THE DRAM BUSTERS - Oz casino in whisky row

[John]

WHISKY-LOVING Alison Black got the chills when an Aussie casino insisted on adding ice to her single malt.

TV producer Alison, 44, believes single malts should always be served neat.

But staff at Lasseters Hotel Casino in Alice Springs insisted on adding three lumps of ice, saying it was their policy to stop people getting too drunk.

Alison, who is from Glasgow but has lived in Melbourne for six months, says the staff refused to bend the rules.

She said: "I love my whisky and have been known to go to the odd tasting. I particularly like single malts and was delighted when I saw the casino had Glenfiddich.

"My friend and I ordered one each but I was shocked when the young barman went to put ice in them.I told the guy to stop, that he was defiling my national drink.

"But he insisted it was policy to only serve whisky with three lumps of ice."

Alison added:"They just didn't taste right even after we chucked the ice away.

"They said it was to stop customers drinking it as a shot, like tequila. But I've never seen anyone lining up shots of whisky. It's to be sipped and savoured."

A spokesman for Lasseters confirmed Alison had been refused neat whisky. But he added: "The person who served her has been reprimanded for their stupidity.

"This is not company policy. I agree it is sacrilegious to have ice with a good single malt."

Oz casino in whisky row

By Lachlan Mackinnon

Source: The Daily Record