Bad Whisky

This volume provides an insight into the Victorian scandal which raged at the turn of the century, concerning the adulteration of whisky in public houses throughout the UK. Returning to contemporary press reports and Hansard, the author unravels the events which eventually resulted in laws being passed which created safeguards for what is now known throughout the world as "Scotch". The extent of adulteration was widespread with additives such as meths, shellac gum, sulphuric acid and boot polish. The "North British Daily Mail" took up the fight against the practice when, out of 30 samples of "whisky" taken from public houses, only two were found to be whisky. With some of the most prominent figures in Scottish public life joining the fray, the battle was on to clear up Scotch.