Q 01/05

The word 'whisky' comes from a Gaelic phrase, uisce beatha, that translates as what?

A) Water of life

B) Fire of the glen

C) Golden grain

D) Spirit of the hills

Answer · why

A) Water of life

It is a translation of the Latin aqua vitae, the medieval name for any distilled spirit.

Q 02/05

Which two countries commonly spell it 'whiskey' with an 'e'?

A) Scotland and Canada

B) Ireland and the United States

C) Japan and Ireland

D) Canada and the United States

Answer · why

B) Ireland and the United States

Some US brands, including Maker's Mark, George Dickel and Old Forester, use the e-less spelling anyway.

Q 03/05

A 1494 Exchequer Roll, the first record of Scotch whisky, sent malt to which cleric 'to make aquavitae'?

A) John Cor

B) Robert Tuck

C) Andrew Melrose

D) William Kerr

Answer · why

A) John Cor

The order was enough malt for roughly 500 bottles, by order of the king.

Q 04/05

Ireland's earliest whiskey mention records a chieftain dying in 1405 from what?

A) Falling headfirst into a still

B) Taking a surfeit of aqua vitae at Christmas

C) A duel over a disputed cask

D) Drinking unaged spirit at a wedding

Answer · why

B) Taking a surfeit of aqua vitae at Christmas

Distillation itself was first recorded in Italy in the 13th century, using wine.

Q 05/05

For how many years must Scotch whisky be matured in oak casks in Scotland?

A) Three

B) Two

C) Five

D) Eight

Answer · why

A) Three

Ireland, Japan and Canada use the same minimum; the US minimum is typically two.