Single Malts and Jersey Lightning

Pathetic Earthlings is a blog that covers whiskey. Strange that we didn't think of that first, but then we have discussed cocktails at some length. I stumbled across it because John Derbyshire of National Review was interviewed there as to his favorite whiskeys. It turns out that he likes Glenmorangie and Talisker- and like anyone else who finds someone who shares his prejudices, I think Derb is a brilliant man. Myself, I think I like Talisker even better than Glenmorangie. In a week's time I will actually be paying a little pilgrimage to the Talisker distillery, in amongst the bens and glens of Skye, och, wi' a wee bit of peat smoke and the clean salt air, d'ye see. Aye.

These people at Pathetic Earthlings also have a thing for apple brandy. But since they do not wish to give France a slim dime, they suggest buying American applejack. This, of course, is the apple brandy which made colonial New Jersey notorious. "Jersey Lightning" it was called, and I imagine that it was the tipple of choice for all those soldiers of the Continental Army who tried not to freeze at Morristown. The Jersey Lightning of choice is produced by Laird's, which has carried on since the 1780's in making the Stuff to Give the Troops. It may not be the Old Man of the Mountain, but it's what we've got. And when you tack on the Pine Barrens, well, those are at least two things to be proud of, no?