Whisky Timeline

1494		First written record of whisky.
1498	Christopher Columbus lands in South America.
1503	James IV marries Henry II's eldest daughter Margaret Tudor.
1505		Guild of Surgeon Barbers in Edinburgh granted Charter to sell whisky.
1542	English invade Scotland - James V defeated at Flodden and dies 14 Dec, 7 days after birth of Mary, future Queen of Scots.
1558	Queen Mary of Scotland marries the Dauphin of France.
1577		Raphael Holinshead writes his Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland and extols the value of uisge beatha.
1587	Mary Queen of Scots beheaded.
1588	Spanish Armada defeated.
1590		First recorded export of whisky to Ireland.
1603	Death of Queen Elizabeth I James I becomes King of Scotland & England.
1608		License granted to produce whiskey on site of Bushmills Distillery, Northern Ireland.
1627		Robert Haig establishes his distillery.
1644		First duty on whisky introduced by Act of Scottish Parliament
1649	Charles I beheaded. Oliver Cromwell invades Scotland.
1675		Robert Boyle describes his new hydrometer.
1688		First duty on alcoholic strength of whisky.
1689		Ferintosh distillery burnt down by supporters of James II.
1692	Glencoe Massacre.
1746	Battle Of Culloden.
1751		Gilcomston Distillery, Aberdeen founded.
1757		Kilbeggan Distillery, reputedly built in Ireland.
1759	Robert Burns Born.
1771	Sir Walter Scott Born.
1775		Glenturret Distillery founded.
1779		Justerini & Justerini sell whisky in London. Bowmore Distillery founded.
1784		John Jameson started distilling in Dublin.
1786		Strathisla Distillery founded.
1789	George Washington became President of US.
1793	Louis XVI beheaded.
1794		Bridge of Don Distillery completed.
1795		Tobermory Distillery on Mull
1796	Robert Burns dies.
1798		Highland Park, Ardbeg and Glen Garioch start distilling.
1810		Glenburgie Distillery.
1815	Battle Of Waterloo.
1816		Sikes hydrometer adopted. Laphroaig Distillery founded.
1817		Teaninich, Duntocher & Lagavulin Distilleries opened.
1819	Singapore founded by Stamford Raffles.
1821	Death Of Napoleon.
1822	King George IV visits Edinburgh & asks for some illegal Glenlivet.
1823		Licensing of Distilleries
1824		Glenlivet takes out licence.
1825		Edradour, Scotland's smallest distillery .founded.
1826	First steam ship crossing Atlantic by a Dutch ship
		Fisrt patent for a continous still awarded to Robert Stein. James Allardes of Glendronach takes out a licence.
1830		William Teacher opens his first grocers shop.
1837	Queen Victoria comes to the throne.	Lagg Distilley on the Isle Of Arran.
1839		The Chivas dynasty founded.
1844		Glenfarclas Distillery opens.
1850	Robert Louis Stevenson born.
1851		Dailuaine Distillery founded.
1853	Balmoral Castle rebuilt by Prince Albert.
1861	Start Of the American Civil War.
1863	Opening of the Strathspey railway.
1879		Black Bottle is introduced.
1882		VAT 69 is launched by Sanderson.
1886		Glenfiddich Distillery founded.
1890	Opening of the Forth Road Bridge.
1892		Balvenie Distillery opens.
1894		Famous Grouse Whisky appears for the first time.
1896		Dufftown Distillery opens.
1897		Tomatin & Dalwhinnie founded.
1898		Pattisons blending company goes bankrupt, many distilleries forced to close.
1909		Johnnie Walker Red Label launched.
1912	Titanic goes down.
1913		Teacher's introduce new their new cork.
1914	The First World War lasts to 1918.
1929	Wall Street Crash.
1936		Ballantine's is purchased by Hiram Walker.
1939	Second World War starts.
1941		SS Politician is lost with a cargo of whisky off the Isle of Eriskay.
1945	Second World War ends.
1949		Tullibardine Distillery is rebuilt.
1952	Queen Elizabeth II comes to the throne.
1959		Tormore, the first new distillery to be built in the 20th century in Scotland. Whisky rationing in the UK ceases.
1966		Deanston Distillery opens in an old cotton mill designed by Richard Arkwright.
1969	First man on the moon.
1990		Drumguish Distillery produces its first spirit.
1994		500th anniversary of whisky production in Scotland. Arran Distillery founded.