisky comes from 'uisge beatha', meaning 'water of life' in Gaelic.
Distillation probably started by the late 1500s.
Tax problems in the 1600s led some to make whisky secretly, especially in the Highlands.
Legal production began officially in 1823.
New inventions like the column still in the 1830s made whisky smoother and more popular.
Demand grew later because other countries needed alcohol due to grape issues.
Many distilleries opened, but some closed during tough times like wars and depressions.
Latest whisky boom happened in the 1970s.
