Right now’s weblog is a bit sombre, so apologies for that. I’ll be certain that the following one is way more light-hearted to even issues out.
As a little bit of a self-proclaimed historical past buff, I can’t assist however take a little bit of a morbid curiosity in a number of the largest wars we’ve seen through the years. It’s fascinating, but on the similar time it’s extremely humbling, and horrifying in equal measure.
Unquestionably, two of the most important wars mankind has ever seen, had been the First World Battle, and the Second World Battle. Each these wars helped form society as we all know it as we speak, and greater than a century later, the consequences can nonetheless be felt.
Through the years, the Scotch whisky business has confronted some monumental challenges, a few of which I’ve wrote about earlier than, and a few of which I’ve but to cowl with you. With out query, although, each World Battle One and World Battle Two had been arguably probably the most making an attempt instances on this wonderful business’s historical past, and for good purpose.
Right here’s a take a look at how two World Wars impacted the Scotch whisky business.
Scotch Whisky Throughout WW1
On August 4th, 1914, Britain formally declared battle on Germany. Evidently, it was a particularly worrying time. Life for individuals as they knew it on the time floor to a halt. Companies had been pressured to shut, and younger males had been abruptly thrust into the midst of battle to combat for his or her nation.
The First World Battle raged from 1914 till 1918, although formally led to June 1919, with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. Throughout this era, tens of millions of individuals sadly misplaced their lives, with numerous others negatively impacted in some kind or one other. No one, it appeared, was proof against the devastation of the battle, and that included the Scotch whisky business.
Earlier than the battle started, the business was in a reasonably robust place. Certain, the 1800s had been very up and down, however the latter half of the century had proved pretty fruitful for these within the whisky biz. That every one modified because of the battle.
When the battle broke out, the overwhelming majority of individuals working within the whisky business had been pressured to down instruments and combat. Distillers, administrators, coopers, Grasp Blenders, even distillery cleaners would discover themselves at battle. This after all resulted in a scarcity of employees. If the distilleries had been empty, who would make the whisky?
It wasn’t simply those who labored within the whisky distilleries that travelled overseas to combat both. Farmers, rail-workers, canal boatmen, and lots extra apart from additionally fought. These too, performed an essential half in whisky manufacturing.
Because the years progressed, grain was rationed, duties had been raised, and the business was restricted. Whereas it’s now a great factor when it comes to whisky high quality, in 1915 the Immature Spirits Act was launched. This piece of laws principally acknowledged that, by legislation, spirits produced within the UK needed to be matured for a minimum of two years earlier than they might be bought. A 12 months later, this was prolonged to 3 years. On the time, it actually harm the distilleries that remained operational because it meant they needed to wait longer earlier than they may promote their wares.
The thought behind this act was to cut back alcohol consumption. The federal government wanted its important employees to be sharp and on the ball. In the event that they had been drunk, or hungover, they clearly wouldn’t be. Bear in mind, all people performed an element within the battle and being drunk meant that individuals wouldn’t be at their finest. The federal government had been additionally apprehensive that manufacturing unit employees working in munitions factories making ammunition would flip as much as work drunk and by accident blow themselves up. Yeah, whisky goes with most issues, however reside ammunition isn’t one in every of them.
Paradoxically, this piece of laws truly helped solidify Scotch as a premium high quality drink as it could later be seen as a standing image for posh and rich individuals. Earlier than that, although, the enterprise was in hassle as abroad transport floor to a halt. Being at sea was harmful, and a few international locations even banned whisky imports solely. Whisky duties had been additionally elevated and stuck costs had been imposed. Many smaller impartial distilleries went beneath.
After the battle ended, issues had been no higher. Tragically, there was a scarcity of distillery employees as a result of lots of them had sadly died, or had been too traumatised to operate in trendy society. The Spanish Flu and prohibition within the USA nearly completed off the business solely. Earlier than the battle, there have been round 150 working distilleries in Scotland. After Prohibition ended, that quantity had shrunk to only 15.
Scotch Whisky Throughout World Battle Two
After Prohibition was lifted in 1933, Scotch started mounting a modest comeback. By now, it was seen as a extra premium-quality drink, moderately than a leisure tipple like beer. If you happen to drank Scotch, like Ron Burgundy, you loved the finer issues in life. It was seen as a extra upmarket drink, and this was mirrored within the value.
By 1939, Scotch was again in enterprise and there have been greater than 90 working distilleries in Scotland. Don’t get me flawed, the business was hardly thriving, however issues had been comfy. In September of that very same 12 months, the following spanner within the works would emerge, as World Battle Two broke out.
As soon as extra, new restrictions had been positioned on the distilleries and the federal government as soon as once more restricted Scotch whisky manufacturing whereas elevating taxes on the similar time. This was an enormous blow as Scotch manufacturing and gross sales had been nonetheless not the place they’d as soon as been at their peak.
Meals rationing got here into power throughout WW2, and subsequently this meant that a lot of the grains which might ordinarily be used for whisky manufacturing had been as an alternative used to feed the nation. This resulted in a scarcity of grains. As a result of demand was excessive and provide was low, supplies and elements used for producing Scotch additionally grew to become massively costly. In fact, all people was struggling financially and the purse strings wanted to be tightened. This meant that Scotch gross sales additionally took an enormous hit.
So, not solely was the business restricted, it additionally confronted rising prices, a scarcity of supplies, employees, and elements, and a hunch in gross sales. Some distilleries went underground and operated illegally, whereas others had been pressured to cut back the standard of the spirts they produced. To assist make their whisky stretch additional, many distilleries would water down their spirit and cut back the ABV. Oh, and as if the above wasn’t dangerous sufficient, a substantial amount of distilleries had been additionally bombed.
Once more, it was the smaller distilleries that went beneath first, as they had been purchased out by bigger distilleries with the aim of investing and hanging onto mature, premium-quality whisky and ageing it additional in order that it elevated in worth because the years handed by. Others, corresponding to The Macallan, selected to prioritise high quality. Fairly than compromise on high quality, they held onto their inventory as an alternative of watering it down and promoting it at low cost for a fast money injection. Contemplating two of the costliest whiskies ever bought at public sale had been drams from The Macallan, I’d say that was a reasonably sound technique.
In 1942, a whole ban on all distilling was enforced till a minimum of 1944. The distilleries had been as an alternative used for storing grain for meals rationing, in addition to producing yeast for baking and business alcohol. We noticed one thing related in the course of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the place distilleries produced alcohol for hand sanitiser as an alternative of the same old boozy delights they had been well-known for.
Following the top of the battle in 1945, regardless of very vocal assist from avid Scotch drinker Winston Churchill, the business nonetheless suffered and didn’t return to full-time distilling till 1949. Grain was additionally nonetheless being rationed, which was the case till 1953. In 1954, all war-time restrictions had been lifted, and the business may lastly deal with doing what it did finest.
Within the Fifties, the federal government was after all intent on rising the financial system and numerous monetary incentives had been put in place. From the mid-50s till the Seventies, the UK loved an financial growth. Individuals had extra disposable earnings than they knew what to do with, and demand for Scotch as soon as once more grew, particularly blended malts. The federal government additionally targeted on abroad exports and blended Scotch proved massively well-liked within the States, notably Johnnie Walker, which remains to be the most well-liked Scotch within the USA.
Because the business grew, so too did the variety of operational distilleries throughout Scotland. Distilleries had been seen as very profitable, and numerous high-profile traders would put cash into them and assist develop the business additional.
Right now, there are greater than 150 working distilleries throughout Scotland, with numerous others on the way in which. The business is in a a lot better place than it was a century in the past, and lengthy might that proceed.
If you happen to’d wish to study 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 the various choice of distinctive whiskies we at present have in inventory.
With a formidable choice of limited-edition, uncommon, and award-winning whisky, in addition to heaps of whisky data on our weblog, it’s the proper spot for any whisky lovers on the market.
