June 1, 1495: The King's Order and the Water of Life

Some of the most consequential business decisions in history weren't decisions at all.On June 1, 1495, King James IV of Scotland ordered a friar named John Cor to produce a batch of aqua vitae using malt from the crown, and a clerk recorded the transaction in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland. That entry became the first written record of Scotch whisky, and more importantly, the earliest known example of a government pulling an informal economy into the official record and setting the stage for centuries of taxation, licensing, and regulation that followed.From bsnsHistory, the daily podcast about the moments when business quietly reshaped the world.Written and hosted by Ron Trucks. Research and editing by Rodney Russ. Sound design by Angela Cahoy. Music by Cody Martin and Soundstripe.For more daily business stories, visit www.bsnsDAILYpodcasts.com