The origins of whisky remain something of controversy between the Irish and Scottish. Distilling techniques were brought to Ireland and Scotland sometime between 1100 and 1300 by monks. Since the wine was not easily obtained there, barley beer was distilled into a liquor that became whiskey. The first written record of whisky comes from 1405 in Ireland, where it was distilled by monks. The manufacturing of distilled spirits was limited to apothecaries and monasteries until the late 15th century. Buy whisky in our online whiskey store in Cyprus.