18th century In 1707, the Acts of Union merged England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain, and thereafter taxes on distilled spirits rose dramatically. Following parliament's divisive malt tax of 1725, most of Scotland's distillation was either shut down or forced underground. Scotch whisky was hidden under altars, in coffins, and in any available space to avoid the governmental excisemen or revenuers. Scottish distillers, operating out of homemade stills, took to distilling whisky at night when the darkness hid the smoke from the stills. At one point, it was estimated that over half of Scotland's whisky output was illegal.
18th century In 1707 the Acts of Union merged England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain and thereafter taxes on distilled spirits rose dramatically Following parliament's divisive malt tax of 1725 most of Scotland's distillation was either shut down or forced underground Scotch whisky was hidden under altars in coffins and in any available space to avoid the governmental excisemen or revenuers Scottish distillers operating out of homemade stills took to distilling whisky at night when the darkness hid the smoke from the stills At one point it was estimated that over half of Scotland's whisky output was illegal