benhall.1 wrote:I have found it quoted in a book by Gavid D. Smith called "A-Z of Whisky". Now, I don't know who he is ... He says, "There is an old Scots proverb which declares that there is no such thing as bad whisky, they all make you drunk."
But previously I hadn't heard the phrase either, and it doesn't seem to me to make much sense.
A quick Google: As to the man, Gavin D. Smith is a published author on a number of leisure topics including horseracing and beer, but is perhaps best known above all as a whisky maven. As to any authority conferred upon him by the whisky fanciers' community, that is for the informed to tell us, but he appears to be well known. As to his origins, he was born in County Durham of North East England, is Scottish on his father's side, and now lives on the Fife coast. As to the proverb, I've heard it in various guises before and not associated with any one group in particular, so Smith's attributing it to the Scots is likely facetious, or at best anecdotal; it's probably arisen independently in every drinking culture there is. As to it coming from him, it surprises me that a connoisseur would even utter it, but judging by the bits I've read of Mr. Smith, it would seem he also has an irrepressible playful streak. I'm all for that, but it might prove awkward this time, considering he's cracking wise about a people known to hold whisky as high art, whose contributions to it are his bread and butter, and in whose country he resides as well. All in good fun no doubt, but just sayin', Gavin ol' buddy...
Ben, are you in possession of the book? I wonder what the proverb's greater context was. If Smith quoted it in order to disagree with or disprove its spirit as a supposedly Scottish artifact, that would make sense.
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