1 Forbes of Culloden was given in 1690 liberty to distil grain at Ferintosh without excise. When this privilege was withdrawn in 1785, the price of whisky rose-hence Burns's lament.

cough

Those

stills

spies

brimstone

Whole breeches, oatmeal cake plenty

Thae curst horse-leeches o' th' Excise,

Wha mak the whisky stells their prize-
Haud up thy hand, deil! Ance-twice-thrice!
There, seize the blinkers!

An' bake them up in brunstane pies

For poor damn'd drinkers.

Fortune! if thou'll but gie me still
Hale breeks, a bannock, and a gill,
An' rowth o' rhyme to rave at will,
Tak' a' the rest,

An' deal'd about as thy blind skill
Directs thee best.