I have done it! After countless hours wasting the taxpayers money reading this website, I have found a mistake of the crack Straight Dope staff and want to set the record straight(dope). As someone who thoroughly enjoys Bourbon, I was drawn to pontification on the difference between Whiskey and Bourbon. In this response there was a reference to famous beer slogan “it’s the water.” This was mistakenly attributed to Coors. In all actuality this was the tag line for Olympia Beer, made in Tumwater, WA. To be more exact it was “it’s the water, and a whole lot more.” As an added point that would make Unca Cece proud, it should be noted that Bourbon County, Kentucky is a dry county, meaning no alcohol can be sold and it is illegal to consume any form of alcohol, even Bourbon. This is true for 70% of Kentucky. Only in the Bluegrass State would Bourbon County be dry when Christian County is wet.
[[In this response there was a reference to famous beer slogan “it’s the water.” This was mistakenly attributed to Coors. In all actuality this was the tag line for Olympia Beer, made in Tumwater, WA.]]
I know, I know. You are the 57th person to point it out. But thanks!
Jill
As a descendant of a long line of scotch drinkers, I will point out that there are only two things you can do with corn mash: 1) you can feed it to pigs 2) you can make bourbon out of it
And here we have an examplar for the phrase “same difference.” (99% of everything brewed west of the Missouri falls into the category labeled by my Seattle brother-in-law as “Perrier & hops.”)
Tom~
Sorry Gred, it’s neither illegal to possess or consume alcohol in a dry county in Kentucky. It is illegal to sell alcohol in dry territory. Oddly enough, it is legal to distill whiskey in a dry county (e.g. Marion County).
Here’s a cite:
KRS 242.230 TRAFFIC IN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IN DRY TERRITORY PROHIBITED; UNLAWFUL POSSESSION PROHIBITED
*(1) No person in dry territory shall sell, barter, loan, give, procure for or furnish another, or keep or transport for sale, barter or loan, directly or indirectly, any alcoholic beverage.
(2) No person shall possess any alcoholic beverage unless it has been lawfully acquired and is intended to be used lawfully, and in any action the defendant shall have the burden of proving that the alcoholic beverages found in his possession were lawfully acquired and were intended for lawful use. *
This was also confirmed with a former General Counsel of the Ky. Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
In my experience, people commonly bring their own libations (e.g. bottles of wine) to restaurants in dry counties.
I also take issue with your the so-called mistake you found in the original mailbag article. I don’t think the article suggested “It’s in the Water” was used as an advertising slogan for any particular Bourbon. However, the high limestone content of the acquifer in the Bluegrass region is a common explanation for the superiority of Kentucky Whiskey. This has also been offered as an explanation for the superiority of horses bred in the region. In my opinion, it also explains why the women are so attractive here as well.
Frankd6, Member, Kentucky Bar (in every sense of the word!)
[[I also take issue with your the so-called mistake you found in the original mailbag article. I don’t think the article suggested “It’s in the Water” was used as an advertising slogan for any particular Bourbon.]]
Thanks Frank, but I did err in saying that it was a slogan for Coors as opposed to Olympia beer(two equally boring beers in my opinion, but that doesn’t excuse it). I have asked Ed to repair this mistake in the archived copy, though I do like the evidence that people are reading my old mailbag columns.
[[However, the high limestone content of the acquifer in the Bluegrass region is a common explanation for the superiority of Kentucky Whiskey. This has also been offered as an explanation for the superiority of horses bred in the region. In my opinion, it also explains why the women are so attractive here as well.]]
I was going to thank you for that, too, Frank but then I realized you meant “here” Kentucky.
Jill
Well, now that I got every one up in a lather I feel it necessary to clarify exactly what I said.
Jill was right the first time. I said that the quote “it’s the water” was mistakenly attributed to Coors. Never did I say that it was referred to as a slogan for Bourbon. I think the calling Olympia Beer boring is far too nice Jill. Piss water (ooppps can I say that?) is what we used to refer to it as back in the old days of college at UW. But cheap all the same.
If the West of the Missouri comment supplied by “tommndebb” is actually true, then all you Bud drinkers be damned (me not included since I am partial to Schmidt), since I think St. Louis is technically West of the Missouri. Those that like a good Redhook, Alaskan Amber or IPA, get with the program.
Now for Frank’s comments regarding Kentucky State Law. First, thank you for the KRS citation and clearing that up. I lived there for three years and had always wondered what the law actually was. Now let me give you a little reality check. The law books and reality often paint two very different pictures in the Bluegrass.
Take for instance counties such as Pulaski, Russell or Jackson (to name a few) where it is almost 50 miles to the nearest barstool. Where does one really go to pick up a bottle(s) of their favorite beverage? Well, you could make the drive, and thereby be a legal beagle, or you could go down yonder and pick up some hooch at the local bootlegger for a few bucks over the price at the Party Barn. Speaking strictly from experience, I would bet in most cases the latter apply. In fact, during my numerous occasions at places such as the Pink Cadillac in Somerset, I never remember anyone asking to see my proof of legal purchase. And, I was never gutsy enough to ask where the County Deputy got that Maker’s Mark I often saw him mixing with the Coke, since I know exactly where he got it. THE SAME PLACE I DID! It may be the KRS, but there are numerous dry counties that might as well be wet, sure would improve the tax base. Come on, illegal to distill the stuff, I had a County Judge give me a bottle of his finest as a birthday present.
Now for sometin’ wez alls can agree on, dem Kentucky Phillys! In fact, I’z sho did lasso one of the purdyist of um me own self, rode 'er ome and now I’z is proud enough to say I hitched er and now look into dem purdy blue eyes ev’re morn!! It indeed must be “the water!”
[[In fact, I’z sho did lasso one of the purdyist of um me own self, rode 'er ome and now I’z is proud enough to say I hitched er and now look into dem purdy blue eyes ev’re morn!!]]
Sounds like equus eroticus to me…
Jill
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000211.html
(Ride em, cowboy!)
I said it was illegal, I didn’t say people didn’t do it!
And my bad on the “water” thing.
And yes, we all talk in cornpone dialect here, jes’ like Granny on the Beverly Hillbillies.
I needs me sum mo’ possum fritters.
PUH LEEZ.
Plunging like stones from a slingshot on Mars.
[[And yes, we all talk in cornpone dialect here, jes’ like Granny on the Beverly Hillbillies.]]
I don’t know about that, but I do know that when I’ve been to Kentucky, no matter how slowly and carefully I speak, the locals always say, “what?”
Doesn’t this law make it illegal to run a distillery in a dry county? After all, the Jack Daniels company is certainly "keep(ing) or transport(ing) for sale … alcoholic beverage(s). Admittedly the sale occurs outside of the county, but the “directly or indirectly” part would seem to cover that, especially when the law does not specify that it applies only to sales within the county.
Jack Dainials is made in Tennessee, not subject to Kentucky Laws.
Jack Daniels is rotgot.
You want good bourbon, you’ve got to sip some Blanton’s (courtesy of the Ancient Age folks). Now THAT’S Kentucky bourbon.
Songbird <–married to a Kentuckian whose daddy is a Kentucky Colonel.
Okay, somewhere in my head I knew Jack Daniels was from Tennessee, I just forgot it for a while.
But leaving aside the whole Tennessee issue, Frankd6’s post quotes the Kentucky law I c&p’ed yet he also says it is legal to make whiskey in a dry county. So my question still stands.
Songbird,
If you like Blanton’s you should try Ancient Ancient Age. A year or so ago, several of us toured the Ancient Age distillery, which is right around the corner from our office.
One of the things we learned – Blanton’s ten year old whiskey from a single barrel. Ancient Ancient Age – ten year old whiskey from a single barrel. Both barrels come from the same warehouses. Ancient Ancient Age = ~$23.00/1.75 liters. Blantons = ~$35.00/1.75 liters.
Draw your own conclusions.
As to why distillers can operate in dry counties – I’m still checking on this. However, I think it has to do with federal preemption. Distillers are federally licensed and therefore exempt from the state law. But that’s just a WAG.
Plunging like stones from a slingshot on Mars.
[[As to why distillers can operate in dry counties – I’m still checking on this. However, I think it has to do with federal preemption. Distillers are federally licensed and therefore exempt from the state law. But that’s just a WAG.]]
Maybe it’s legal to make but illegal to sell liquor in those counties?
So what is wrong with you? You are descended from “a long line of Scotch drinkers” yet you foul your palate with bourbon? 
Gred73 wrote:
Rather ask him why he insists on ruining it like that!
I drive way too fast to worry about my cholesterol.