A Historical Archaeology of Whisky in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. c.1500-1850

This is a study of the historical archaeology of whisky distilling in the Highlands<br/>and Islands of Scotland from c.1500AD to c.1850AD. Historical archaeology, as a<br/>combination of historical and archaeological methods is utilised throughout the thesis<br/>to investigate two core research questions. It uses geographically diverse case-studies<br/>to investigate the archaeology related to whisky distilling in different areas of the<br/>Highlands and Islands, complemented by in-depth historical research for each of the<br/>case study areas. These case studies were Strathconon, in the north Highlands,<br/>Speyside in the east and Islay, a Hebridean island to the south. As a complement to<br/>this approach a wider survey of historical and archival sources, and the national and<br/>regional HERs are also drawn upon up to enhance a discussion around the research<br/>questions.<br/>This is also an historical archaeology of distilling in that it seeks to be critical,<br/>and to understand from where modern whisky distilling, still an economically and<br/>culturally important industry, emerged. How this industry emerged through the<br/>tumultuous late 18th and 19th centuries is a key theme. Historical and archaeological<br/>research is unified to achieve a better understanding of how distilling was conducted<br/>and experienced by ordinary Highlanders, particularly illicit distillers, taking part in an<br/>industry which is a world away from the large-scale, legal distilling industry that had<br/>emerged by the end of the 19th century. Distilling is studied as an element of<br/>commercial practice which was an aspect of Highland life and economy which<br/>occurred on several scales from at least the 16th century.<br/>This thesis produces an understanding of the role of whisky in the economy<br/>and society of the Highlands and Islands from the 17th century until the mid-19th<br/>century. The social, cultural and economic aspects of the distillation and consumption<br/>of whisky are treated as equally important. The place of both distillation and<br/>consumption are viewed as a part of the wider economy, culture and society of the<br/>Highlands through time, with changing modes of consumption and distillation being<br/>identified and scrutinized, drawing out a complex understanding of how diverse groups<br/>of people were impacted by change through the post-medieval history of the Highlands<br/>and Islands.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

Doctor of Philosophy (awarded by UHI)

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Doctoral Thesis

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of the Highlands and Islands

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Bratt, Darroch Duncan MacLachlan

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Downes, Jane
• Ritchie, Elizabeth

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

oai:pure.atira.dk:studenttheses/9884c64d-93e7-42c0-9eaa-f439158eab21

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:pure.atira.dk:studenttheses/9884c64d-93e7-42c0-9eaa-f439158eab21