Annotation:Ferintosh Whiskey
X:1 T:Ferntosh Whisky M:C L:1/8 R:Strathspey B:Milne – Middleton’s Selection of Strathspeys, Reels &c. for the Violin (1870, p. 19) Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:D A,<D(D>G) (F>D)D>F|G>EC>A, C/E/E G2|A,<D(D>G) (F>D)D>A|d>AF>D F/A/A d2| A,<D(D>G) (F>D)D>F|g>eC>A, C/EE g2|f>d c/d/e (d>A) F/G/A|(G>E) C/D/E (D2 D)|| g|f>d f/g/a f2 d>f|g>ec>A c/d/e g2|f>d f/g/a f2 d>g|f>d(a>d) (b>d)a>g| f>d f/g/a f2 d>f|g>ec>A c/d/e g2|f>d c/d/e (d>A) F/G/A|(G>E) [A,/C/]D/[A,E] (D2D)||
FERINTOSH WHISKEY (An Toiseachd). AKA - "Ferntosh Whisky." Scottish, Strathspey. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (Fraser, Hunter, Milne): AA'BB' (Athole). Ferintosh was once a very popular Scotch whiskey, especially in the 18th century, though it apparently is not made in modern times. "This air celebrates the district of Ferintosh, so famous for the production of the genuine Highland beverage, called whisky. The superiority of the quality produced arose from the privilege of distilling duty free,--a privilege which the government found it necessary to purchase from Mr. Forbes of Culloden, the proprietor, when the revenue from excise became of such immense importance" (Fraser). Ferintosh is between Culbokie and Muir of Ord on the Black Isle, just north of Inverness. Charles Gore finds that Johnston's Gazetteer of Scotland describes Ferintosh as: "A Hamlet 3 m. NE of Conon Bridge, Ross & Cromarty," and points out this is only six or seven miles from the world-famous Glenmorangie Distillery. There is still a distillery in Muir of Ord.
Set as a reel, the tune was entered ("Fairintosh Whiskey") into vol. 2 of the c. 1883 music manuscript collection of County Leitrim piper and fiddler biography:Stephen Grier.
