Whiskey History — Reader Timeline

Event	Date	Summary
Jiahu mixed fermented beverage	c. 7000 BCE	Archaeochemical evidence supports production of a mixed fermented beverage by about 7000 BCE.
Early wine evidence in Georgia	c. 6000 BCE	Chemical residue in a Georgian jar supports wine production around 6000 BCE.
Al-Kindi documents date-palm-wine distillation	c. 866 CE	By around 866, al-Kindi discussed distillation of date-palm wine in a work on perfume and distillations.
Distillation writing enters Latin scholarship	Mid-12th century	Arabic and Persian writing on distillation was translated into Latin at Salerno in the mid-twelfth century.
Scottish Exchequer records aquavitae production	1494	A Scottish Exchequer entry records malt supplied to Friar John Cor to make aquavitae.
Commercial spirits shipments appear in Bordeaux records	1513	Bordeaux notarial registers record a shipment of spirits to Picardie in 1513, followed by other small international shipments later in the decade.
Tisquantum teaches maize cultivation to English settlers	1621	Tisquantum taught maize cultivation to English settlers at Plymouth/Patuxet in 1621. This exchange of agricultural knowledge is not evidence of whiskey’s invention.