Farmers relied on whiskey as the main product to sell because generated a greater income for the farmers. They earned more per liter than they did when they sold the grain to buyers. In other words, it was more profit-intensive. Grain was also difficult to transport to the market while whiskey was easier to transport to the market. The farmers who distilled the whisky used to barter with the whisky - it acted as a currency. Farmers traded whiskey for the goods they needed.
