Third of rare Scotch whiskies tested found to be fake

[Eugene]

Source: BBC

Third of rare Scotch whiskies tested found to be fake

20 December 2018

More than a third of vintage Scotch whiskies tested at a specialist laboratory have been found to be fake, BBC Scotland has learned.

Twenty-one out of 55 bottles of rare Scotch were deemed to be outright fakes or whiskies not distilled in the year declared.

The tests were conducted at the East Kilbride-based Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre (SUERC).

It used advanced radiocarbon dating techniques to reach its conclusions.

SUERC measured residual concentrations of a radioactive isotope of carbon present in the alcohol contained in each bottle in order to establish the ages of the whiskies.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-46566703

[hlthe2b]

1. I've had a 12 yo bottle of Johnny Walker Black purchased to celebrate John Kerry winning in 2004.

So, now that 12 yo unopened bottle is technically aged 12 years, but held another almost 15 years.

I'm guessing if I have anything in the future to celebrate, that it is inarguably REAL?

[BootinUp]

5. Not the same as how they are

supposed to be aging it. The bottle storage actually preserves it pretty well assuming it’s kept in a dark cool place.

[hlthe2b]

6. Yes.. thus my acknowledgement that its "age' is 12 yo. Never suggested otherwise.

My point was only that it is very likely to be REAL.

[SCantiGOP]

13. What to save it for

As a suggestion, one day when I was in Graduate School a good friend and I held a joint unlit until we heard the word “Resign” come from Dick Nixon’s lips.
Don’t know what could be momentous enough to fill that role upon hearing Trump say it, except it will probably come as a Tweet.

[Beakybird]

2. I bought a 100 year old roll of Scotch tape

Now I want to have that tested.

[cstanleytech]

11. From what I read its becoming pretty common and they are even faking wine by bottling new wines

in old bottles.

[BeyondGeography]

3. Fake booze?

[SWBTATTReg]

4. Like Honey and Virgin Olive Oil...I guess anything and everything is faked/counterfit, all in the...

name of greed and profits. I know most reputable retailers try to check their incoming inventory to ensure the quality of their inventory, but those purchases that we all make online (at retailers w/ less than stellar reputations), buyer beware eh?

[matt819]

7. Got honey covered. Not sure about olive oil.

I buy local honey, so I'm reasonably confident it is what it is claimed to be.

I hate buying olive oil - and I use a lot of olive oil. I sure would love to see a website that lists what has been found to be counterfeit and what is likely to be genuine (based on the fact that it has not yet been found to be counterfeit.

Sure, articles and studies are nice, but when I'm in the grocery store or TJ Maxx or wherever, I just want to consult a list that will tell me to avoid some stuff or buy some other stuff. BTW, the problem with buying from TJ Maxx is that if I like a particular olive oil, there is absolutely no guarantee it will be there ever again, or even the next day. And that assumes that I either think it is genuine or don't care because I like it. And while I'm not a connoisseur, I can tell that one is good and one is not based on how they make the salad dressing taste.

Obviously, we're not talking about items that cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. Just a few bucks. But, still, I'd like to be as certain as I can be that I'm buying a genuine product.

[SWBTATTReg]

8. My last purchase of honey was exactly that, a local purchase, thank goodness. I too, don't ...

know about the olive oil, so instead of buying the big bottles (I cook quite a bit), I buy the smallest bottle I can so at least I'm not throwing a huge amount of money away.

I would love what you advocate, some site that grades the olive oil viability / quality (and other stuff too). I don't know. I guess best way is to find a local organic grocery store (which I am lucky and have one on Morganford street in STLMO).

Walmart's/Sam's Club is exactly like TJ Maxx too, if I buy something there, I won't find it later.

It is kind of ridiculous that we have to be on our toes on just about everything. I know that there are things like Consumer's Report etc., but who can remember everything (where's the article you want to review again at, etc.?).

[FiveGoodMen]

9. "we have to be on our toes on just about everything" because capitalism's only purpose is to take

our money.

And we keep letting these thieves run the government and make the laws.

[SWBTATTReg]

10. Yes, really! Our predatory capitalists hard at work!! nt

[SCantiGOP]

14. For olive oil:

Can’t beat Costco if you have access to one. Certified authentic and often wins expert’s tastings.
I have read that more than a third of what is on shelves at grocery stores are not what they claim to be.

[SWBTATTReg]

15. Thanks. I do have a Costco south of me, I'll try it! I'm not surprised 30% could be 'fake'...

[Javaman]

12. "just, hic, film the bobble with water and, burp, sh-shoe porish porish..POLISH...

no-no one will notish"

[LakeSuperiorView]

16. Pre 1940's Spirits would contain no Strontium 90, unless opened and mixed with newer material.

So presence of that would be give away a modern fake. Radiocarbon dating might be able to tell an 1890 Scotch from a 1920 Scotch, but I can't afford either, so not really important in my world...

This is only important for 1%ers who have too much money and not enough to send it on. In a way, I hope lots of them spend way too much money on utter crap spirits...