Photos: Scotch Barrel-Filling Ceremony at Washington's Distillery

Three of Scotland's top distillers joined forces with Scottish government representatives, the Distilled Spirits Council, the Scotch Whisky Association and Mount Vernon to commemorate the creation of the first ever Scottish-style single malt at George Washington's Distillery in Mount Vernon on Wednesday. 

Bill Lumsden, Master Distiller for The Glenmorangie Co.; Andy Cant, Master Distiller for the Cardhu Single Malt Distillery; and John Campbell, Distillery Manager at the Laphroaig Distillery completed three days' work using 100 percent Scottish barley and specially constructed oak barrels to produce the whiskey. The Scottish-style single malt will finish aging in three years. In 2015, 100 bottles will be auctioned for charities around the world to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the Scotch Whisky Association and celebrate Washington's history as a whiskey producer.

In 1797, George Washington's farm manager, Scottishman James Anderson, convinced Washington that producing whiskey made from corn and rye grown on Mount Vernon would complement his milling business. Washington was skeptical, but granted permission to construct the distillery. The distillery was one of the largest whiskey distilleries in early America; by 1799, Washington produced 11,000 gallons of whiskey.