The Lingering Shadow of Prohibition

On December 5, 1933, the long and difficult chapter of Prohibition finally came to an end. Utah became the 36th state to ratify the 21st Amendment to the United States Constitution, officially repealing the 18th Amendment that had attempted to ban alcohol nationwide. With that vote, Americans regained a personal freedom that had been lost for more than a decade. To this day, the 18th Amendment remains the only amendment that took away a freedom instead of guaranteeing a freedom.

This anniversary should serve not only as a reminder of those dark days, but also of the continuing pressures placed on personal liberty. Even today, there are efforts to restrict the right to enjoy alcoholic beverages. Some forget — or choose to ignore — the lessons of history and seem willing to repeat the mistakes of the past. Too often, biblical teachings are misinterpreted and the truth is bent to advance a particular agenda. Debates over regulation, responsibility, and personal choice continue, but history reminds us that sweeping bans often create more problems than they solve.

The effects of Prohibition are still felt across much of the United States. Concentrated mostly in the South and parts of the Midwest, “dry” areas continue to exist in Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Kansas, and Alabama. Even parts of Kentucky and Tennessee — despite their rich distilling heritage — retain Prohibition-era restrictions. The Prohibition Party itself remains active, though thankfully largely ineffective. Freedoms once lost are often slow to return.

Here in Virginia, we continue to live with the legacy of that restrictive era through the state’s three-tier alcohol regulations. After Prohibition ended, the Commonwealth chose to maintain tight control over hard spirits — and, just as importantly, a reliable source of revenue. Over the years there have been efforts to reform or modernize that system. There was a glimmer of hope for change when Senator Obenshain introduced a privatization bill in 2009, but it never made it out of committee. Governor McDonnell later floated his own proposal, ultimately limiting it to privatizing retail storefronts while keeping wholesale and distribution under state control — an approach that sounded bold but changed little in practice. That effort failed as well.

In the end, there is simply too much money tied up in taxes and state-run profits for Richmond to loosen its grip on the system. And the situation is unlikely to improve under incoming state leadership that tends to favor restrictions and taxation over personal choice and individual freedom.

So today, responsibly enjoy an alcoholic beverage and celebrate the gift of personal choice.

Cheers!

Five O'Clock Friday: Healthy Drinking

It's the weekend, take care of yourself.

And lest you forget, wine is a fruit.

Cheers!

A Toast to John B. Keane

Irish playwright, poet, and pub owner John Brendan Keane (21 July 1928 – 30 May 2002) expressed his love for drink with a wit and passion few could match. On the anniversary of his passing, let’s lend an ear to his words once more — then promptly raise a glass, as he surely would’ve insisted.

 

Cheers!

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Raise a Glass: Study Finds Alcohol May Boost Good Cholesterol

These days, we could all use some uplifting news. A recently published study by Harvard University researchers suggests that alcohol consumption may have a beneficial effect on cholesterol levels.

The study tracked a cohort of 57,691 individuals undergoing annual health checkups in Japan.

According to an Ars Technica summary of the study:

Researchers found that when people switched from being nondrinkers to drinkers during the study, they saw a drop in their "bad" cholesterol—aka low-density lipoprotein cholesterol or LDL.  Meanwhile, their "good" cholesterol—aka high-density lipoprotein cholesterol or HDL—went up when they began imbibing. HDL levels went up so much, that it actually beat out improvements typically seen with medications, the researchers noted.

On the other hand, drinkers who stopped drinking during the study saw the opposite effect: Upon giving up booze, their bad cholesterol went up and their good cholesterol went down.

The cholesterol changes scaled with the changes in drinking. That is, for people who started drinking, the more they started drinking, the lower their LDL fell and the higher their HDL rose. In the newly abstaining group, those who drank the most before quitting saw the biggest changes in their lipid levels.

While previous studies have suggested health benefits associated with alcohol consumption, this Harvard study may be one of the largest to date.

That said, while these findings may be encouraging, it remains essential to weigh the risks of excessive alcohol consumption. Still, this report gives me one more reason to look forward to responsibly enjoying a good bourbon—once my post-surgery healing progresses a bit further.

Cheers!

Sipping with Purpose: Enjoying Alcohol Beyond the Drink

I ran across this quote from G. K. Chesterton recently and thought it especially fitting for this blog:

“It is quite a mistake to suppose that, when a man desires an alcoholic drink, he necessarily desires alcohol.”

— G.K. Chesterton, “Wine When it is Red” in All Things Considered 

This resonates with me, as I often find myself in discussions about the enjoyment of alcohol. I firmly believe that appreciating a well-crafted beer, whiskey, or cocktail is akin to savoring the skills of a chef in the kitchen. The artistry and craftsmanship behind a fine drink deserve the same respect as a gourmet meal.

In John-Mark L. Miravalle’s excellent book, "How to Feel Good and How Not To", the author explores this topic in depth, especially when contrasting the enjoyment of alcohol with drug use or abuse. He emphasizes that proper enjoyment of an alcoholic beverage should be seen through the lens of appreciating its flavors and the skill involved in its creation—whether by a chef, brewer, or distiller—or even as a gift from the ultimate Creator.

When approached with this mindset, drinking becomes an act of appreciation, much like enjoying a delicious meal. However, if the intent shifts to overindulgence or altering one’s state of mind, the context changes entirely. Miravalle is precise in emphasizing the importance of the consumer’s intent before taking that first sip or bite.

There is no denying that for some, overindulgence—whether in alcohol or food—can become a serious issue. In such cases, it’s crucial to provide support and encouragement for overcoming those challenges.

By maintaining a focus on moderation and appreciation, we can elevate the experience of enjoying both food and drink, celebrating the artistry behind them while avoiding misuse. 

Cheers!

Nacho Cheese Flavored Booze - No Thanks

I've run across some odd food-flavored spirits. Peanut butter flavored whiskey, and banana whiskey are two frequently seen in the stores. These variations don't interest me, but I can see some natural flavor relation there. But the flavored booze phenomena has ventured into the absurd. Now someone has created a Doritos® Nacho Cheese flavored spirit.

Doritos partnered with Empirical, a high-end innovative spirits company, to create Empirical x Doritos® Nacho Cheese Spirit. It’s a clear, savory nacho-cheese alcohol that actually tastes like Doritios, even down to the feeling like you’ve been munching on some chips.

Empirical was founded in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2017 by Lars Williams and Mark Emil Hermansen. In the early days, Williams, a former chef at Noma, was moving from working on a prototype still to a larger one, and wanted to see what kind of things he could use to make different spirits.

“I was doing a ton of testing with every single botanical I could think of like parsley, oysters, chicken skin — just running as many different things through it [the still] as I could to get a sense of the different maturation levels, but also what kind of flavors we could extract and harness through this bespoke kit that we built,” Lars said.

Don't get me wrong, I love Doritos®, in all its many flavor variations. But this concoction gives me pause, and a small gag reflex. Reading that the creator also tried flavoring with oysters and chicken skin doesn't add to the attraction. For there adventurous, the Emipiral website also provides cocktail recipes using their creation.

See Doritos Partners With Empirical To Create Chip-Flavored Spirit for the full story.

Cheers!

Happy Repeal Day

On December 5, 1933 the nightmare of Prohibition finally came to an end. Utah became the 36th state to formally ratified the 21st Amendment to the United States Constitution. The 18th Amendment which had unsuccessfully attempted to ban alcohol in the United State was officially repealed.

Unfortunately, the Prohibitionists are still out there. Freedoms once lost, are rarely restored. So responsibly enjoy an alcoholic beverage today and celebrate the gift of personal choice.

Cheers!

Five O'Clock Friday: It's a Budget Problem

The solution must be reasonable.

Cheers!

Five O'Clock Friday: Choices

It was probably a Friday.

Enjoy your weekend. We will not judge you.

Cheers!

Georgian Chacha Tasting

Wherever you go in the world, there seems to be specialty alcohol "native" to the region. We once had Arak with a shop owner in Bethlehem who then wanted us to visit the "high end" part of his store. I remember getting a hotel manager in Italy to open his bar after a late arrival to explore Grappa. Most recently we got to try Unicum in Hungary last fall. Though it wasn't "in country" I recently had the chance to try Georgian chacha that was brought back from Georgia (the country not the southern US state.) Our son and his wife and were given a sampler of chacha by their friend who had been stationed there. Knowing I'd be interested, they brought it with them to share during a recent visit.

Chacha is a pomace brandy distilled from the leftover grapes from wine making. The samples in the package were 45% ABV although I read that some natively brewed versions can reach 85%. It can be aged in various woods or flavored with herbs or fruits. Typically served very chilled, the bottles rested in the freezer for a bit before our exploration.

The four varieties in the sampler were Classic Chacha, Oak Aged Chacha, Honey Chacha, and Tarragon Chacha. That was the order in which we tried them. We also had some hastily gathered food pairings based on recommendations on the package.

The classic chacha was accompanied by a thin slice of ginger. The flavor I thought was fairly plain, with lots of the expected raw alcohol burn. A tiny nibble of ginger moderated the flavor. Next up was the Oak Aged variety. This one spent 12 months in oak barrels. The oak influence was strong and it reminded me of the oak notes present in bourbon. The suggested pairing was BBQ and cheese, which we faked with a some homemade sauce dabbed on a cracker with a bit of cheese. The oak aged flavor was definitely my favorite of the options.

The next pour, the honey chacha was perhaps the most mild. It had a sweet honey flavor. I found this one somewhat uninteresting, though my companions seemed to enjoy it the most. Finally it was time to try the tarragon flavored chacham. This was the strongest flavor of the group. And for my tastes, the least enjoyable. The mild licorice flavor was not enticing. Did I mention the beverage was green?  I enjoy tarragon as a seasoning in many dishes, but it did not excite me as a drink flavor. 

I found this an interesting tasting experience. It was fun to explore another regional liquor. Of our group, I think I enjoyed the chacha the most. The rest thought the strong alcoholic beverage was too harsh and not something they'd try again. I on the other I hand would, and am intrigued by some of the other stronger variations I've since read about.

Cheers!

VA ABC Ineptitude - Update

I first mused about the shenanigans or incompetence, take your pick, at the Virginia ABC here. Now it seems VA ABC is also quite adept at digging itself into a hole. On May 23, this was posted on the Virginia ABC Twitter feed.

Their tweet referenced the April 2022 lottery that was mentioned in my previous post regarding a drawing when all the winners had last names starting with the letter A, or the entrant has inserted a space before their last name.

The social media claim they reference originated due to data provided by VA ABC itself in response to a FOIA request from a concerned citizen. When the winner list oddness become public, VA ABC posted the "Oops, our bad" response. They try to make the case the first list they provided was incorrect, and they've now generated an accurate response to the FOIA request. Essentially, they released false data that made them look incompetent, and are hoping to mitigate the criticism by saying they were incompetent in responding instead.

I couldn't make this stuff up.

Cheers!

VA ABC: Incompetence or Shenanigans?

The search for hard-to-find bourbon in Virginia is a challenge. The State controls the sale of distilled beverages through their own distribution system and retail stores, known as the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (VA ABC). It's a huge money making scheme, that at the same time creates a manipulated supply and demand for sought after spirits. It's a system any Marxist government would be proud of. For more than a decade there have been pushes to privatize sales of alcohol, which are met with strong resistance from the "revenuers." 

About a year ago, Virginia began supposedly randomizing the distribution of certain spirits, mostly bourbon, to its stores. The stores sit on the stock of "allocated" beverages until, supposedly without any advance notice, until the State decrees certain stores are "authorized to sell any limited availability products in stock." Emails and social media posts are sent out and enthusiasts rush to the listed stores. (Example notification here.) Most of the spirits are limited to three or six bottles of a variety in any given store, and the specific products made available is varied and unknown until one arrives at the store.

The system is not without issues. There have been incidents when an included store actually had no allocated stock to sell. I've arrived at my nearby store in as little as 17 minutes after the announcement, only to see lines out the door and the shelves picked bare of the most sought after spirits. Even if there is a selection left, purchases are limited to one bottle per customer per day from all the limited availability products offered in any location.

It has long been rumored that despite the supposed secrecy, "friends" of the right people are given advance notice of a "drop." It's not uncommon to see folks waiting in their cars, or even wandering a store, before a drop is announced. 

The State also runs periodic lotteries for the allocated bourbons. A selection of the allocated beverages is made available through a lottery, in which the winners are given the opportunity to purchased the selected bottle. The listed items may have available quantities from two to several hundred. Entries received for each product are typically upward of 25,000. Not great odds. 

It as been rumored that in April 2022 lottery, ALL of the winners had last names starting with the letter A, or the entrant has inserted a space before their last name. That leads one to believe that the lotteries have long been handled incompetently and unprofessionally. Suspicions around the lottery were heightened this week, in what VA ABC described as a "statistically abnormal" occurrence when a few lucky folks won multiple bottles.

I was surprised last week to read in a Virginia bourbon enthusiasts Facebook group a post from someone claiming to show his lottery winnings of three of the four bottles. I was naturally skeptical, until I saw more discussions on Facebook and Reddit, and subsequent media release by the agency.

The "statistically abnormal results" are revealed by VA ABC here, 

"Two entrants won all four products; 50 entrants won three products; and 229 entrants won two products. There were 978 total winners for 1,313 available products. The lottery was conducted April 19-23. Winners and non-winners of the lottery were notified on May 12. Virginia ABC is honoring the results and selling the products in line with the lottery terms and conditions."

 . . . 

"George T. Stagg Bourbon – 37,485 entries and awarded 770 bottles = 1 in 48.68 chance of winning

"Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye – 35,828 entries and awarded 286 bottles = 1 in 125.27 chance of winning

"William Larue Weller Bourbon – 37,416 entries and awarded 209 bottles = 1 in 179.02 chance of winning

"Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old – 35,492 entries and awarded 48 bottles = 1 in 739.41 chance of winning"

To describe one person winning all four as "statistically abnormal" is a stretch. Two people winning all four is goes beyond that. VA ABC says "Everyone who enters during the 3-day period has an equal chance of being selected. Odds depend on the number of entries received and the number of bottles available." Obviously that statement is blatantly false, without apology. The VA ABC statement says the normal process was used for the drawing. If that was the case, this would be a normal occurrence. Social media posts described the selection process to be one of manual sorting, review, and lots of cutting and pasting in Excel. Not something one would expect from a well-funded state agency. Or maybe, exactly what one would expect.

I do not doubt that advance word of the random store drops is made available in some cases to friends and family, maybe even for profit. The unusual lottery results in May could be a matter of incompetence and lack of oversight, or some as yet undiscovered corruption. In any event, the Virginia ABC is struggling to prove both competence and integrity. The state should stop issuing noncommittal and meaningless statements, and replace the system and the people behind it. Or better yet, respect private enterprise and get out of the alcohol distribution business.

Cheers!

There's an update with more head shaking absurdity here.

Five O'Clock Friday: Kalsarikännit

Yep, it's a word. Kalsarikännit is Finnish for the joy of drinking at home, alone, in your underwear , with no intention of going out.

It seems the Finns may have perfected the art of relaxation. Rest assured I will not be musing on any experiences I may or may not have enjoying Kalsarikännit.

Image from ThisisFINLAND.

Drinks, Cigars, Recovery

As I work through my recovery, the enjoyment of alcohol and cigars figures frequently in my conversations with health care professionals.

The earliest discussions took place in the ICU. For three days I was asked by numerous people if I was a smoker. I replied I enjoyed the occasional cigar. Most of the time the person said nothing. Maybe they were simply relieved I didn't use cigarettes.

Just once the reply was "you can't do that." One nurse replied, "If you're like my husband, you won't give that up." While being interviewed by a doctor, he replied with a smile, "Not in here, right?"

Most of the comments about alcohol revolve around warnings about "more than one or two drinks a day." Despite an oft misunderstood reputation, that's closer to my total in a week. Picking up prescriptions, a pharmacist remarked, "I'm supposed to warn you about alcohol, but let's be realistic..." I have treated myself to a beer on occasion since the heart attack. As an aside, I now (mostly) limit myself to one cup of coffee a day. That's a major change for me.

I'm resting at home now. I open my humidor and rearrange cigars occasionally, taking in their aroma. I won't be smoking for a while, probably closer to the end of my cardio rehab sessions. It's too cold outside to enjoy a smoke on the deck anyway. I've also started questioning the wisdom of sitting in a smokey lounge with the associated second hand smoke.

Meanwhile, I'm enjoying telling the rehab nurses one of my goals is to get back to "shooting, bourbon and cigars." They simply roll their eyes. We did go to the liquor store recently to pick up some "future" libations. I am still looking for that "special" celebratory cigar for when the day comes...

"Not in here?" That still cracks me up.

Fire Exposes Illegal Still

According to the report, an "illegal distillery" was found by official investigating a fire at a home.

The Stafford County Fire Marshal’s Office says it discovered an illegal distillery Tuesday afternoon while investigating a garage fire at a home in Falmouth.

Investigators reported the setup to Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control agents, who confiscated a makeshift stovetop distillery and a copper still outside of the split-foyer home in the 100 block of Kelley Road. They also discarded a 5-gallon bucket of mash, according to a news release from the Fire and Rescue Department.

The fire marshal did determine that the fire was caused by an extension cord short, and not anything related to the distilling equipment.

One tenet of making moonshine is staying under the radar of the revenuers. A fire in your home is not a good idea.

Read "Stafford officials discover illegal distillery while investigating garage fire" for more information.

Five O'Clock Friday: National Scotch Day

Happy Friday! It's also National Scotch Day.

I'm not really sure of the origins of this "holiday," but who am I to argue?

Enjoy.

Five O'Clock Friday: Healthy Libation Advice

I was told...

When you drink vodka over ice, it can give you kidney failure.

When you drink rum over ice, it can give you liver failure.

When you drink whiskey over ice, it can give you heart problems.

When you drink gin over ice, it can give you brain problems.

Apparently, ice is very bad for you.

Ergo, drink neat.

Have a refreshing, healthy, weekend.

Five O'Clock Friday: Hey Bartender

Here's a little mood music to kick off the weekend.

Cheers!

Alcohol Beats Exercise

A long term study has deterred that regular moderate drinking does more for a long life than exercise.

The research, led by University of California neurologist Claudia Kawas, tracked 1,700 nonagenarians enrolled in the 90+ Study that began in 2003 to explore impacts of daily habits on longevity.

Researchers discovered that subjects who drank about two glasses of beer or wine a day were 18 percent less likely to experience a premature death, the Independent reports.

Meanwhile, participants who exercised 15 to 45 minutes a day, cut the same risk by 11 percent.

“I have no explanation for it, but I do firmly believe that modest drinking improves longevity,” Kawas stated over the weekend at the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual conference in Austin, Texas.

Of course, we already knew that didn't we?

See "Study: For those over 90, alcohol better than exercise for longevity."

International Scotch Day

Today is International Scotch Day. I was not aware that such a holiday existed. However, I am happy to help celebrate.

I will add this to my calendar as to not forget in the future.