Early Times

The practice of distilling alcohol has been around for centuries, but it was perfected in the Middle East during the eighth and ninth centuries. Early distilling was applied to ferment drinks but did not create the pure alcohol we drink today. In its beginning, alcohol was prescribed for medicinal use, but in the seventeenth century it began to be drunk recreationally, a practice which quickly spread around the world. At the end of the nineteenth century, the Industrial Revolution brought mass production of alcoholic beverages, allowing for wider commercial sale and consumption.