Ring of Bright Whisky

Of course, those of us who have actually sailed the things know differently.

To me, sailing a yacht means floundering in a freezing squall in a tiny fibreglass hull skippered by a lunatic with the sense of direction of a drunken lemming. I tried it once. Never again, I swore.

A little water with your whisky?

Then I heard about the Classic Malts Cruise, a mile journey through the Inner Hebrides - in proper-sized craft - that goes past some of Britain's most spectacular scenery: I admit I was tempted. Maybe those showbiz stereotypes had something to offer after all.

Although it still would not have been enough had I not also noted the cruise's crucial qualification: It was not so much an attractive prospect, I decided, as an unavoidable obligation. I was careful about my transport, nevertheless. There would be no more sloshing about in open-decked Wayfarers, clutching a bottle of Bell's.

• Extra Credit #22 (Camp Confidential).
• Codice dei medicinali (Italia) (Italian Edition).
• See a Problem?.

Instead, I sailed on the Grampus, a foot cruiser built at Nautor's Swan yard in Finland, with teak decks and a reassuring array of instruments, including satellite navigation and electronic map displays. Much bigger and a yacht cannot move around the west coast's tight, craggy anchorages, so most of the craft taking part in the fortnight-long regatta tend to be modestly proportioned, around 30ft, and are crewed by between two and four people.

Ours could have taken a football team with ease though not necessarily pleasure and provided the half dozen of us who joined the Grampus to sail the first of the cruise's three sections from Oban to Talisker with a serene, luxurious existence. Although the Grampus is a private boat, it is one of a number of commodious yachts selling berths for the Classic Malts Cruise, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this summer. Courtney Cook rated it it was ok May 05, Folashade rated it it was amazing Jul 05, Laura Dobb marked it as to-read Jul 05, Sonia marked it as to-read Jul 05, Aimee marked it as to-read Jul 05, Teresa Lavender marked it as to-read Jul 05, Margaret scotland marked it as to-read Jul 05, Richard Tyler marked it as to-read Jul 05, Xeno marked it as to-read Jul 05, Daniela marked it as to-read Jul 05, Lisa Ann marked it as to-read Jul 05, Maureen Ryan marked it as to-read Jul 05, Melissa Herston marked it as to-read Jul 05, Mary marked it as to-read Jul 05, Debbie Carnes marked it as to-read Jul 05, Renee Booker marked it as to-read Jul 05, Elizabeth marked it as to-read Jul 05, Elisabeth marked it as to-read Jul 05, Kim Coomey marked it as to-read Jul 05, Andy marked it as to-read Jul 05, Julie Hutchinson marked it as to-read Jul 05, Judith marked it as to-read Jul 05, Barry marked it as to-read Jul 05, Rebecca marked it as to-read Jul 05, Sheila Read marked it as to-read Jul 05, Andrea marked it as to-read Jul 05, The Whiskey Ring involved diversion of tax revenues in a conspiracy among government agents, politicians, whiskey distillers, and distributors.

The scheme involved an extensive network of bribes involving distillers, rectifiers, gaugers, storekeepers, and internal revenue agents. Essentially, distillers bribed government officials, and those officials helped the distillers evade federal taxes on the whiskey they produced and sold.

A little water with your whisky? | Travel | The Guardian

Whiskey was supposed to be taxed at 70 cents per gallon, however distillers would instead pay the officials 35 cents per gallon and the illicit whiskey was stamped as having the tax paid. Before they were caught, a group of politicians were able to siphon off millions of dollars in federal taxes. Secretary of the Treasury Benjamin Bristow , working without the knowledge of the President or the Attorney General , broke the tightly connected and politically powerful ring in using secret agents from outside the Treasury department to conduct a series of raids across the country on May 10, The trials began at Jefferson City , Missouri in October Senator from Missouri to serve as special prosecutor in charge of the indictments and trials, but Grant eventually fired Gen.