New exhibition to reveal Scotch whisky history

THE history and heritage of Scotland’s national drink will be revealed in a new exhibition which opens to the public today.

Scotch Whisky: From Grain to Glass will open today to the public. Picture: Getty

Scotch Whisky: From Grain to Glass is in the main hall of the Mitchell Library in Glasgow and was created last year to mark the centenary of the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).

Various images and artefacts from private collections and Scotch Whisky producers have been gathered by the SWA to help show whisky’s role in Scotland’s society and economy.

The exhibition explains the whisky industry from production to export and marketing. It also revisits the “What is Whisky?” debate of the early 20th Century which helped to establish the industry in modern times.

Two thirds of Scotch whisky is bottled in Glasgow

White Horse whisky, which was blended and bottled north of Glasgow, is celebrated in the show with a life-size white horse sculpture made of fibre glass and can be seen in the marketing section of the exhibition.

Gavin Hewitt, chief executive of the SWA, said: “With more than 60% of Scotch Whisky bottled in the greater Glasgow area, you could call the city one of the spiritual homes of Scotch Whisky.

“For more than 100 years we have been committed to promoting and protecting Scotch Whisky. We hope as many people as possible will visit the exhibition to find out more about the heritage of Scotland’s national drink.”

The exhibition runs until July 31, 2013.