The Rich History Of Irish Whiskey Dating Back Hundreds Of Years
Origin and Development
Rye whiskey has a long and storied history dating back hundreds of years. The earliest records of whiskey production in Ireland come from the 12th century, making it one of the original whiskey-producing regions in the world. However, it was during the 16th and 17th centuries that whiskey started being distilled on a commercial scale throughout the country. Irish monks are often credited with introducing distillation to Ireland after learning the process from either Middle Eastern or Italian monks. They would have used locally grown barley and other grains to produce whiskey for medicinal purposes.
For many years, rye Irish Whiskey was largely made and consumed domestically. But as the country's trade expanded during the 18th century, so too did exports of rye whiskey, primarily to Great Britain and further abroad to British colonies in North America and the Caribbean. Three dominant rye whiskey producers emerged during this time— Bushmills, Middleton, and Irish Distillers (owners of Jameson)—which are still iconic brands today. Production continued to boom through the mid-19th century as Ireland's population grew and demand increased both at home and overseas.
The Emergence of Major Rye Whiskey Brands
A number of famous rye whiskey brands became internationally prominent during the late 19th and early 20th centuries as distilleries expanded and advanced their production methods. Bushmills traces its origins back to 1608 but rose to global stature by the late Victorian period. Similarly, Middleton whiskey had been made since the late 18th century but greatly increased exports during this time. Then there was Jameson Irish Whiskey, which was founded in 1780 but continuously grew its reputation and sales abroad under its long-serving master distiller John Jameson. These three giants drove Ireland to become one of the top whiskey suppliers worldwide by the early 1900s.
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