Did You Know There Was Once a Real Whisky War?

It's time again for a fun update from the whisky world. Welcome to another edition of Did You Know? Most likely, you don't. This particular whisky war was relatively peaceful, even though it lasted over a half-century.

The whisky war is a war unlike any other. Like many wars, it started out as a territorial dispute. Specifically, over an island named Tartupaluk (Greenlandic) or Hans Island (English for the Danish Hans Ø). The island is an uninhabited area of about 1.3 kilometers in Nares Strait, 300 kilometers from Qaanaaq, in Greenland.

Since the island lies between Canada and Greenland, both countries laid claim to it. The reason: the natural resources of the Arctic. Yes, if you Google the island you'll realize how strange the whole situation is because Hans Island is nothing more than a large rock in the water. Yet, a fierce battle was fought over it that took a, to say the least, peculiar turn.

In 1973, Canada and Denmark (to which Greenland belongs) drew a border through the Strait of Nares. Right in that waterway lies the island, sparking a debate: who did the island belong to? Both countries argued it was their territory, hence the tug-of-war ensued for the massive rock. The Danish Minister for Greenland Affairs went to the island in 1984 and planted a flag along with a bottle of whisky and note: ‘Welcome to the Danish island’.

Naturally, Canada couldn't let that fly, so they went on a mission of their own to plant their flag, along with a bottle of Canadian liquor. Since then, both countries have ventured to Hans Island numerous times to plant a flag with a bottle of alcohol and, of course, leave the requisite notes. No weapons were drawn, no one was injured (at least, not due to the dispute), but the war gained its branding: the whisky war.

In June 2022, only very recently, the war over Hans Island at last came to an end. There were no losers, but only winners. Why? The island was meticulously halved, with both Canada and Denmark receiving a share. Whether the many bottles left behind were part of a grand toast is unknown, but the Danish Minister Kofod of Foreign Affairs was happy with the outcome.

This just goes to show, a war can be fought with a spirited conversation and a glass of whisky.