A TRUE OXYMORON: NON-ALCOHOLIC WHISKY

They’re not happy about this in Scotland. ArKay, said to be the world’s first alcohol-free “Halal certified” whisky, is going on sale worldwide in time for the holidays. It is said to look and taste just like traditional whisky. With its certification, Arkay opens up the markets in Muslim countries and the Middle East. Whisky distillers in Scotland are said to be in a state of revolt over the “alcohol free” creation. “It is not possible to make alcohol-free whisky,” the daily mail quoted a spokesman for the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) as saying. “This company is trying to exploit whisky’s reputation with highly irresponsible marketing,” the spokesman added. A Florida-based company called Scottish Spirits Ltd manufactures the non-alcoholic whisky in its Panama factories, and will be priced at 1O pounds a bottle and 4 pounds for a can. If you remember, this is the same company that attempted to market Scotch in cans earlier this year. The SWA successfully took action against them using the Scotch Whisky Regulations 2OO9, which now regulate the making, bottling and labeling of Scotch Whisky. You can probably expect a similar course of action from the SWA.