For those who’ve ever visited a Scotch whisky distillery previously, chances are high you’ll have been blown away by the surroundings and environment. Regardless of shedding rely of the quantities of distilleries I’ve visited over time, every time I go to I’m nonetheless in awe on the pure magnificence, not solely of the distilleries, however the surroundings that surrounds them.
One factor you do have a tendency to note with lots of the distilleries dotted round Scotland’s varied whisky areas, is the truth that they’re usually so remoted. Now, you’d suppose that they’d be constructed within the coronary heart of bustling cities and cities, as logistically that may certainly make life simpler? Effectively, one of many primary the reason why they had been constructed in remoted components of the Scottish countryside, shoreline, and Highlands, is due to whisky’s tumultuous previous.
You see, as soon as whisky proved to be so common, it was closely taxed. (sound acquainted?) This set in movement the age of the excise man, and illicit whisky distillation and smuggling.
You would possibly need to get cozy for this one, so pour your self a dram and study whisky’s turbulent previous.
Two Certainties in Life
There’s a well-known saying that goes one thing alongside the strains of there being two certainties in life, that are ‘dying and taxes.’
As soon as one thing proves common, it isn’t lengthy earlier than someone needs their piece of the pie. That’s precisely what occurred with whisky. Whisky’s origins will be traced approach again to the 15th century, the place it was largely unknown.
Because the years handed by, whisky regularly turned increasingly common. Producing it proved to be very profitable, and it wasn’t unusual for whisky for use as a type of foreign money. It wasn’t lengthy earlier than the Scottish Parliament bought wind of whisky’s reputation, and seemed to line their very own pockets. How? You guessed it – taxes.
In January 1644, the very first excise responsibility was levied on whisky. This amounted to 2 shillings and eight pence per Scots pint, which was roughly half a gallon in right now’s measurements.
Now, as you may think about, those that had been distilling the whisky weren’t precisely thrilled by this, and plenty of of them went to nice lengths to keep away from paying. This paved the way in which for the formation of the Scottish Excise Board in 1707.
The Age of the Exciseman
Following the formation of the Scottish Excise Board in 1707, as a part of the Treaty of Union, this meant that the identical ranges of responsibility had been enforced on ‘excisable liquors’ in each England and Scotland.
To make sure that the distilleries and whisky producers paid their “fair proportion” the federal government tasked sure brokers with the function of policing the whisky. These turned often known as ‘excisemen’ or ‘gaugers’. They had been often known as ‘gaugers’ as a result of their function was to gauge how a lot spirit was being produced, and its perceived worth.
Now, initially the avoidance of excise duties in Scotland wasn’t a lot about saving cash, because it was about nationwide satisfaction. There was actually no love misplaced between the Scottish and the English, and plenty of Scottish distilleries resented paying as they perceived this because the English sticking their noses in Scottish enterprise. Avoiding paying nearly turned a badge of honour, and served as a metaphorical center finger to the English officers.
For the subsequent 150 years or so, smuggling Scotch whisky turned customary observe. Illicit distillers would discover ingenious methods of evading the excisemen. Casks of whisky could be hidden in coffins, buried, transported by boat, and even hidden in church buildings. Unlawful distilleries could be inbuilt rural, remoted areas away from civilisation. This not solely made it tougher for the excisemen to go to, it additionally meant that they could possibly be noticed from a distance, giving the illicit distillers ample time to scarper.
Within the early 1820s, every year there have been greater than 14,000 illicit stills being confiscated. Whisky proved extra common than ever, but greater than half of the whisky consumed in Scotland was consumed by way of unlawful means.
A Harmful Job
As you would possibly count on, the excisemen who roamed the barren Scottish countryside on the hunt for illicit distilleries proved about as common as a meat-eater at a vegan conference. The smugglers and illicit distillers went to nice lengths to keep away from being caught, and weren’t above resorting to violence.
It was not unusual for the excisemen to be threatened, bodily assaulted, kidnapped, and even murdered. Moreover, doing their jobs was made even tougher by the truth that just about all of Scotland was towards them. No person preferred the taxmen, so locals would stay extraordinarily tight-lipped, even when they did learn about a bootleg distillery or whisky smuggling ring close by.
After all, there have been at all times a couple of unhealthy apples within the bunch and infrequently the excisemen would settle for bribes to show a blind eye, and even steal the whisky and distilling tools for themselves.
The 1823 Excise Act
In 1823, an act was handed which introduced illicit whisky manufacturing and smuggling to a halt nearly in a single day. The act in query was the 1823 Excise Act.
The Duke of Gordon approached the Home of Lords, and proposed that the federal government ought to work with the whisky distillers, slightly than towards them. The Duke knew firsthand simply how scrumptious the whisky being produced in Scotland was, due largely to the truth that lots of the nation’s greatest unlawful distilleries had been on his very land. He additionally knew simply how worthwhile the spirits trade could possibly be.
The 1823 Excise Act was handed shortly afterwards. The act principally sanctioned the authorized distilling of whisky, in alternate for a £10 distillery licence fee, together with a way more affordable set fee for each gallon of proof spirit produced, of simply two shillings and threepence.
The passing of the act meant that unlawful whisky manufacturing and smuggling rapidly died out. In any case, why would individuals threat authorized hassle and monetary break after they may produce whisky legally for a far, much more affordable price? The variety of authorized, licensed distilleries in Scotland doubled over the subsequent couple of years.
The excisemen who had been as soon as the arch enemies of the illicit distilleries had been additionally seen in a brand new mild. In reality, they turned part of the staff. It is because the Act made it obligatory for every working distillery to have a resident exciseman. They even had to supply lodging for him.
Regardless of whisky smuggling dying out, a lot of the once-illicit distilleries remained, this time licenced. In reality, lots of Scotland’s hottest distilleries to at the present time sit atop the websites as soon as utilized by smugglers and illicit distillers all these centuries in the past.
For those who’d wish to be taught extra about your favorite whiskies, or just deal with your self to a dram or two within the course of, head on over to GreatDrams.com and check out what now we have to supply.
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