Instructions: "If you mean the demon drink that poisons the mind, pollutes the body, desecrates family life, and inflames sinners, then I am against it", the congressman said.

"But if you mean that elixir of Christmas cheer, the shield against winter chill, the taxable potion that puts needed funds into public coffers to comfort little crippled children, then I am for it. This is my position and I will not compromise."

Whiskey is distilled from a fermented mash of grain, usually corn, rye, barley, or wheat, then aged in oak barrels. In the United States, whiskey must be distilled at less than 190 proof, although whiskey designationed as bourbon or rye cannot be distilled above 160 proof, and bottled at no less than 80 proof.

Whiskey, when placed in barrels to age is clear. It is during aging that whiskey obtains its characteristic amber color, flavor, and aroma.

The major whiskey producing countries are the U.S., Canada, Scotland, and Ireland. Special grain characteristics, recipes, and distillation processes make the whiskey of each country distinct from each other.

Bourbon and Tennessee whiskey, as well as Scotch, were previously described, here we will cover some of the other commonly known whiskey types.

American whiskey falls into 2 major categories-straight and blended. Straight whiskey is distilled from a 51% base of a single grain and not blended with neutral grain spirits or other whiskeys. Straight whiskeys are aged in charred oak barrels for a minimum of 2 years. Bourbon is a straight whiskey. Rye whiskey is distilled from a mash of not less than 51% rye. It is much like bourbon in color, but is different in taste and heavier in flavor. Corn whiskey is distilled from a mash of not less than 80% corn and commonly aged in reused charred orak barrels.

Blended whiskey is a blend of one or more straight whiskeys and neutral grain spirits, containing at least 20% straight whiskey bottled at no less than 80 proof.

Like Scotch, Canadian whisky is spelled without the e. Canadian whiskies arre blended, usually distilled from rye, corn, and barley. Produced only in Canada under government supervision most Canadian whisky sold in the U.S. is at least 3 years old. Canadian whisky is generally lighter-bodied than American whiskey and usually sold at 80 proof. MacNaughton Canadian Whisky, blended and bottled in Canada, was one of the early pioneers in the U.S. market. Canadian LTD, blended in Canada but bottled in the U.S., is another poplar brand, ranking fifth in the U.S. among popularly priced Canadian whiskies.

Irish whiskey, produced only in Ireland, is, like Scotch, a blended product containing both barley malt and other grain whiskeys. Unlike Scotch, the malt is dried in coal-fired kilns and the aroma of the fires does not reach the malt. Generally aged a minimum of 5 years in used sherry casks, Irish whiskey is lighter inflavor and less smokey than Scotch.

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