Alfred Barnard’s Journey Through Victorian Whisky | Whisky Auctioneer x The Liquid Antiquarian

In the late 19th century, one man set out to document the whisky industry as it had never been recorded before. Between 1885 and 1887, Alfred Barnard travelled across Scotland, England and Ireland, visiting 162 distilleries and meticulously documenting how whisky was made, who made it, and the communities built around it. The result was The Whisky Distilleries of the United Kingdom — a landmark work of whisky history first published in 1887. In this extended documentary conversation, whisky writers Dave Broom and Arthur Motley explore Barnard’s remarkable journey and the world of distilling he encountered during the Victorian era. Drawing on their research and expertise, they discuss the distilleries Barnard visited, the industry he recorded at a pivotal moment in its development, and why his work still shapes how we understand whisky today. From lost distilleries and historic production methods to the personalities behind the stills, Barnard’s account offers a rare window into a whisky world that in many cases no longer exists. This full-length conversation expands on our earlier short and feature videos, presenting the complete discussion with Dave and Arthur as they examine the historical importance of Barnard’s work and its lasting influence on whisky scholarship. 📚 The rare first edition discussed in this video was offered at auction through Whisky Auctioneer, one of the world’s leading online whisky auction platforms. 📩 Sign up to the Whisky Auctioneer newsletter to stay informed about upcoming auctions and rare whisky artefacts: https://whiskylink.co/Subscribe-YT 🥃 New to Whisky Auctioneer? Register today to take part in our online auctions: https://whiskylink.co/Register-YT 📜 About The Liquid Antiquarian The Liquid Antiquarian explores the fascinating histories of the world’s drinks through objects, documents and ephemera. Hosts Dave Broom and Arthur Motley combine deep research with decades of industry experience to uncover the stories behind historic spirits. Follow them below:   / theliquidantiquarian      / @theliquidantiquarian     / theliquidantiquarian