Pairing whisky with antique swords

It is quite well-known that you can pair wine with food if you want to “do things properly” at the dinner table, but what about whisky?

You can certainly do a whisky tasting experience, or just open a bottle of two and enjoy it by yourself or with some friends – but what about pairing whisky with something else? Why not try pairing whisky with swords?

I had the insight for this (only semi-serious!) article when I realised that the bottles of Highland Park whisky proudly state that the distillery was founded in 1798, which is the same year as the first pattern of regimental broadswords for Highland officers was approved. I began to wonder: are there any other distilleries that were founded in the same year as official patterns of swords?

And so, entirely for my own amusement, and since today is Burns Night in Scotland, here are some suggestions for pairing whiskies with a selection of antique swords.

1788

The 1788 patterns of cavalry swords were some of the first (relatively) official sword patterns in the British armed forces. No whisky distilleries were founded in this year; the closest dates of establishment were Strathisle in 1786 and Balblair in 1790.

1796

The 1796 patterns of infantry swords, light cavalry sabres, and heavy cavalry swords tend to be well-known and quite well-loved.

Unfortunately, there are no surviving whisky distilleries that were founded that year. The closest options would be the Oban distillery (founded in 1794) or the Glen Garioch distillery (founded in 1797).

It would have been wonderful to be able to pair a whisky from a 1796 distillery with one of these 1796 pattern swords, but no such luck! There seem to have been various brandy manufacturers established that year, but that is something I know much less about.

1798

The first official pattern of broadsword for officers in Highland regiments was established in 1798. The sword typically had a brass basket-hilt and had quite a distinct look, quite different from earlier and later examples.

There were three distilleries founded that same year: Blair Atholl, Highland Park, and Tobermory.

1803 and 1805

Before 1803, light infantry officers had begun carrying curved sabres reminiscent of the light cavalry sabre, rather than the official pattern of spadroon. In 1803, a new pattern of sword was made official for officers in the flank companies (the grenadiers and light infantry) – typically with a curved blade, slightly shorter than a cavalry sabre, and with a narrow brass hilt.

In 1805, an official pattern of sword for Royal Navy officers was created. Swords of this type often (but not always) had a spadroon-style blade and a stirrup hilt reminiscent of the light cavalry sabre.

After the three distilleries founded in 1798, no new distilleries were established until Glenburgie and Jura in 1810.

1821

In 1821, the official pattern of swords for light cavalry and heavy cavalry were revised to a new pattern. And it just so happens that the Linkwood distillery was founded that year!

1822

The official pattern of sword for infantry officers was revised in 1822, with the so-called “gothic hilt” appearing, named after the arches created by the protective bars. The Wolfburn distillery was founded this year.

1827

In 1827, officers in the Rifle regiments were allowed their own pattern of sword, based on the 1822 pattern but with a bugle instead of royal cypher. There weren’t any new distilleries founded this year, but in 1826 the following distilleries came into being: Benrinnes, Glendronach, and Old Pulteney.

1828

Just thirty years after the approval of the 1798 pattern broadsword for Highland officers, the 1828 pattern was brought into being. The brass basket was replaced by a more protective steel basket, and this pattern has not been changed since!

The Springbank whisky distillery was founded in 1828.

1845

The infantry officer sword was changed to a new pattern in 1845 – the main change was that of blade shape, with the old pipe-back blade being replaced by a fullered design.

The Royal Lochnagar distillery was founded in this year.

1853

In 1853, the two different patterns of sword for light and heavy cavalry were reconciled into a universal pattern for all cavalry.

There was no distillery founded this year, but in 1852 the Duiluaine distillery had been founded.

1864

The 1853 pattern cavalry sword gained a new hilt design, a considerably more protective hilt than before.

There was no distillery founded in 1864; in fact, the only distillery founded that decade was Cragganmore in 1869.

1885

The 1864 pattern cavalry sword was often regarded as being too heavy, so the 1885 pattern tried to achieve a lighter blade, as well as adding an upturned lip to the edges of the hilt.

Two distilleries were founded in 1885: the North British distillery and the Scapa distillery.

1890

The blade of the 1885 pattern cavalry sword was still considered unsuitable, so the 1890 pattern introduced yet another blade.

No distillery was established this year; the last distillery founded before this pattern of sword was Glenfiddich in 1886, and the two next distilleries were Craigellachie and Strathmill (both founded in 1891).

1892

The infantry officer sword was changed again in 1892, with another development in blade shape. The new design had a longer and straight blade, clearly intended more for thrusting than for cutting.

The Balvenie distillery was founded in this year.

1895

Just a few years after the new blade design, a new hilt was designed for the sword for infantry officers. The “gothic” style of hilt with protective bars was replaced by a considerably more protective partial basket.

The Aultmore and Dufftown distilleries were founded in this year.

1897

Just two years after the previous pattern of sword for infantry officers was made official, with its new shape of hilt, the 1897 pattern came into being with another development to the hilt, raising a slight upturned lip where the edge of the hilt would rub against the uniform.

There were several distilleries founded this year: Glendullan, Glen Moray, Flentauchers, Speyburn-Glenlivet, Tamdhu, and Tomatin.

1908 and 1912

A new cavalry sword pattern was developed in 1908. It was a long and very straight-bladed sword, with quite a considerable hilt for protection of the hand – it looked very different from the previous pattern! The 1912 pattern was developed for officers, and the only difference was really just the amount of decoration on the hilt and perhaps also the design and material of the grip.

After a series of distilleries founded in 1898 (Ardmore, BenRiach, Benromach, Dalwhinnie, Glen Elgin, and Knockando), no new distilleries were founded until the Strathclyde distillery was established in 1927.

Conclusions

Now you can pair a suitable whisky with your antique swords!

I found it quite interesting and good fun to learn about when the various distilleries were all founded. I took my information about whisky dates from Wikipedia, quite shamelessly, but I did notice that some of the published books on the subject of whisky history (such as the “Scotch Whisky Industry Record” by H. Charles Gray) offer slightly different dates for some distilleries.

I think my favourite choices from the list above would be to pair a Highland Park whisky with the basket-hilted broadsword of a Highland officer, or an Old Pulteney whisky with an 1827 pattern Rifle officer’s sword, or a Balvenie whisky with an 1892 pattern infantry officer’s sword.

I feel slightly more temptation now to investigate some of the brands of whisky that I have not yet tried, but I should probably behave myself and not treat this as a proper research project. That being said, if anyone wants to buy me a bottle of whisky from Linkwood, Wolfburn, or Royal Lochnagar, or even just a glass of it to get the taste, I would certainly appreciate the help with such important studies!

What pairings of whiskies and swords sound best for you, given your whisky tastes and sword preferences?