Good to know: the origin of Scotch

The first written record of Scotch whisky is from 1494, in the Scottish Exchequer Rolls, where it states:

“Eight bolls of malt to Friar John Cor wherewith to make aqua vitae.”

Now, we know that John Cor was a friar at Lindores Abbey in Fife, and that aqua vitae means “water of life” in Latin. Anything else?

• Distillation likely originated in China and travelled west via Arabia

• It did not reach Europe until the 11th or 12th century

Good to know. Thanks be to Friar John and ye olde records of income and expenditure.