Hands off our kilts: Scots bid to copyright their national dress

[Mike_Oettle]

Reading through the more recent posts in this thread, a thought came to mind that has nothing to do with kilts or things Scottish, but might be worth bearing in mind when EU definitions of products are under discussion:
The French cling fervently to the uniqueness of their Champagne, the Spanish to their Sherry (product of Jerez), the Portuguese to their Port wine (from Oporto), the Madeirans to their Madeira wine. But not one of these products became established in their own countries until the English decided that they like to drink them.
So for all their narrow-minded claiming of the names, they owe England a debt of gratitude.
And as a South African I find it odd that makers of sherry, port and “sparkling wine” in my country are being forced to find other names for their products, especially when (as is often the case) they are equal to, or even superior to, the “native” product from Europe.
Any day now our cheese makers will be forced to drop the names feta, Cheddar and Gouda (interestingly, when I was growing up nobody in South Africa referred to Gouda; it was called sweetmilk cheese).

[The Q]

Reading through the more recent posts in this thread, a thought came to mind that has nothing to do with kilts or things Scottish, but might be worth bearing in mind when EU definitions of products are under discussion:
The French cling fervently to the uniqueness of their Champagne, the Spanish to their Sherry (product of Jerez), the Portuguese to their Port wine (from Oporto), the Madeirans to their Madeira wine. But not one of these products became established in their own countries until the English decided that they like to drink them.
So for all their narrow-minded claiming of the names, they owe England a debt of gratitude.
And as a South African I find it odd that makers of sherry, port and “sparkling wine” in my country are being forced to find other names for their products, especially when (as is often the case) they are equal to, or even superior to, the “native” product from Europe.
Any day now our cheese makers will be forced to drop the names feta, Cheddar and Gouda (interestingly, when I was growing up nobody in South Africa referred to Gouda; it was called sweetmilk cheese).

I think you'll find Scotland, Wales and Ireland liked them as well, As the original drinkers were of course, the wealthy and the families were interconnected. (mostly through the Normans)
Some wines Produced in England used to be called English Champagne, and now have to be called Sparkling wine, although, a French champagne maker has just bought one of our English sparkling wine makers!!
You will not have to change the name of cheddar as that one has been thrown out as it's now too generic, Which is a shame because having lived down nearby to Cheddar, I can assure you real cheddar from Cheddar is a much superior product to the plastic sold as cheddar by Supermarkets. Goes well with the local Scrumpy cider!!!!

[Mike_Oettle]

My Mancunian father-in-law, when he was a boy, used to spend his summer holidays in Somerset, staying on a cider farm. He could tell us a thing or two about scrumpy!

[KILTMAKER KDM]

I Love Experts ,you know the ones i mean those that have absulout no idea of what they are talking about .Military Kilts to most mean pleated to the stripe ,Military Kilts are made different to civi.kilts.
I suppose another yellow card now as i have no doubt hurt someones feelings. Its a real shame that one cannot express what happens in the real life,without some prude controller blocking anything that may not satisfy his wishes.
KDM
Kn=davidlpope;1307933]Okay, trying again, because I still don't think it's that hard: A traditional kilt is a knife-pleated kilt made of 8+yards of medium or heavy-weight twill-weave, worsted wool tartan fabric.

A 4-yd box-pleated museum piece is a historic kilt. A new kilt made in the same style is a historical kilt. A dancer's kilt is a dancer's kilt, a specialized form of a traditional kilt.

Hodden gray is an exception to the tartan rule, as is Saffron. Both are exceptions to the rule. Other exceptions to the rule exist, particularly when it comes to military uniforms (e.g. military box-pleats). The existence of exceptions to the rule, though, doesn't mean that one can't come up with a useful, fairly simple rule.[/QUOTE]

[The Q]

Technically I suppose I do live on a cider farm, or almost. My house is on the site of a pub that closed about 1895, there are still about 17 apple trees, 7 pear trees, and other fruit in the garden and hops in the hedgerow. and yes I do make home brew from them but not as much as I would like due to the time needed.

Though back to the original problem, I fear the cat is long out of the bag. I doubt it's possible to get a legal definition of a kilt other than some pleats at the back and none on the front and it being wrap around. . As for Scottish, a little tightening of definitions of advertising standards might be required.

[Katia]

I note that, in your list of "classic" Irish groups, half are actually US/Canadian as are Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly.

Well, I was filing them more according to genre than country of origin-- which is why the Murphys and Flogging Molly are also under "not-so-classic"-- you're unlikely to hear most of their tunes at a session!

[MonkeyRogue]

They did it to Whiskey. Why not?

And honestly it makes a bit of sense. I mean, the comparison to Champagne is apt, it's precisely the same thing. Yes, you can get sparkling wine anywhere, but Champagne...well that's special. I say go for it.

[The Q]

They did it to Whiskey. Why not?

And honestly it makes a bit of sense. I mean, the comparison to Champagne is apt, it's precisely the same thing. Yes, you can get sparkling wine anywhere, but Champagne...well that's special. I say go for it.

They did what to Whiskey?, you can buy American Whiskey, Scottish whisky, English whisky, Japanese Whiskey.

[Rick Gill]

Well now... If the Scottish kilt makers had gotten their act together years ago, as did their distilling brethren, they MIGHT have had a chance of making this happen. However, IMHO, the proverbial horses have long since fled the barn, and no one has ever tried to close those doors!

[Rick Gill]

They did what to Whiskey?, you can buy American Whiskey, Scottish whisky, English whisky, Japanese Whiskey.

Don't forget Canadian whisky! Crown Royal's Northern Harvest Rye Whisky was selected as World Whisky of the Year by Jim Murray's Whisky Bible for 2016 https:/www.crownroyal.com/canadian-whisky/crown-royal-northern-harvest-rye/

There is plenty of good single-malt whisky made elsewhere in the world; the Scots certainly do not have the market cornered on whisky, although they like to think so.