Evening star., 1942-01-16
U. 5. Liquor Imports
Won't Suffer as Iona
As Britain Holds Out
Higher Prices Likely;
$4,000, 900 Worth Of
Scotch Arrived in '38
Ninth OF a SerteS.)
By THOMAS r. HENRY.

So long as Britain stands, the
basic liquor supply will be little ef-
fected by the war.
Delicate palates. however. will
have to make some uncomfortable
adjustments to the situation, and
higher prices ere almost inevitable.
One of the most curious economic
developments of the war is the story
of Scotch whisky. which has almost
attained the status of international
currency.
Shortly after the repeal OF prohi-
bition, for some unexplained reason,
America became Nation of Scotch
drinkers. Before 1920 Scotch whisky
accounted for less than l per cent
of the whisky consumed in the
United States. 1t now amounts to
more than per cent.
Scotch; the Tariff Commission fig
ures show. is the single largest item
in Great Britains export trade with
the United States.
Canadian Stocks Raided.
When prohibition was repealed,
the accumulated stocks OF aged
whiskies disappeared very rapidly
Then began the raid on Canadian
stocks, chiefly American type rye
and bourbon imported in barrels to
mix with the young domestic whis-
ky. BY 1940 however. the value OF
Scotch whisky imports was about
five times that of Canadian.
The value of the trade to Great
Britain, the Tariff Commission ex-
plains. can be seen from the fact
that in 1888 the total value of i'm
ports OF all sorts to the United
States was sl1800O,0 ,0O0-and of this
Scotch whisky accounted for $32,-
100000 Imports now are running
around 100000 gallons year. I've
British government is greatly con-
cerned over the maintenance Of this
trade, because of the urgent need
for dollar credits.
Stocks of Scotch in the United
Kingdom are considered adequate
to supply the export and home
markets for several years. At
home the whisky is heavily taxed
about SIS a gallon compared with
SO in the United States. This is
intended partly as revenue meas
ure but partly to discourage home
production so that more stocks
can be piled up for export.
scotch Types" Limited.
1t is against the law to call any
whisky made in the United States
Scotch" limitations can be labeled
scotch type" but very small guam
titles are produced.
Fine French and Spanish brandies
are practically out of the picture
until the end of the war. They have
accounted for from one-third to
one-fourth of all the brandies con-
sumed in the United States-or
about a million gallons year.
American martini and manhattan
drinkers normally have consumed
about a million and half gallons
yearly of that complex mixture of
white wines. alcohol and herbs
vermouth.
Before the war only about 100000
gallons were produced in this coun-
try. All the rest came from
France and Italy During the first
war year extraordinarily large ship
ments were received-approximately
100000 gallons. After the defeat
of France and the closing of the
Mediterranean to Italian commerce
shipments stopped almost entirely,
so there can hardly be much reserve
left, according to the Tariff Com
mission figures.
Very good vermouth can be made
from California white wines favored
with imported herbs. There is very
little possibility of obtaining the
latter. 1t is quite possible. says the
Tariff Commission summary, that
additional supplies can be had from
Chile, Argentina and Canada where
vermouth making has been spe-
cialty for some years.
With the defeat of France, con-
tinental European sources of wine,
other than Spain and Portugal, were
closed and by July. 1910 receipts
of French, German and Italian