An historic name
Blended whisky crafted with the history of its name in mind...
The Old Bridges provided the physical link between:​
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Clan (family)
Community (friends)
Cattle (wealth)​
They made the trade in Scotch whisky possible.
Scotch whisky has been distilled in Scotland for more than 500 years. Then, nearly every farmer or crofter had a whisky still. Many stills were very small, only the size of large cooking pots.
Crystal Clear Water
The rivers across Scotland that provide the crystal-clear water for scotch whisky also provide significant barriers without a bridge.
Highland Scotland remained very poor until the 1900’s, with a few Old Bridges both small and large and the drove roads, becoming the vital transport links for trade with the south. The Highlander’s trade was in cattle, sheep and whisky.
Single malt scotch is born...
The Highland trade was in cattle, sheep and single malt whisky. The Old Bridges made the trade in Scotch whisky possible.
The Highland farms produced enough whisky for family and sometimes enough to trade. These single farm or single croft whiskies were distilled from an early type of “bere barley” that had usually been rain soaked and dried (The first malted barley.) It was distilled in a single still over an open fire.
...but there was not enough of it from each tiny still.
Blended Scotch is born….
With not enough Single Malt from each small Highland / Crofters still, the world of blended Scotch was born as enterprising Scots blended all the single malts and grain whisky together to sell to their friends and the world.
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Old Bridge blended scotch whisky stays true to the historic foundations of its name. We select Single Malt Whiskies and grain whiskies from all over Scotland with a focus on the Highlands, to create a blend that is to be shared with friends and family.
Bridges Build Great Friendships
Historic Scotch
Why Blend?
Between 1400 and 1900 the History of Scotch defined its place in the world and the traditions that ensure its success in the world today. Kings and parliaments imposed laws and taxes on the production of whisky and malted barley. The further away from the king and parliament the more illicit whisky was produced.
The Highland line was created by a tax law!
South of the Highland line, grain whisky was made by legal distillers in much bigger stills and in greater quantities from un-malted “Grain”. Any type of grain was used except malted barley which was taxed and therefore more expensive.
The tax paid grain whisky was lighter but had less character than the Single Malted Barley Whiskies, which many preferred but they were more expensive.
The blending of Scotch Whiskies began at the trysts or gatherings, normally 3 times a year in August, September and October. Thousands of highlanders with their dogs, ponies and a cask of single malt whisky (usually strapped to a pony,) would meet to trade and party. The trysts at Crieff and Falkirk attracted hundreds of thousands of cattle and sheep from all over the Highlands and would take up hundreds of acres of ground at Falkirk. ​
These massive trysts (gatherings) required lots of whisky!
​​Traders bought the casks of single malt from the Highlanders and blended the grain whiskies with them to create a harmony of whiskies that could be sold and traded around Great Britain and the World.
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Blended scotch whisky that makes up over 90% of the Whisky sold around the world today was born.
Historic Scotch Timeline
1494 First recorded document referring to 'aqua vitae' in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland.
1579 An Act of the Scots Parliament restricts the use of malt for distilling in anticipation of a poor harvest. The aristocracy is exempted.
1641 An Act of the Scots Parliament bans the import of spirits on the basis that they could be "more conveniently made within the kingdom to the benefit of the natives."
1756 to 1760 All distilling in Great Britain banned due to a bad harvest in 1756 private stills are exempted.
1759 Excise duty on malt is increased.
1781 Private distilling for self-consumption made illegal.
1782 1,940 illicit stills seized. Half of these are in the Highlands. Yet the Highlands are only 20% of the population.
1797 Excise officers arrive in Islay, where the laird had held the right to collect excise duty. 859 illegal stills seized in Scotland.
1802 All distilling is banned.
1,222 illicit stills seized by the Excise in the first half of the year.
1809 Distilling from grain banned until 1811.
1814 The Excise Act passed.
1816 36 licensed distilleries in Scotland
1822 4,867 prosecutions for illicit distilling.
1823 An Excise Act is passed which finally creates level playing field for all distillers.
1835 230 distilleries operating in Scotland.