1938 Famous New Orleans Drinks and how to mix'em (3rd printing) by Stanley Clisby Arthur

"Whisf{ie shall put our brains in rage." 1715

Whiskey Drinks Whiskey is a potent drink and whiskey is a potent word—^perhaps because both are of Irish extraction. The English pronunciation of the word in use today is based upon a word the ancient Gaels applied to the product of their stills, for it appears they were the original whiskey- makers. The name they gave the distilled spirit was singularly fitting they called it uisgebeatha. If we dissect the word we find that uisge (pronounced oosh'gee) means "water," beatha means "life," and the two combined mean "water of life." All of which goes to prove you can't beat the Irish for apt naming. In time this potent pro duct of Ould Ireland's stills became "whiskbae," later "whiskie," and finally just plain "whiskey." The Scots likewise were distillers of this ancient and honorable liquid. They adopted the original name the Irish gave to the white spirit which flowed from their stills, the word going through a similar sequence of pro nunciation until it became "whisky" without the e —note spelling on any bottle of Scotch. We have much for which to thank the Irish, but whis key rates a top place on the list. A toast to the Irish! And what drink may better serve such purpose than one of the many whiskey cocktails mixed to perfection as in New Orleans ? Make it an Old Fashioned, a Sazerac, a Manhattan, a julep, a highball, or just plain whiskey. Whichever it may be, fill 'em up and drink 'em down to the original whiskey-makers—the Irish!

"Whis^ee—Pa! Give me a Glass of that Rhenish!" 1753

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