March 04, 2003
Canadian Alcohol

Jane Finch of The Daily Rant quotes an amusing passive-aggressive tirade by a Canadian who, among other cross-cultural comparisons, makes fun of American beer. Somehow that reminded me of what Kingsley Amis wrote about Canadian whisky (Every Day Drinking, 1983, 86):

I can't help thinking that the Canadians are a great crowd, but are perhaps the only people who could have produced a boring whisky.

Posted by Dr. Weevil at March 04, 2003 10:09 PM
Comments

Since my brother works for an American brewery and can get me free beer on occasion, I'm partial to USA brand.

Posted by: Ricky on March 4, 2003 10:25 PM

Hey, watch it! I resemble that remark. Of all the things I have ever liked enough to repeat, usually I head straight towards the high end with the exception of whiskey, and there I find myself content with cheap Canadian whiskey. Go figure.
Cheers, eh?

Posted by: rlbtzero on March 5, 2003 12:40 PM

A country that produces Kokanee and Iron Horse really can't complain about American beer, can it?

Posted by: Sigivald on March 5, 2003 06:11 PM

rlbtzero:

It partly depends on what you're using it for. Elsewhere in the same book, Amis says (very plausibly) that Canadian is the ideal whisky for most mixed drinks.

Posted by: Dr. Weevil on March 5, 2003 06:33 PM

I admit it...rye whiskey sucks. However, after the Canadian World Domination juggernaut has marched over Kentucky, Booker's will be all ours, ours, ours.

Posted by: Jane on March 5, 2003 08:01 PM

I take some Maker's Mark any day.

Posted by: Canadian Pissed on March 6, 2003 12:29 AM

Indeed, Canadian whisky is very good for mixed drinks, IMO, precisely because it is boring.

Posted by: John Thacker on March 6, 2003 10:18 AM

Well, how about: glenoradistillery.com/

Cheers

Posted by: J.M. Heinrichs on March 6, 2003 09:43 PM

I'm all for a nice Irish whiskey. Because I can't afford my own taste in Scotch.

Posted by: David Perron on March 7, 2003 08:37 AM

So if I like Canadian Club, which I do, I must be boring?

Posted by: Robert Speirs on March 7, 2003 08:59 AM

Nah. To each his own. I don't care for Sour Mash whiskeys because, well, they actually taste better coming up. Most people would find Irish whiskeys boring, and a really good scotch too similar to brandy. I say, knock yourself out. Drink what you like; life's too short to drink something because it's cool to do so.

Posted by: David Perron on March 10, 2003 11:40 AM