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Scotland's History: The Top Ten - the third and final batch of contenders emerge...
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The "water of life" is a possible contender for Scotland's History: The Top Ten.
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Whisky - under the general heading of Drink - was among the final batch of contenders revealed in last night's episode of the series (Friday 24 November 2006).
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World-renowned whisky expert Charles MacLean argues the case for Drink to be considered one of the essential elements of Scotland's history.
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He acknowledges that Scots may be perceived as having a doubled-edged relationship with drink.
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Charles MacLean cites Dr Johnson who remarked that, although a lot of drinking was done, the Scots were not a drunken race, but notes there was a change in the 19th Century with the growth of rough shebeens and unlicensed taverns.
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However it is whisky's importance to Scotland on an international scale which, for him, clinches its place in our history.
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According to Mr MacLean, whisky is an integral part of Scotland's heritage and continues to be of major economic benefit.
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He said: "The whisky industry really evolved in the 1870s and the worldwide popularity of Scotch meant it rapidly became Scotland's greatest ambassador.
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"I think I'm right in saying that it remains the fifth largest export earner of all the things the UK makes.
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"Drink - alcohol - is such an important part of Scottish history and of Scottish life in the past and today that it really does deserve to be included in a top ten."
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The latest batch of contenders and their advocates revealed last night (24 Nov) were:
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 Medicine - Dr Nazim Ghouri
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Covenanters - Dr John Young, Strathclyde University
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Drink - Charles MacLean, whisky expert and writer
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Artists: Henry Raeburn - Professor Richard DeMarco
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Jacobites - Dr Tony Pollard, Glasgow University
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Â鶹ԼÅÄ Rule - journalist Murray Ritchie
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Labour Movements - Dr Hugh Hagen, Scottish Records Office
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World War One - journalist Trevor Royle
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Asians in Scotland - Dr Bashir Mann
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Wars of Independence - Dr Fiona Watson
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All 30 subjects are now on bbc.co.uk/scotlandshistory for the public to choose their favourites.
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The topics were whittled down from more than 1,000 nominations received from the public.
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Among the members of the public sighted giving their opinion in last night's programme was author Ian Rankin who said: "I'd go for the opening of the Scottish Parliament."
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The results of the public vote will be revealed in a special programme on Â鶹ԼÅÄ Two Scotland at 8pm on St Andrew's night (30 November), alongside the deliberations of a panel of history professionals chaired by Professor Tom Devine.
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Joining him to debate and wrestle with the ongoing significance of the 30 different topics - people, ideas and events - to get down to the essential ten of Scottish history are: Allan MacInnes, of Aberdeen University; Alison Cathcart, of Strathclyde University; David Caldwell, National Museums of Scotland; Doreen Grove of Historic Scotland; Duncan Toms, Principal Teacher of History at Bearsden Academy; and Katie Barclay, a Ph.D student at Glasgow University.
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HM
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