You probably saw the news coverage of Senator Clinton downing beer and whisky while on the campaign trail in Indiana. Well, it seems that Clinton’s attempt to rub elbows with the working class has backfired in some parts of the country. Certain folk are taking offense to her tippling. But it’s not the teetotalers who are making a stink. Rather, it’s the folks at Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky.

During a campaign stop in Crown Point, Indiana, Senator Clinton stopped at Bronko’s Restaurant to have a beer with supporters. When the bartender asked Clinton if she would like a shot to go with her beer, the Senator finally settled on belt of Crown Royal – a Canadian whisky. In a recent Wall Street Journal article on bourbon, Eric Felten noted that Clinton made the mistake of drinking a Canadian whisky and that "such a faux pas would never do in Kentucky, site of one of the few remaining presidential primaries." The article also included a tasting, which named Evan Williams "Best of Tasting and Best Value.”

Therefore, in a “preemptive strike against any future spirituous faux pas,” Heaven Hill President Max Shapira and Master Distiller Craig Beam sent a bottle of their Evan Williams bourbon to each presidential candidate. With the Kentucky primary approaching on May 20th, they couldn't bear the thought of any whiskey other than Kentucky bourbon appearing on the Bluegrass campaign trail. "Since it just won the Journal's tasting competition, I thought we should send each candidate a bottle of Evan Williams so they could familiarize themselves with what to drink when they're here for the primaries and general election," says Beam. "After all, bourbon was declared America's native spirit by a 1964 act of Congress, and my ancestors, and probably Evan Williams himself, would roll over in their graves if a bottle of Canadian whisky gets top billing here in Kentucky.”

Let’s hope their gesture works. I would hate to see another "Crown Royal-gate.”

Here are some of the highlights of the Release II:

• The 1st whiskey distilled from pilsner beer
• 100% two-row European barley
• Non-peated
• Additional hops added before distillation
• Double distilled in a 1000-gallon Alambic Charentais pot still
• Classical 7-Fraction distillation used for purity and smoothness
• Aged for 6 years in new American white oak barrels; aged an additional 3 years in stainless steel
• Bottled unfiltered at 110 proof

Charbay's Release II is available from select stores and Charbay's website. It's priced at $325/750ml. Hurry and get it while you can.

Although anyone can order from the online shop, club members receive special deals, dicsounted pricing, and member's only bottlings. A small initiation fee ans nominal monthly dues gets you into the club.

Visit their website for more information.

Since 2001, the Scotch Whisky Association has been opposed to Glenora's use of the word "glen" in the name of their single malt whisky, Glen Breton Rare. The association says use of the word could give customers the impression that the product is Scotch. This despite the fact that Glenora has been very careful to label their whisky as Canadian.

Last year, the Trade-marks Opposition Board ruled in favor of the distillery. But recently, that ruling was overturned by the Federal Court of Canada.

Distillery president Lauchie MacLean vows to fight. Looks like this one is going to the mattresses, boys. Stay tuned for more.

On August 12th, an empty whisky barrel will be dropped from a plane off the coast of Port Ellen. Your job is to guess where the barrel will be five minutes after hitting the water. The person with the closest coordinates will win up to 250,000 British Pounds (that's about $500,000 U.S.). Don't know anything about wind speeds and water currents? Fear not. There are 280 other prizes you can win... from one week's lodging at the new Islay hotel during the annual Whisky Festival (for 5 years)... to hogheads and bottles of the finest Islay malts... and you can always take the cash equivalent of your winnings.

With support from the area's finest distilleries (Ardbeg, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain, Kilchoman, Laphroaig, and Jura), the contest will help raise funds for the rebuilding of the old Islay Hotel. In addition, 100,000 Pounds will be donated to island charities.

The entry fee is 25 Pounds (about $50 U.S.). Enter before it's too late. The contest is open to the first 60,000 entries.

The Classic Malts Cruise is a loosely-structured, 200-mile voyage along the western coast of Scotland. Participants choose their own route and itinerary (as well as provide their own boat) during the two-week jaunt, but there are a number of planned events for all participating crews. The Oban, Talisker, and Lagavulin distilleries will each host a day of tours, tastings, dinners, and traditional ceilidhs. And of course, there are plenty of distilleries and ports-of-call to check out on your own time.

There is no fee to participate, but entries are limited to the first 200 people. For more information, visit the Classic Malts Cruise website. This year's voyage sets sail on July 12th.

The Famous Grouse recently had its royal warrant renewed for another five years. A royal warrant is issued to vendors whose products have been used by a member of the royal family for at least five years. It is considered the highest honor a UK business can receive.

The venerable blended Scotch brand first received the royal warrant in 1984, allowing the royal coat of arms and the words "by appontment" to be displayed on the bottle. Currently, only 800 suppliers have been granted the honor.