# They're a number of noted Irish and Scottish whiskies-Why no famous English whiskies? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 23, 2003, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-a-number-of-noted-irish-and-scottish-whiskies-why-no-famous-english-whiskies/214884 "2003-11-23T20:56:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-a-number-of-noted-irish-and-scottish-whiskies-why-no-famous-english-whiskies/214884/21 "2003-11-24T15:31:28Z")
Brains beer sounds a bit frightening. Can you recommend any of those products? ---
**Author:** ![Ponster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponster/32/17081_2.png) [@Ponster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponster)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-a-number-of-noted-irish-and-scottish-whiskies-why-no-famous-english-whiskies/214884/22 "2003-11-24T15:41:05Z")
Recommend? Jesus no ! Welsh vodka? Hahaha, I’d have to be very, very in need of a drink ! Though dragged this up from the 'net… > [@](#): > > Southern (Wales) Comfort? > When the Daniel brothers left Swansea for a life in America could they have known the ‘comfort’ they would bring to millions? > Jack Daniel founded the famous Jack Daniels distillery and his brother founded the still that now makes 'Southern Comfort. [http://www.famouswelsh.com/](http://www.famouswelsh.com/) ---
**Author:** ![fortytwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f9ae1b/32.png) [@fortytwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortytwo)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-a-number-of-noted-irish-and-scottish-whiskies-why-no-famous-english-whiskies/214884/23 "2003-11-24T23:26:31Z")
The Welsh Whisky Company (Y Cwmni Wisgi Cymreig- if I tell you that “Cymreig” is “Welsh” I’m sure you can work the rest out yourself 🙂 ) does produce a limited amount of spirits. Although I’m Welsh I find that Scottish Whisky can’t be bettered. I think that Taffski Vodka is a bit of a piss-take actually. [Here’s](http://www.welsh-whisky.co.uk/site/index.php?article=1) a bit about Welsh Vodka. V ---
**Author:** ![J\_String](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@J\_String](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/J_String)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-a-number-of-noted-irish-and-scottish-whiskies-why-no-famous-english-whiskies/214884/24 "2003-11-24T23:48:15Z")
> [@](#): > > Southern (Wales) Comfort? > When the Daniel brothers left Swansea for a life in America could they have known the ‘comfort’ they would bring to millions? > Jack Daniel founded the famous Jack Daniels distillery and his brother founded the still that now makes 'Southern Comfort. Nope. [http://www.jackdaniels.com/youknow.asp](http://www.jackdaniels.com/youknow.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-a-number-of-noted-irish-and-scottish-whiskies-why-no-famous-english-whiskies/214884/25 "2003-11-25T00:16:17Z")
Maybe because the Irish and the Scots needed a drink after dealing with the English? 😃 Kidding! Just kidding! - **Guin** , part Irish Catholic on me da’s side! ---
**Author:** ![Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ac91a4/32.png) [@Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knighted_Vorpal_Sword)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-a-number-of-noted-irish-and-scottish-whiskies-why-no-famous-english-whiskies/214884/26 "2003-11-25T00:27:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Grey \* > \*\*Oh, and I’ll second the Highland Park and toss out a Glen Farclas. \*\* I’ll raise you an Edradour. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-a-number-of-noted-irish-and-scottish-whiskies-why-no-famous-english-whiskies/214884/27 "2003-11-25T00:43:03Z")
Haha, \*\*Guinastaisa]/b] 🙂 Can I jsut add to **Ponster** ’s list - **Felinfoel**?l Here is a snippet that amused me, but it does indicate that Wales _was_ trying to make whisky a while ago. > [@](#): > > An article from Highland and Island Whisky Club Newsletter, summer 1982 notes Richard Lloyd Price’s Welsh Whisky ad of 1896, with the following blast at the Irish and Scots competitors: > > And Ireland and Scotia will both cease to boast > > When Welsh “white eye” has got them both on toast > > And this still-born idea will not perish still-born > > When fame sounds Welsh Whisky’s praise loud on the horn." > > His distillery at Frangoch closed 2 years later. And if it stopped him writing poetry, then thank heavens for that! [ir 22/3.98] from: [Welsh Whiskeys](http://www.dcs.ed.ac.uk/home/jhb/whisky/smws/128.html) ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-a-number-of-noted-irish-and-scottish-whiskies-why-no-famous-english-whiskies/214884/28 "2003-11-25T03:20:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Knighted Vorpal Sword \* > \*\*I’ll raise you an Edradour. \*\* I’ll drink your Edradour (if I can ever find it) and see you a Spring Bank. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![notquitekarpov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@notquitekarpov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notquitekarpov)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-a-number-of-noted-irish-and-scottish-whiskies-why-no-famous-english-whiskies/214884/29 "2003-11-25T07:22:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ShibbOleth \* > \*\*Brains beer sounds a bit frightening. Can you recommend any of those products? \*\* Brains is Samuel Brain’s Brewery, not an ingredient. The standard bitter is no better than OK, the stronger “Brains SA” I would actually recommend although not a session beer. Nicknamed “Skull Attack” for the effect a few two many pints had the next morning! A strong recomendation would be **Celyn’s** suggestion of Felinfoel, a strong dark beer if you are ever in South Wales. Welsh for Double Dragon I think I heard somewhere…any welsh speakers can confirm? Anyway, turning back to whiskey, surely the peat is something to do with the water as whenever I turn the taps on the water always clearly has peat in it. It’s brown for god’s sake! Does this not account for the distinctive taste of Islay malts? ---
**Author:** ![Ponster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponster/32/17081_2.png) [@Ponster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponster)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-a-number-of-noted-irish-and-scottish-whiskies-why-no-famous-english-whiskies/214884/30 "2003-11-25T07:53:46Z")
Yeah **J String** I’m more on the side that says that JD didn’t infact come from Wales and was born in the USA but thousands of American tourists visit Wales each year in search of the great mans birth place. I’m told by Welsh friends here beside me that everyone knows that Jack Daniels was born in Ceredigion and anyone who thinks elsewise is a poo-pooer. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-a-number-of-noted-irish-and-scottish-whiskies-why-no-famous-english-whiskies/214884/31 "2003-11-25T10:59:46Z")
> [@](#): > > everyone knows that Jack Daniels was born in Ceredigion Nitpick: then they ought to know that he was called Jack Daniel - hence “Jack Daniel’s”, not “Jack Daniels’” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-a-number-of-noted-irish-and-scottish-whiskies-why-no-famous-english-whiskies/214884/32 "2003-11-25T13:13:20Z")
We did make a whisky in England - it was called Glen Hoddle. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-a-number-of-noted-irish-and-scottish-whiskies-why-no-famous-english-whiskies/214884/33 "2003-11-26T23:48:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Vetch \* > **I think that Taffski Vodka is a bit of a piss-take actually.** Sure the name is, but the product is perfectly logical…and it seems bizarre to me that Ireland, the home of the versatile potato, has never produced the stuff in large quantities (Boru Vodka is the exception that springs to mind)… ---
**Author:** ![fortytwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f9ae1b/32.png) [@fortytwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortytwo)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-a-number-of-noted-irish-and-scottish-whiskies-why-no-famous-english-whiskies/214884/34 "2003-11-27T00:12:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GorillaMan \* > \*\*Sure the name is, but the product is perfectly logical…and it seems bizarre to me that Ireland, the home of the versatile potato, has never produced the stuff in large quantities (Boru Vodka is the exception that springs to mind)… \*\* I think the Irish were otherwise [engaged](http://homepage.tinet.ie/~bunrattywinery/historypotcheen.htm) V ---
**Author:** ![Ponster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponster/32/17081_2.png) [@Ponster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponster)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-a-number-of-noted-irish-and-scottish-whiskies-why-no-famous-english-whiskies/214884/35 "2003-11-27T15:16:59Z")
An e-mail from the JD website… We are delighted to have you visit our Jack Daniel’s Web site, and for taking the time to write. We are aware of the story about Jack Daniel being from Wales, but I assure you it is not true. Not that there is anything wrong about being from Wales, but he was born right here in Tennessee. His family did come from England, but they settled in North Carolina before moving to Tennessee where Jack was born in 1850. In the past we have heard from people in Europe and the UK that had heard the same story. Someone said they heard he was from Scotland. Someone even said they heard the story while touring a distillery in Scotland. And there was an article in a newspaper in some country about the same story. Thank you again for writing, and we do appreciate your interest in Jack Daniel’s. We hope you have a safe and happy holiday season, and you are welcome to visit our distillery anytime your travels take you to this part of the world. We’d be honored to show you just how we make our Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey. Kind regards, Jone and friends at Jack Daniel’s ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-a-number-of-noted-irish-and-scottish-whiskies-why-no-famous-english-whiskies/214884/36 "2003-11-29T07:34:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by notquitekarpov \* > \*\*…Felinfoel, a strong dark beer if you are ever in South Wales. Welsh for Double Dragon I think I heard somewhere…any welsh speakers can confirm? > … \*\* They do, IIRC, use a double dragon as a motif/logo/whatever it is, but it is not what the name means. No idea now about the “foel” part, but “felin” is a “mill”. “Dragon” would be “ddraig”, so, nope, the name is a “something-or-other” mill (although I _have_ heard people cheat by referring to it as “feeling foul”. ☹ You know, if I were a nice person, I’d volunteer to do a quick trip to Wales for some field research… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-a-number-of-noted-irish-and-scottish-whiskies-why-no-famous-english-whiskies/214884.md?page=1)