Pakistan brewery produces Muslim world's first 20-year whisky

[Bhaisahab]

Pakistan brewery produces Muslim world's first 20-year whisky
By Isambard Wilkinson in Rawalpindi
Last Updated: 1:29am GMT 26/02/2007

The Islamic republic of Pakistan has won the distinction of producing the Muslim world's first 20-year-old malt whisky.

The Murree Brewery in Rawalpindi, founded in 1860 to make ale and spirits for soldiers during the British Raj, is the only producer of whisky and beer in a constitutionally Muslim country

Despite a torrid history in which it has been burnt down by Muslim protesters and temporarily shut down in an Islamist purge, the Murree brewery has survived against the odds and has previously produced celebrated eight and 12-year-old single malts.

"Few distilleries in the world, even the high-end ones in Scotland, produce 20-year-old malts," said Minnoo Bhandara, the Parsee businessman whose family has run the brewery since the creation of Pakistan at the partition of British India in 1947.

Officially, the 20-year malt will be true to its name of "Rarest".

Under Pakistani law it cannot be drunk by 97 per cent of the country and it cannot be exported.

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[uppityperson]

1. words fail me but I wanted to kick this.

Edit, didn't fail me for long. I bet the few that would drink this are happy. Can't be exported or drunk by 97% of population, while in ROme do as the Romans do, respect culture but things change, still just a kick since my thoughts aren't set yet.

[varun]

2. The owner is a Parsee (Zoroastrian)

not a muslim. That helps.

Also, in Pakistan, it is forbidden for muslims to buy alcohol, so sometimes they ask their Christian / Hindu friends to buy the drinks for them.