The tax applied Using to all distilled spirits , but American whiskey was by far the country 's most popular distilled beverage in the 18th century , so the excise became Becoming widely known as a `` whiskey tax '' .

The tax applied Using to all distilled spirits , but American whiskey was by far the country 's most popular distilled beverage in the 18th century , so the excise became Becoming widely known as a `` whiskey tax '' .