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Be thankful Scotland isn’t part of the European Union

hank
edited March 13 in Off-Topic
From today’s WSJ - “Trump Threatens 200% Tariffs on European Alcohol”

Maybe, just to be safe, we should investigate how to make Bathtub Scotch? Problem is in the damn aging process. One might grow old and die before the stuff is fit to drink.

“Scotland is not currently a member of the European Union (EU). As part of the UK, Scotland left the EU on January 1, 2021. However, the Scottish Government has plans to rejoin the EU if Scotland becomes independent. The Scottish Government proposes that an independent Scotland would apply to rejoin the EU as soon as possible after independence. The process of joining the EU would involve following the standard accession procedure outlined in Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union.”
(from Bing’s AI)

Comments

  • AnnaAnna
    Did the Kentucky delegation give a stamp of approval and celebration for this? As far as Scotch goes, who in the US makes competitive Scotch liquor? If US prices of whiskies increase, will untaxed stills increase or will DUIs decrease. (Note, I wonder if this is a stab-yourself-in-the-back mistake. Politicians that took on tobacco and increased prices were not popular with the working class, an enormous number of which used tobacco as their drug of choice.)
  • Mona
    Anna said:

    Did the Kentucky delegation give a stamp of approval and celebration for this? As far as Scotch goes, who in the US makes competitive Scotch liquor? If US prices of whiskies increase, will untaxed stills increase or will DUIs decrease. (Note, I wonder if this is a stab-yourself-in-the-back mistake. Politicians that took on tobacco and increased prices were not popular with the working class, an enormous number of which used tobacco as their drug of choice.)

    @Anna, there are some, but I doubt any of them are up to hank's standards.

    https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/american-single-malt-whiskey/
  • hank
    edited March 13
    THE SCOTCH WHISKY REGULATIONS 2009

    ”Formal regulation of Scotch Whisky is contained in the Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (the “Regulations”). The Regulations set out the regulatory requirements for the production of Scotch whisky. Only whisky produced in accordance with the Regulations can be sold as Scotch whisky.

    Amongst other requirements, the Regulations specify that for a spirit to be sold as Scotch whisky, it must have been produced (and matured) in Scotland; have matured for at least 3 years; and have only matured in an excise warehouse or other permitted place.

    https://dlapiper.com/en/insights/topics/whisky-law-insights/2024/scotch-whisky-labelling-and-bottling

    Apparently there are imitations from different countries. One Asian country (Japan?) is purported to have a desirable product. But AFAIK it can’t be sold as scotch unless produced in Scotland. That’s as it should be. Some things are sacred.
  • AnnaAnna
    @Mona and @hank - Thank you. My ignorance of whiskey is enormous.
  • Old_JoeOld_Joe
    edited March 13
    When I was 20 years old I was stationed for a year at an "Isolated Duty" station on Palawan Island in the Philippines. This was one of many U.S. Coast Guard stations world-wide which broadcast navigational signals used by aircraft and shipping, way before GPS was invented.

    These stations were typically staffed by a small crew, in our case about 13 or 14. We were truly isolated- no roads, no telephone or electric power, and many miles of raw jungle between us and any actual town.

    For recreational liquor we depended on a small settlement of smugglers a few miles away from our station. They had a little fleet of small boats with primitive one-cylinder engines, which we helped repair when needed. In return, they supplied us with liquor and charcoal for our weekend barbecues.

    The liquor was all by a Philippine distiller named Tanduay. They had a full line of products, from gin to whisky to "scotch". The only way to tell the difference between them was to read the bottle labels- all of the various varieties tasted pretty much like kerosene, as I recall.

    That was different from our beer, which was officially supplied by the Coast Guard. It was San Miguel, and in contrast to the Tanduay, no two bottles tasted the same.

    Great to be young. :)
  • MarkMark
    "That was different from our beer, which was officially supplied by the Coast Guard. It was San Miguel, and in contrast to the Tanduay, no two bottles tasted the same."

    Sounds pretty much like the rice wine(?) the Koreans and Vietnamese shared with us in country. If and/or when beer was available it came from a pallet resting on a tarmac from who knows where. It might be partly why I've never really cared for beer or rice wine for that matter.
  • Old_JoeOld_Joe
    @Mark- Same here, with respect to beer. However: In traveling through Europe I became aware of a number of beers that I really liked. After return here, the medical folks told me to knock off the alchohol... gout, kidney, and potential diabetes problems.

    So now I'm pretty careful... hold it down to about one drink a day, and not every day. BUT: just discovered two very decent non-alcoholic beers, both made locally, both "Kölsch" type brews-

    Best Day Kölsch
    Fort Point KSA Kölsch

    The Fort Point is somewhat lighter than the Best Day. The Best Day is great with pizza or somewhat spicy food, the Fort Point with sandwiches and lighter food.

    If you're interested I'd bet that you would find other non-alcholics brewed near you that are equally good.

    You might have noticed the post re Trump and his latest 200% tariff on European alcohols. We generally have wine with dinner, and have found many inexpensive (under $10) and very decent wines from France, Spain, and Italy. Trader Joe's is a good source for some of these. I saw Trump coming, and have tried to stock up. But that won't hold up forever. Trump is a real bastard.
  • CrashCrash
    Tanduay Rum is sold here and probably everywhere. My brother in law says the stuff we sent him by barge was extremely strong, but the "proof" was just standard issue. I guess the swill he's accustomed to is watered down junk. But it carries the Tanduay label. And San Miguel is quality brew. But Red Horse, made by the same company, is stronger. I don't like to give Philippines companies any money. So much corruption there. And HERE, sadly. My hero. Orange Donny. ORK.

    THIS stuff is as smooth as a prom queen's thighs:
    https://www.remedyliquor.com/products/ron-abuelo-rum-anejo-panama-12yr-750ml
  • Old_JoeOld_Joe
    @Crash- You have to remember that when I was 20 (1959) Tanduay and San Miguel were not sold outside of the Philippines (at least, certainly not in the US). I'm sure that both have improved substantially since then,
  • CrashCrash
    @Old_Joe. +1.
  • MarkMark
    @Old_Joe - I don't eschew beer entirely but when I want one it's usually an Anchor Steam (hoping it does come back), a Guinness or a toss up between Corona or Modelo (with lime of course). However I will look into those non-alcoholics you mentioned. I have friends who live in Portland, OR who rave about a number of craft brewed, non-alcoholic beers making the rounds up there. Beer most often just makes me feel full or sleepy.
  • hank
    edited March 13
    Some of the N/As nowadays are damned good. Better tasting than most “real” beers IMHO. Might explain why I drink so little beer anymore. St Pauli Girl N/A and Becks N/A are hard to tell apart. Both on the sweet side. Clausthaler more tart. All 3 excellent and imported from Germany, (Expect to pay a premium price.)
  • hank
    edited March 13
    Anna said:

    @Mona and @hank - Thank you. My ignorance of whiskey is enormous.

    HA. Whatever floats your boat. One boring winter here in Michigan I reviewed about 15 different scotch whisky glasses on Amazon. So important to enjoying the beverage. Weight, shape, capacity, rim curvature / thickness, overall balance in hand, color, heigh, base vs rim dimensions, etc etc. It’s a real science. All very important!

    ”My ignorance of whiskey is enormous” - While rye, bourbon and others are called “whiskey,” the spelling is different for Scotch. It goes by ”whisky”. The U.S. produced “single malts” use the ”whiskey” spelling because they cannot legally claim to be Scotch.
  • CrashCrash
    MacAllan 12 year, tonight. Delicious.
    image


  • hank
    edited March 16
    Thanks for the tip @Crash. I looked at a bottle of the Macallan at Costco after you posted the other day for $85 but didn’t bite. Perhaps another day. Glenfarclas ain’t half bad. Probably not up to your standards. Sells for around $80 in Michigan.

    Interesting story behind my finding it - About a year ago we departed LaGuardia at midnight after a near 7 hour delay. Landed at 2:20 CST at O’Hare where I’d booked a room at last minute. Don’t drink flying, but my carry-on was “dry” and so I talked the United flight attendant (in first class) into giving me a couple to take off the plane for later that evening morning. Decent fella complied. I’d say United’s stock whisky is a lot better than their stock service, however.

    image
  • davidrmorandavidrmoran
    hank said:

    Anna said:

    @Mona and @hank - Thank you. My ignorance of whiskey is enormous.

    ”My ignorance of whiskey is enormous” - While rye, bourbon and others are called “whiskey,” the spelling is different for Scotch. It goes by ”whisky”. The U.S. produced “single malts” use the ”whiskey” spelling because they cannot legally claim to be Scotch.
    Almost complete. Canadian and Japanese whiskies drop the 'e' also. Japan single malts are exceptional, and quite floral, Highlandlike. (also v expensive)
  • hank
    WOW. Thanks
  • CrashCrash
    Still my favorite: Islay.
    image
  • hank
    +1 Will give it a ride sometime. Might have made enough in today’s market to buy one.:)
  • CrashCrash
    hank said:

    +1 Will give it a ride sometime. Might have made enough in today’s market to buy one.:)

    From a review a long time ago: "If you like the taste of ashes, drink Laphroaig." VERY peaty.
  • davidrmorandavidrmoran
    iodine
  • Old_JoeOld_Joe
    Man, you guys are bad.
  • hank
    edited March 18
    Re iodine

    Then I’ll take David’s word for it and pass.

    I did dump a $20 bottle of Teachers down the drain years ago after 1 sip. Peat or no peat. Like to think it worked as drain cleaner.

  • davidrmorandavidrmoran
    omg
  • CrashCrash
    Once, to try something new, I bought a Scotch labeled "Loch Lomond." Gawd, it was evil. Tasted like CANDY. Sweeter than the flan the Filipinas make for dessert.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crème_caramel
  • hank
    edited March 21
    Crash said:

    Once, to try something new, I bought a Scotch labeled "Loch Lomond." Gawd, it was evil. Tasted like CANDY. Sweeter than the flan the Filipinas make for dessert.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crème_caramel

    Even the name sounds bad.

    I can drink Chivas maybe once every couple years. Nice taste. Not bad at all. Just doesn’t taste like real scotch as I know it.

  • davidrmorandavidrmoran
    Big lake NW of Glasgow
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