Sheep, taxes and a lot of hidden whisky (Whisky Names Explained)

Some whiskies carry the most evocative names. You’ll find bottles that nod to the magnificent Scottish Highlands, historic figures, or mythical creatures. The whisky name we’re unpacking today has none of that—if anything, it’s disarmingly simple. In this Whisky Names Explained, we reveal how the brand Sheep Dip got its name.

Back in the day, farmers would distill whisky illegally during the winter months. Some of those names grew into the famous brands we know today, but many farmers were distilling for their own use or to sell in small quantities around the village. Their biggest fear was the tax inspector, checking for any secret stills at work. As a farmer, you didn’t want to pay excise duty on your side hustle, but the threat of hefty fines or even prison time wasn’t exactly appealing either.

Over the years, farmers got increasingly creative at hiding their clandestine whisky stash. One tactic was to store the water of life in casks labeled as containing something utterly unremarkable. A perfect example: sheep dip. Invented in 1830, this chemical treatment was used to dunk sheep and protect them from parasites and worms.

Clever, if you ask us. What tax inspector is going to take an interest in cleaning agents? Sheep Dip whisky takes its name directly from this sheep bath, a playful tribute to the rebellious, resourceful past of Scottish farmers.

Now that we know where the name Sheep Dip comes from, let’s look at the whisky behind the story. Sheep Dip is a no-age-statement blended malt made from a range of single malts sourced from across Scotland. It’s part of the Ian MacLeod portfolio and is known as a richly flavored whisky at a modest price.

Wat to know more about whisky names? Look at our special page about it.