News came out yesterday that, in response to growing product demand, the manufacturers of Makers Mark bourbon are gonna water the stuff down so they can sell more of it.  What used to be a 90 proof drink will now be 84 proof.  Company officials claim "Even Maker's Mark's professional taste testers couldn't tell the difference".  ::)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/02/11/makers-mark-bourbon/1910773/

Wow, this is the ultimate cynical marketing move.

I won't be drinking this swill.  8-P  I'll stick with my usual... 100-proof Yukon Jack.

in response to growing product demand


If it were really in response to growing product demand, there'd be enough bourbon drinkers out there who'd already know how to add a drop or two of the water to the cask-strength stuff all by themselves. Somehow I don't think that's the case. I don't think anyone will taste the difference, but it strikes me as cheezy nonetheless.

I never bought that hoity-toity throatscraper anyway. 

I buy Jim Beam with my pint.  It's cheap, not horrible, and it gets the job done!
8)

http://www.gannett-cdn.com/media/USATODAY/GenericImages/2013/02/11/_makers-mark-4_3_r536_c534.jpg?1b79b3da202957124496e3768cfb7b67cdb10c81

Is this it? ^

http://www.gannett-cdn.com/media/USATODAY/GenericImages/2013/02/11/_makers-mark-4_3_r536_c534.jpg?1b79b3da202957124496e3768cfb7b67cdb10c81

Is this it? ^


Yep

Yep


Why would they water down whisky?  ???

Why would they water down whisky?  ???


So they can sell more of it.

So they can sell more of it.


Whiskey connoisseurs say a little bit of mineral water helps bring out more of the flavor and bouquet of a good whiskey.  Some whiskey drinkers also like the mellower feel of watered rather than clean.  So watering it down is good if you like it that way, but always bad if they're diluting it and selling it as straight up.

Of course, if you're drinking to get staggering blotto like I used to do in the bad old days, you don't care so much about flavor and bouquet.  You just belt down whatever paint chipper's on the bar and reach for your pint for a cooling!

The only thing that got me through that clerical job I hated so dearly was knowing THIS was waiting for me at the tavern at 5:30!

http://watchplayread.com/files/2010/02/Ready-to-Saturday-640x640.jpg

The only thing that got me through that clerical job I hated so dearly was knowing THIS was waiting for me at the tavern at 5:30!
http://watchplayread.com/files/2010/02/Ready-to-Saturday-640x640.jpg

Did you slam back the shot and then chug the beer?

Or did you do a classic "depth charge" and drop the shotglass into the beer mug? ???

;D

Did you slam back the shot and then chug the beer?

Or did you do a classic "depth charge" and drop the shotglass into the beer mug? ???

;D


Depth charge never made sense to me so, I never tried it, eve after four boilermakers when nothing made sense to me!

http://www.thedawgpound.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/too_much_beer-smiley-emoticon.gif

Why can't they water down beer?

Why can't they water down beer?


They can, but beer is only about 5% alcohol to start with.  Deliberately watering it down would be defrauding customers and law enforcement would have a little talk with the proprietor.  It's not worth it.  This is not to be confused with low-alcohol beer (aka. near beer or small beer), which is maybe 3% alcohol and 0.5% for "non-alcoholic" beer.  Low alcohol isn't watered down so much as it's just more watery.  Water boils at 100° C while alcohol boils at 78° C, so it's easy for brewers to boil off more alcohol to make the low-alcohol products. 

If you want the real deal, go with Booker's. Each bottle is single-cask and is bottled at cask strength, usually about 126-130 proof. Sure, it's $60 a bottle, but it's over 50% stronger than 80 proof liquor. and it's gooood.

Ant