scotch

a slight surface cut (especially a notch that is made to keep a tally)

whiskey distilled in Scotland; especially whiskey made from malted barley in a pot still

hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of

What ultimately frustrated every challenger was Ruth's amazing September surge

make a small cut or score into

of or relating to or characteristic of Scotland or its people or culture or its English dialect or Gaelic language

Scots Gaelic