[Sca-cooks] Brewing...along similar lines...

[Terry Decker]

"To Friar John Cor, by order of the King, to make aqua vitae VIII bolls of 
malt." - Exchequer Rolls 1494-95, vol x, p. 487

Lord High Treasurer's Accounts: "Et per liberacionem factam fratri Johanni 
Cor per perceptum compotorum rotulatoris, ut asserit, de mandato domini 
regis ad faciendum aquavite infra hoc compotum viij bolle brasii" vol 1, p. 
176.

Courtesy of Wikipedi (and saving me the hassle of trying to find the 
reference), this is the first known record of distillation in Scotland. 
There is no record of whether or not the product met the modern legal 
definition of Scotch whisky.  Barley is the basic ingredient of Scotch, 
aquavita is liquor produced by distillation and Friar John Cor was in 
Scotland, so it can be inferred that some form of Scotch whisky was produced 
prior to 1600.

A boll is six bushels of grain.

Bear



> On a similar but different topic....can anyone give me an idea of whether 
> or
> not Scotch is period, at least in its antecedents?  I have a scotch flower
> cordial that has turned out much better than I thought it would and would
> like to enter it in an upcoming competition.   While I know I cannot
> document the cordial itself, it would be great if I could at least 
> document
> the ingredients.
>
> Kiri