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India-Pakistan
Pakistan: Home of Muslims and Fine Malt Whiskey
2006-12-07
Rawalpindi, Pakistan (AP) - The dusty, traffic-choked streets of this sprawling Pakistani metropolis are a world away from the crisp mountain streams and heather-covered glens normally associated with single-malt whiskeys.

But it's here in dusty Rawalpindi that the only malt whiskey distillery in the Muslim world is preparing to launch its newest product - a 21-year single malt that it claims will rival the best Scotch whisky.

"Very few distilleries anywhere in the world, even the high-end ones in Scotland, produce ... 21-year old malts," said M.P. Bhandara, chief executive of the Murree Brewing Company, announcing the launch of the new product, which goes on sale in January.

The new spirit, Murree's Millennium Reserve, will only be available to a small clientele of expatriates and non-Muslims in a land where prohibition has been enforced for 30 years. The distillery's product lines - including 8- and 12-year-old single malts - cannot be sampled abroad because Islamabad bans the export of alcoholic beverages...
Posted by:Sneaze Shaiting3550

#13  Many Pak Army Generals are quite fond of their whiskey.
Some even have a fondness for bacon - like the founder of Pakistan, Mohammed Ali Jinnah who regularly had bacon and eggs for breakfast and scotch in the afternoon.

The Pak dictator General Yahya Khan really loved his whiskey - "Black Dog".

Posted by: john   2006-12-07 16:23  

#12  liquor and beer operations are now carried out at Rawalpindi

Is that where ISI go for a nightcap after a hard days' work planning the global intifada?
Posted by: Seafarious   2006-12-07 15:40  

#11   Pakistan's late military leader Zia-ul-Haq banned alcohol consumption by Muslims who constitute 97 per cent of the population more than 25 years ago. Murree Brewery, listed on the Karachi Stock Exchange, was among the first modern breweries in Asia when it was established in 1861 at Ghora Gali near resort town Murree in the Pir Punjal ranges of the Western Himalayas.

Murree later added a distillery to its business and some of its premium brands include Murree's Classic Beer, 8-Year-Old Single Malt Whisky, Bols Silver Top Gin, Bolskaya Vodka and Beehive Brandy.

"We are in talks with some Indian companies, but it is in early stages," Mr Bhandara said in an interview. He declined to name the companies but added these were "the big ones in India".

Mr Bhandara who is also a Member of the Pakistan National Assembly was here as a part of a visit on an invitation from Government of India. He said Murree has no plans to take its alcoholic beverage business overseas and Pakistan has a ban in place on export or import of alcohol.

Stating that the approach of Pakistan to alcohol was "ambivalent", Mr Bhandara said the entire country was serviced through 66 licensed outlets and some of the big towns and cities went without shops. "But we try to make our business viable," Mr Bhandra who heads Murree that has diversified into fruit juices and glass manufacturing, said. The beer and liquor business accounts for nearly 60 per cent of the company's revenues, while fruit juices and glass manufacturing contributes 35 per cent and five per cent respectively.

The company's entire liquor and beer operations are now carried out at Rawalpindi after the Ghora Gali brewery was burnt during the Partition riots.
Posted by: john   2006-12-07 15:34  

#10  It is probably Pakistani Christians or Hindus that are doing the distilling.
Posted by: Zenster   2006-12-07 14:38  

#9  How do they know if it's any good if they're not allowed to taste it?
Posted by: mojo   2006-12-07 12:24  

#8  tastes like petrol , looks like piss , and costs 7 pence a gallon ..

wait a minute , IT IS PISS AND PETROL!
Posted by: MacNails   2006-12-07 11:39  

#7  One of my few claims to fame is that I make a better Midori (Japanese for green) than the Japanese.
Or at least that's what the sheilas I invite home tell me. Actually the Japanese no longer make Midori, it is now made in Mexico.
In Australia they desecrate the drink by adding milk, and then having to say "Na Na Na Na" to a local football theme song.
Posted by: tipper   2006-12-07 09:21  

#6  Actually phil_b, Japanese Scotch is now pretty good.

Posted by: Bernardz   2006-12-07 07:38  

#5  DEEEEEEENO!
Posted by: Jerry   2006-12-07 04:14  

#4  Howzzat? Better?
Posted by: .com   2006-12-07 03:54  

#3  I attached a "Dean Martin" pic from the list. The pic appears to be of a lame look alike. I used to watch his weekly show in the seventies. Dunno.
Posted by: Sneaze Shaiting3550   2006-12-07 03:37  

#2  I'm reminded of Japan's attempts to replicate Scotch whiskey. Teams of scientists dispatched to Scotland to analyze water, peat, barley, etc. And when they exactly replicate the same in Japan, it still tastes like Sh&t.
Posted by: phil_b   2006-12-07 02:13  

#1  Well, at least when Muslim arsonists hit the place they won't need any accelerants.
Posted by: Zenster   2006-12-07 00:37  

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