Scotch Whisky Banned from Edinburgh Gathering

[beloitpiper]

So, no swords, knives, dirks or whiskey. Just crowds of unarmed, thirsty Americans?

A Scottish St. Patrick's Day! Except for the no weapons or alcohol part....

[tyger]

Why don't they ban something really irritating......like cellphones.

[thescot]

No swords, no knives, no guns, no rude comments (unless they're aimed at conservative types), no independent distillers , no. . . non PC stuff I am sure.

I am pretty sure that the local constabulary is not so afraid of insurrection as they are determined to show that they can be tough guys and issue edicts. In my experience, sword bearers are never dangerious, but it sure makes petite bureaucrats feel important to issue threats. And, whoever it is that is banning the little guys (the article is not specific) is probably up to the same thing. Even socialists understand money!

You should know that Diageo owns a whole bunch of stuff--used to own Burger King and Pillsbury as well. My Lord, they're a hydra of a holding company. Wikipedia says they own the following:

Johnnie Walker, Justerini & Brooks (J&B), Bell's, Black & White, Vat 69, Oban, Talisker, Lagavulin, Glen Ord, Glenkinchie, Dalwhinnie, Cragganmore

Throw in Bushmills, and that's a pretty respectable lineup of booze.

But . . . I still take humbrage at their excluding small distillers who pose no threat to them whatsover. I suggest we all show up, take flasks full of other people's scotch, and parade in front of their tents with signs accusing them of abusing the little guys. We could even ride make believe horses and wield make believe blades a la Monty Python to draw attention and drive home the depth of our concern.

Seriously, why not just write a whole bunch of letters to Diageo's HQ and complain. Surely they's see the error of their ways and relent on letting smaller distillers in. they would, in fact, appear quite magnanimous.

Just for the record, Diageo owns the following:

Beer: Guinness, Smithwick's, Red Stripe, Harp Lager, Kilkenny, Kaliber (non alcoholic)
Scotch whisky: Johnnie Walker, Justerini & Brooks (J&B), Bell's, Black & White, Vat 69, Oban, Talisker, Lagavulin, Glen Ord, Glenkinchie, Dalwhinnie, Cragganmore
Baijiu: Shui Jing Fang
Vodka: Smirnoff (Smirnov in Russia), Cîroc, Silent Sam, Popov, Ketel One
Gin: Gordon's, Tanqueray, Gilbey's, Booth's
Rum: Captain Morgan, Bundaberg, Pampero, Myers'
Bourbon: Bulleit
Canadian whisky: Crown Royal, Seagram's
Irish whiskey: Bushmills
Tennessee whiskey: George Dickel
Tequila: Don Julio, José Cuervo
Schnapps: Black Haus, Goldschläger, Rumple Minze
Mixed drinks: Archers, Pimm's, TGI Friday's
Liqueur: Baileys, Sheridans, Yukon Jack, Godiva's
Wines: Sterling Vineyards, Piat d'Or, Barton & Guestier, Beaulieu Vineyard, Blossom Hill, Canoe Ridge Vineyard, Acacia, Chalone, Provenance, and Rosenblum.
Diageo operates the Scotch whisky distilleries [7] of Auchroisk, Benrinnes, Blair Athol (situated at Pitlochry), Caol Ila, Cardhu, Knockando, Glen Elgin, Clynelish, Cragganmore, Dalwhinnie, Glenkinchie, Glen Ord, Lagavulin, Oban, Royal Lochnagar, Strathmill, Talisker,Teaninich, Mannochmore, Mortlach and Glenlossie, which are sold not only under their own name but used to make the various blended scotch whiskies sold by the company. The company are now building a new distillery at their current maltings at Roseisle, hoping to open in Spring 2009. This will be one of the largest distilleries in Scotland.

[Dan R Porter]

that event is going to be like a ghost town (Crickets singing...)

[Panache]

...Just for the record, Diageo owns the following:

Beer: Guinness, Smithwick's, Red Stripe, Harp Lager, Kilkenny, Kaliber (non alcoholic)
Scotch whisky: Johnnie Walker, Justerini & Brooks (J&B), Bell's, Black & White, Vat 69, Oban, Talisker, Lagavulin, Glen Ord, Glenkinchie, Dalwhinnie, Cragganmore
Baijiu: Shui Jing Fang
Vodka: Smirnoff (Smirnov in Russia), Cîroc, Silent Sam, Popov, Ketel One
Gin: Gordon's, Tanqueray, Gilbey's, Booth's
Rum: Captain Morgan, Bundaberg, Pampero, Myers'
Bourbon: Bulleit
Canadian whisky: Crown Royal, Seagram's
Irish whiskey: Bushmills
Tennessee whiskey: George Dickel
Tequila: Don Julio, José Cuervo
Schnapps: Black Haus, Goldschläger, Rumple Minze
Mixed drinks: Archers, Pimm's, TGI Friday's
Liqueur: Baileys, Sheridans, Yukon Jack, Godiva's
Wines: Sterling Vineyards, Piat d'Or, Barton & Guestier, Beaulieu Vineyard, Blossom Hill, Canoe Ridge Vineyard, Acacia, Chalone, Provenance, and Rosenblum...

You know I suddenly feel a whole lot more kindly to Diageo...




Cheers

Jamie

[Bigkahuna]

No weapons and no liquor????? Some folks have to take the fun out of everything. Next they'll be saying "No sex in Edinburgh".

[Mael Coluim]

Let them drink beer!

[Dan R Porter]

Let them drink beer!

We know that they will behave better on beer rather than whiskey.

Heh Scotland has proven throughout history they don't like to be told what to do. The louder they yell, the louder the pipes blow. The harder they fight the kilts multiply. Careful there security force...careful.

[Mipi]

Is that a gathering or what????

[KFCarter]

As bad as this sounds (and is for the smaller distillers who will be excluded), it's not quite as bad as german beer being banned from World Cup stadiums in Germany because of Budweiser's sponsorship of the 2006 Word Cup.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/...n1754277.shtml

Moral of the story:
You might think these events (gatherings, tournaments, games, festivals) are for the attendees, but they really are all about the sponsors.