Posted on 05/24/2013 4:55:38 AM PDT by Zakeet
Complete Headline: Scores of TGI Fridays in New Jersey 'busted for selling caramel-colored rubbing alcohol as top-shelf scotch' in statewide crackdown dubbed Operation Swill
At one bar, a mixture that included rubbing alcohol and caramel coloring was sold as scotch. In another, premium liquor bottles were refilled with water - and apparently not even clean water at that.
State officials provided those new details Thursday on raids they conducted a day earlier as part of a yearlong investigation dubbed Operation Swill.
Twenty-nine New Jersey bars and restaurants, including 13 TGI Fridays, were accused of substituting cheap booze - or worse - for top-shelf brands while charging premium prices.
As part of Operation Swill, investigators collected 1,000 open bottles of vodka, gin, rum, scotch, whiskey and tequila from the wells of the bars, state Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa said.
‘This alleged scheme is a dishonest ruse to increase profits and is a slap in the face of the consumer,’ Chiesa said.
[Snip]
The undercover inspectors tested vodka brands such as Grey Goose and Ketel One; scotch, such as Johnny Walker Black and Dewar’s; and Jose Cuervo Silver and Gold tequila.
Of 150 samples collected, 30 were not the brand as which they were being sold.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Did you read the article? They investigate 63 different locations based on complaints and collected 150 samples. TGIF was not targeted, they just happened to be the recipient of a high number of complaints resulting in several of their locations being investigated.
Doc, let’s make some scotch.
Scotch?
As naval officers, we’re supposed to be resourceful.
Frank here’s got a great opportunity. Let’s fix him up.
Right.
Frank, where is the rest of that alcohol we were drinking last night?
-Now, that ain’t even the right color.
-Quiet, boy.
Color?
Coke. You got any?
l haven’t seen a Coke in four months. No, it’s five months.
l forgot l had it.
What shade would you like?
Shade?
Pale, smokey?
Well, l told her Red Label.
-Red Label?
-Red Label.
lt may look like it,
but it sure won’t taste like it.
Doc, what does scotch taste like?
lt tastes like....
You know what it’s always tasted a little like to me?
lodine.
Of course.
One drop of iodine, for taste.
Let me try that.
This calls for a medical opinion.
How about it?
We’re on the right track.
Now we need something extra for age.
What have you got there, Doug?
Seltzer, some fruit salts, hair tonic....
Hair tonic! That’s got a coal tar base.
One drop of hair tonic, for age.
That’ll age the daylights out of it.
That’s it!
You know, it does taste a little like scotch.
Do you know, it does.
That dumb little blonde will never know the difference!
All right, Frank,
Doug and l made the scotch...
...the nurse is your department.
‘’She won’t know the difference
She won’t know the difference’’
Thanks, Doc.
‘’She’ll never know the difference’’
You won’t know the difference,
will you, baby?
No, you won’t. No, you won’t.
Thank you, Doc. Thanks, Doug.
Their customers should be jailed for not having any taste.
From the TTB.GOV site
6. Refilling, Reusing and Disposing of Liquor Bottles
(a) Refilling or reusing liquor bottles - Any retail dealer, or agent or employee of such dealer, who refills any liquor bottle with distilled spirits, or who reuses any liquor bottle by adding distilled spirits or any substance (including water) to the original contents is subject to a fine of not more than $1000 or imprisonment for not more than 1 year, or both.
(b) Disposition of liquor bottle - The possession of used liquor bottles by any person other than the one who emptied the contents thereof is prohibited, except that this prohibition shall not:
(1) prevent the owner or occupant of any premises on which such bottles have been lawfully emptied from assembling the same on such premises
(i) for delivery to a bottler or importer on specific request for such bottler or importer;
(ii) for destruction either on the premises on which the bottles are emptied or elsewhere, including disposition for purposes which will result in the bottles being rendered unusable as bottles; or
(iii) in the case of unusual or distinctive bottles, for disposition as collectors' items or for other purposes not involving the packaging of any products for sale;
(2) prevent any person from possessing, offering for sale, or selling such unusual or distinctive bottles for purposes not involving the packaging of any product for sale; or
(3) prevent any person from assembling used liquor bottles for the purpose of recycling or reclaiming the glass or other approved liquor bottle material.
Any person possessing liquor bottles in violation of law or regulations is subject to a fine of not more that $1000, imprisonment for not more than 1 year, or both.
My grandparents knew people who had gone blind from drinking that stuff during prohibition.
Exactly! One of my favorite scenes.
Kitty Dukakkis apparently.
By “good stuff” I meant premium priced. Taste is personal.
I guess that's why the ruse worked. Actually, I do remember a time going out with coworkers when someone would order a mixed drink (even if it was lunchtime and we had to go back to work), but no one ever ordered top shelf stuff.
One of my all time favorite films. The exploding laundry room soap suds scene always makes me laugh.
Ted Kennedy would have loved to head this sting.
Sorry, but this story does not pass the smell test.
The bars may very well be watering down liquors, but with rubbing alcohol? They might use diluted PGA, vodka, or water, but surely not rubbing alcohol.
“Jameson’s is good stuff? Bushmill’s, and especially Black Bush is far better than Jameson’s.”
Isn’t Bushmill’s a product of Northern Ireland while Jameson’s is a product of the Republic of Ireland?
“horse simultaneously drinking from a bucket of Budweiser and filling a bucket of Miller Light.”
And that’s exactly how it’s made. ;-)
The Bushmill’s Distillery in County Antrim is the oldest licensed distillery in the world, and yes, it is in Northern Ireland. And yes, I know some Hibernian’s who will not allow themselves to enjoy the best Irish Whiskey in the world because it is not produced in the Republic. I also know a local Hybernian Club that serves Black Bush. I also know that it is served in Donegal pubs, even those in IRA strongholds. If you choose not to enjoy the Best Irish Whiskey, perhaps you punish yourself unnecessarily.
The best? That be Midleton's.
If it’s Budweiser, it comes from the Clydesdales after they drink.
Same morons who ID an AR type semi as an automatic weapon will call grain alcohol rubbing alcohol, no doubt.
Midleton’s are all are triple distilled and have aged between 12 and 25 years in individually selected Bourbon or Sherry casks.
The aging in Sherry casks is an idea they got from Bushmill’s...Black Bush has been aged this way for many years (since 1934). The goodness of Black Bush is no doubt the reason the Master distiller chose to do this for Midleton’s Very Rare.
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