Macon McCormack, PhD in economic and social history of the Scotch Whisky industry, Freedom and Whisky Gang Taegither: Changes to Scotch Drink documented in the works of Robert Burns.
Macon McCormack, historian, will speak on the political, economic, and social tensions that transformed whisky in eighteenth-century Scotland, discussing how the writing of Robert Burns reflected this transformation. This highlight talk explores what is known about Scotch whisky production and consumption in Scotland during Burns' lifetime, including the roles of women in distilling and inn-keeping, and highlights Burns' omissions regarding illicit activity in his career as an exciseman. This tumultuous period in history shaped Scotch whisky, and like the poetry of Burns, was carried with the diaspora across the world to become a global commodity which radiates the heritage of Scotland with each dram.
Booking for Highlight Talks at Robert Burns Birthplace Museum is recommended to guarantee entry. Due to limited capacity in the venue, any available seats will be allocated to attendees who have not booked on a first come, first served basis, meaning that entry cannot be guaranteed without booking.
