- Old Bushmills Meets the Chinese
It’s dificult to imagine, and even harder to admit, but it was not the Irish who invented whiskey. Well, not 100% so, anyway.
The process of making this precious brew was brought to Ireland 1,000 years ago by Chinese monks. Soon, small breweries were set up around Ireland. Then, the English got into the act, and started requiring licenses for the stills. What a shock!
Still, the word “whiskey” comes from the Gaelic “uisce heatha,” and means “water of life.” So, the Chinese may have taught the Irish the method of making whiskey, but the Irish, ever good with words, gave the brew it’s poetic and proper name.
