Comments on: Pakistani Whisky http://thespiritworld.net/2007/01/03/pakistani-whiskey/ Quenching your thirst with sips, nips and tipples. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:51:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: John Martin http://thespiritworld.net/2007/01/03/pakistani-whiskey/#comment-11768 Wed, 10 Jan 2007 23:48:14 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2007/01/03/pakistani-whiskey/#comment-11768 The term "Scotch Whisky" (like "champagne") really can't be controlled except by each country in which it is sold. For the UK, the Scotch Whisky Act 1988 (search for that in Google) defines "Scotch Whisky" as a product of Scotland, less than 94.8 per cent by volume and matured for at least three years in wooden casks of a capacity not exceeding 700 litres. I'm guessing the EU must honor the Act and that the USA would probably, too. The act also prohibits whisky from being made in Scotland, except Scotch whisky. The term “Scotch Whisky” (like “champagne”) really can’t be controlled except by each country in which it is sold.

For the UK, the Scotch Whisky Act 1988 (search for that in Google) defines “Scotch Whisky” as a product of Scotland, less than 94.8 per cent by volume and matured for at least three years in wooden casks of a capacity not exceeding 700 litres. I’m guessing the EU must honor the Act and that the USA would probably, too.

The act also prohibits whisky from being made in Scotland, except Scotch whisky.

]]> by: Brenda Pederson http://thespiritworld.net/2007/01/03/pakistani-whiskey/#comment-11536 Tue, 09 Jan 2007 22:09:41 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2007/01/03/pakistani-whiskey/#comment-11536 Hi John. You would think that wouldn't you? And it sure would make sense. And actually after finding out about this Pakistani Scotch I started doing some research. So far I've been able to find regulations about what is produced in Scotland (it must be made in the Scottish style and nothing other than Scotch can be produced in Scotland); the minimum alcohol content for whiskies produced in Scotland and a couple other regulations regarding what is produced in Scotland. No where does there seem to be (at least not that I've found yet) anything that says only whisky produced in Scotland can be called Scotch. There was a reference to "no one makes whisky like we do here in Scotland - although others have tried" (not an exact quote), although in its context it was more of a marketing statement. My guess is that this (and other whiskies) made in the Scotch style - malted barley dried in a smoky environment, maybe using peat (See Robert's recent <a href="http://thespiritworld.net/2007/01/08/whiskey/" rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow">Whiskey post</a>) - is being called Scotch no matter where it's produced. I imagine the name is not protected yet but maybe it will be at some point. And remember that this brewery/distillery were created under British rule to satisfy British requests so chances are that what they produced was considered the equivalent of Scotch. ~ B Hi John. You would think that wouldn’t you? And it sure would make sense. And actually after finding out about this Pakistani Scotch I started doing some research.

So far I’ve been able to find regulations about what is produced in Scotland (it must be made in the Scottish style and nothing other than Scotch can be produced in Scotland); the minimum alcohol content for whiskies produced in Scotland and a couple other regulations regarding what is produced in Scotland.

No where does there seem to be (at least not that I’ve found yet) anything that says only whisky produced in Scotland can be called Scotch.

There was a reference to “no one makes whisky like we do here in Scotland - although others have tried” (not an exact quote), although in its context it was more of a marketing statement.

My guess is that this (and other whiskies) made in the Scotch style - malted barley dried in a smoky environment, maybe using peat (See Robert’s recent Whiskey post) - is being called Scotch no matter where it’s produced.

I imagine the name is not protected yet but maybe it will be at some point.

And remember that this brewery/distillery were created under British rule to satisfy British requests so chances are that what they produced was considered the equivalent of Scotch.
~ B

]]> by: John Martin http://thespiritworld.net/2007/01/03/pakistani-whiskey/#comment-11522 Tue, 09 Jan 2007 19:25:56 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2007/01/03/pakistani-whiskey/#comment-11522 >> Since this Pakistani version >> is a Scotch I thought that no matter the process, to be called "Scotch" it needed to be made in Scotland. >> Since this Pakistani version
>> is a Scotch

I thought that no matter the process, to be called “Scotch” it needed to be made in Scotland.

]]> by: Brenda Pederson http://thespiritworld.net/2007/01/03/pakistani-whiskey/#comment-10764 Thu, 04 Jan 2007 14:04:44 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2007/01/03/pakistani-whiskey/#comment-10764 Hi Bryan! Yes the spelling is often based on the place of origin and the style. Since this Pakistani version is a Scotch it should be spelled Whisky - the good news is with either spelling you still know what's being talked about. ;-D ~ B Hi Bryan! Yes the spelling is often based on the place of origin and the style. Since this Pakistani version is a Scotch it should be spelled Whisky - the good news is with either spelling you still know what’s being talked about. ;-D
~ B

]]> by: Bryan Betts http://thespiritworld.net/2007/01/03/pakistani-whiskey/#comment-10740 Thu, 04 Jan 2007 09:26:07 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2007/01/03/pakistani-whiskey/#comment-10740 There's quite a few places making whisky or whiskey now - I've had Breton and Belgian whiskies in recent years. Both were very drinkable... (-: How they choose which spelling to use, I don't know - traditionally wasn't it whisky for Scotch & Canadian, and whiskey for US & Irish? I guess it depends which tradition they prefer to follow. There’s quite a few places making whisky or whiskey now - I’ve had Breton and Belgian whiskies in recent years. Both were very drinkable… (-:

How they choose which spelling to use, I don’t know - traditionally wasn’t it whisky for Scotch & Canadian, and whiskey for US & Irish? I guess it depends which tradition they prefer to follow.

]]> by: Brenda Pederson http://thespiritworld.net/2007/01/03/pakistani-whiskey/#comment-10638 Wed, 03 Jan 2007 20:14:30 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2007/01/03/pakistani-whiskey/#comment-10638 Thanks for catching that Curt - I've made the correction! And see - here you are smack dab in the middle of the US (I think, anyway...) sipping Scotch Scotch - wouldn't be able to do that if everyone kept everything to themselves... ;-) Thanks for catching that Curt - I’ve made the correction!

And see - here you are smack dab in the middle of the US (I think, anyway…) sipping Scotch Scotch - wouldn’t be able to do that if everyone kept everything to themselves… ;-)

]]> by: Curt McAdams http://thespiritworld.net/2007/01/03/pakistani-whiskey/#comment-10636 Wed, 03 Jan 2007 19:43:05 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2007/01/03/pakistani-whiskey/#comment-10636 I've had no wish to go to Pakistan, but this is a problem... it would be pretty cool to try Scotch whisky (not whiskey, by the way :) ) not made in Scotland! I just got a bottle of my favorite whisky, which I hadn't had in a while, Lagavulin; I'd forgotten how incredible it is! I doubt this would beat it, but it would still be fun to try. I’ve had no wish to go to Pakistan, but this is a problem… it would be pretty cool to try Scotch whisky (not whiskey, by the way :) ) not made in Scotland!

I just got a bottle of my favorite whisky, which I hadn’t had in a while, Lagavulin; I’d forgotten how incredible it is! I doubt this would beat it, but it would still be fun to try.

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