I promote whiskey consumption and Jack Daniel's, the liquid, is innocent.

Hot of the news wires:

Historic Whiskey Could Go Down Drain

By JOE EDWARDS – 10 hours ago

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Here's a sobering thought: Hundreds of bottles of Jack Daniel's whiskey, some of it almost 100 years old, may be unceremoniously poured down a drain because authorities suspect it was being sold by someone without a license.

Officials seized 2,400 bottles late last month during warehouse raids in Nashville and Lynchburg, the southern Tennessee town where the whiskey is distilled.

"Punish the person, not the whiskey," said an outraged Kyle MacDonald, 28, a Jack Daniel's drinker from British Columbia who promotes the whiskey on his blog. "Jack never did anything wrong, and the whiskey itself is innocent."

Investigators are also looking into whether some of the bottles had been stolen from the distillery. No one has been arrested.

Authorities are still determining how much of the liquor will be disposed of, and how much can be sold at auction.

Tennessee law requires officials to destroy whiskey that cannot be sold legally in the state, such as bottles designed for sale overseas and those with broken seals.

"We'd pour it out," said Danielle Elks, executive director of the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

The estimated value of the liquor is $1 million, possibly driven up by the value of the antique bottles, which range from 3-liter bottles to half-pints.

One seized bottle dates to 1914, with its seal unbroken. Elks said it is worth $10,000 on the collectors market. Investigators are looking into whether the liquor was being sold for the value of the bottles rather than the whiskey.

"Someone was making a great deal of profit," she said.

Tennessee whiskeys age in charred white oak barrels, but the maturing process that gives them character mostly stops when it is bottled. A bottled whiskey can deteriorate over a long period of time, especially if it is opened or exposed to sunlight and heat.

Christopher Carlsson, a spirits connoisseur and collector in Rochester, N.Y., said old vintages of whiskey in their original containers are highly prized.

"A lot of these bottles are priceless," he said. "It's like having a rare painting. It's heavily collected."

The raids, prompted by a tip, were conducted at two warehouses and a home in Lynchburg, about 65 miles southeast of Nashville. Another raid was at a Nashville hotel room where drinks were being served and bottles were being sold.

For now, the whiskey is being stored in a Nashville vault.

Elks acknowledged that pouring out the whiskey would not be a happy hour for her.

"It'd kill me," she said.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Somebody has to do something! We must unite to save the whiskey! We must form a charcoal filtered coalition and march on the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission!


Come on People! Repeat after me!


“IT’S NOT THE WHISKEY’S FAULT! LEAVE IT IN THE VAULT!”


“STAND UP AND SHOUT! DON’T LET THEM POUR IT OUT!


“DON’T BLAME JACK! GIVE THE WHISKEY BACK!”


“WOULD YOU TAKE A GAUGUIN AND THROW IT IN THE TRASH CAN?!!!”


“DON’T POUR IT ON THE ROCKS, YOU ASS… UNLESS THEY’RE IN A WHISKEY GLASS!”

Anonymous said...

I just cannot understand Our Laws. I mean everyone trying to get money for this and for that. and Like I read Eariler, the Homeless would drink it. I have been to all the stores they are talking about. Only thing I found was some very Nice and Friendly People.
But now here Our LAWS are going to pour out a Legend and his Dreams. Why not Auction it all off, if it comes to that. and Give the money to the Homeless Shelters, Or Wait how About our School System. Oh wait, how about our Fire Departments. But no we going to pour it out and Then we still Beg for Donnations for everything from School to Cancer.

Wake up and Do something right for once.

I reckon I should turn into a Drinker and Drink up my Collection.
Posted in a Kentucky Newspaper:
Punish the person, not the whiskey," said an outraged Kyle MacDonald, 28, a Jack Daniel's drinker from British Columbia who promotes the whiskey on his blog. "Jack never did anything wrong, and the whiskey itself is innocent."
My Great Grand Father Drank it and as been part of My Family Tree, Hell Mom use to rub it on our Gums for when we had a tooth that was hurting. I sit here now thinking Damn should I just say HELL with it have a big Party and Drink all of my Collection. I Agree if the Law was Broke then fine , But the Jack Bottles Did not Say Sell me. So why Waste something that taste so good.
I think Statement says it ALL:
Jack Daniel's celebrated 156 years in September 2006, and enjoys the title of the 'World's Number One Whiskey' due equally to the high quality of the product and the amazing legend and appeal of the story and man-behind-the-brand which makes Jack Daniel's an icon.

100 GREAT ICONS ranks Jack Daniel's as a top brand along with Rolls Royce, Tiffany & Co, and Chanel No 5. Also on the list are cultural icons such as the Eiffel Tower, the Paper Clip, Mona Lisa, Slinky, Post-Its and Scrabble.

Group Brand Manager for Jack Daniels at Brown Forman Australia, Jonny Croft said, "Jack Daniel's is thrilled to have secured a ranking in 100 Great Icons and we see our inclusion being reflective of the loyalty and passion that the Jack Daniel's legend inspires."
Asked why he chose to include Jack Daniel's in 100 Great Icons, Chris is quick to reply: "Some of the greatest icons have reached their level of respect and brand loyalty because of their makers' history of ingenuity and sheer passion to do something, one particular thing, extremely well. Jack Daniels is one of these brands and, no matter where you are in the western world, it represents not only quality and taste, but also a special experience"

"Jack Daniel's actually means something! From JD's instantly-recognisable bottle design and label, to the type of person the drink has come to represent, to its unswerving brand values and its long history and great passion for providing a quality product in an unhurried fashion, Jack Daniel's is undoubtedly a great icon. Oh, and it tastes mighty fine too!"
Jasper ("Jack") Newton Daniel life was born sometime in September 1850. He became a runaway at age six and at only 13 years old, Jack inherited the distillery from a Lutheran preacher named Reverend Dan Call (who decided to give up alcohol to refocus back on spiritual matters).

At the age of 16 Jack officially registered the distillery with the US government (1866). Today it is the oldest registered distillery in the USA, as well as being on the National Register of Historic Places.

Ironically, Jack's birthplace and the home of the renowned Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey, Lynchburg Tennessee, is a dry state and since prohibition times in 1933, you have not legally been able to buy a drink there!

The American icon's life ended in 1911, when he developed gangrene after kicking an old safe.
Stand up and Tell them what you think. Every Blog Post it.

Short Stories said...

Wow dude! Down the drain!