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Brian Cox delves into the history of Scotland's national drink, revealing its origins, the rise in addiction in the 19th century and what it did for Scotland's reputation.

Today, whisky is a source of Scottish pride; it's one of the UK's few growth industries. In this last episode, actor Brian Cox reveals how whisky was born and shaped in opposition to the British tax system, and how that history forged the character of Scotland's national drink. But as he discovers, during the 19th century, addiction became a huge social problem with Scots drinking around six million gallons every year to escape the often unbearable conditions of their urban lives. The Scots reputation for hard drinking was born, an image Scotland struggles with to this day.

1 hour

Last on

Wed 19 Dec 201223:20

Credits

RoleContributor
PresenterBrian Cox
Series ProducerRichard Downes
ProducerTim Niel
DirectorTim Niel

Broadcasts

  • Mon 17 Dec 201221:00
  • Wed 19 Dec 201223:20