John Cor facts for kids
John Cor was a friar, a type of monk, who lived in Scotland a long time ago. He is famous because his name is in the very first known written record of a drink that would later become known as Scotch Whisky. This important record was made on June 1, 1495.
The old record, written in Latin, says:
This means King James IV asked John Cor to make "aqua vitae" using eight large measures of malt. "Aqua vitae" means "water of life" and was an early name for distilled spirits like whisky.
Who Was John Cor?
John Cor was likely a Dominican Friar. These friars lived in a religious house in Stirling. Some people have also suggested he might have been a monk from Lindores Abbey in Fife. However, his name "Cor" would have sounded different from "Kawe," making it unlikely they were the same person.
John Cor's Life at Court
Friar John Cor was a servant who worked for King James IV. The King often gave him gifts. For example, on Christmas Day in 1488, the King gave John Cor 14 shillings. This was a good amount of money back then!
In 1494, around Christmas time, John Cor received black cloth from a place called Lille in Flanders. This cloth was for his special uniform, called livery clothes, because he worked as a clerk for the King.
What is an Apothecary?
John Cor was probably an apothecary. An apothecary was like an early pharmacist or chemist. They prepared and sold medicines, and they also knew how to distill liquids. This skill would have been very useful for making "aqua vitae."
Another apothecary named William Foular, who lived in Edinburgh, was also known for making distilled waters and "aqua vitae" for the Scottish royal court starting in December 1506.
