1608 - First licence to distill whisky given to the Bushmills distillery, Co., Antrim, Ireland.

1641 - Tonnage and Poundage Act in england

1644 - Imosed first Rxcise duty.

1675 - Boyle rediscovered the principle of the hydrometer

1713 - Attempt to introduce Malt Tax in Scotland, but withdrawn.

1751 - Act amending laws on spirits specifically ended Scotland's exemption, so that it was no longer advantageous to import from Scotland.

1786 - Distillery Act. Licensing system introduced. Duty raised into Scotland to English level. No distinction between Highlands and Lowlands.

1788 - Duty increased.

1793 - Tax on whisky trebled to 9 Pounds.

1795 - Tax on whisky doubled to 18 Pounds.

1797 - Tax trebled to 54 Pounds.

1803 - War broke out again and tax raised yet again to 162 Pounds. Meanwhile whisky was becoming the most important industry.

1815 - The Glenlivet whisky was famed as the finest illicit whisky in the Highlands, due to the pure water and fine peat available.

1820 - John Walker set up asa a licensed grocer in Kilmarnock in Ayrshire.

1822 - George IV visited Scotland and was provided with illicit Glenlivet whisky. He was reported to drink no other.

1830 - Talisker distillery was founded on the Isle of Skye.

1840 - The Glen Grant distillery was founded.

1842 - Glenmorangie distillery at tain was founded.

1853 - Andrew Usher was credited with producing the first blended whisky.

1880 - John Walker opened a London office. Colonel John Gordon Smith, son of George Smith, went to law on the subject of the use of the name Glenlivet. The court held he was the only one entitled to use the label 'The Glenlivet', all others had to use a prefix.

1933 - Arthur Bell & Sons acquired Blair Athol and Dufftown-Glenlivet distilleries.

1936 - Hiram Walker acquired George Ballantine & Co.

1938 - Hiram Walker opened a 3,000,000 Pounds grain distillery at Inerleven, Dumbarton.

1939 - Start os Second World War.Total whisky stocks lost by enemy action amounted to 4.5 million gallons. Grain distilling halted, limited malt pot-still distilling allowed.

1952 - George & J.G. Smith, Ltd. and J. & J. Grant Glen Grant, Ltd. formed a public company, The Glenlivet & Glen Grant Distillers, Ltd.

1960 - Glenfarclas distillery redoubled in size Ledaig distillery in Tobermory started. Jura distillery started by Scottish & Newcastle Breweries, Ltd.

1972 - The Glenlivet & Glen Grant Distilleries, Ltd., rationalised their name to The Glenlivet Distillers Limited.

1973 - Britain entered the Eurpean Economic Community. With the introduction of V.A.T. the duty on whisky wa reduced for the first time since 1896.