1892 Drinks of the world

DRINKS.

«48

for curing all diseases, and, consequently, he was re- sorted to by pilgrims both far and near. Could it be that he had a whiskey still ? I know not ; but to this day a spring on the site of his hermitage helps to supply the Langholm distillery. Perhaps the earliest historical account of Scotch whiskey is the grant, in 1690, to Duncan Forbes of Culloden, in consideration of his services to William III., of the privilege of distilling whiskey, dutyfree, in the barony of Ferrintosh. Naturally, a number of distilleries were erected there, and Ferrintosh became the generic term for whiskey. In 1785 this grant was annulled on payment of ;,^ 20,000 to the representatives of Duncan Forbes, a proceeding which Robert Burns thus wrote about,, in his " Scotch Drink " :

" Thee, Ferrintosh ! O sadly lost $cotland laments from coast to coast 1 Now colic-grips an* barkin' hoast May kill us a' ; For loyal Forbes' chartered boast Is ta'en awa'."

The Highland risings made the Lowlanders more familiar with this spirit ; but it wa^ a long time before the drink became general, and a far longer before it was generally introduced into England. " Bonnie Prince Charlie" got too fond of it, and his affection for strong drinks was life-long. George IV., on his visit to Scotland, thought the best way to popularise himself on his arrival was to call for, and drink, a glass of whiskey ; and even our good Queen has tasted " Athol-brose."