Boy. This seemed like such a cool story in today's Tribune-Review:
A Pittsburgh businessman is exploring the potential of distilling Western Pennsylvania potatoes into premium vodka. If successful, he would be the third to do so in the United States.
Look, I like a good stiff drink as much as the next guy. More, actually. And the notion of using good ole' Western Pennsylvania knowhow in pursuit of a buzz seems like a really good idea. And maybe it is. Sobriety settles in with the second paragraph, though:
Armed with a $165,000 grant from the state, C. Prentiss Orr Jr., a marketing consultant in Millvale, is hoping to join the $95 billion distilled spirits industry and possibly give potato farmers in the region a new market.
I don't know Mr. Orr. But I do know that if he thinks he can make a run at the high-end vodka market, he ought to be able to do it without my $165,000. He's a marketing consultant, after all. Shouldn't he be able to sell this idea to people with money to invest?
And think about the people who buy high-end vodka. Isn't this grant basically reducing the amount that they will have to pay for a bottle of this hooch? I'm no prude, but is that really what government is supposed to do? Subsidize drunkenness among people who can't countenance a low-end vodka martini?
You wrote, you don't know C. Prentiss Orr. But, I do.
Thanks for the pointer.
I think you are on to something.
Posted by: Mark Rauterkus | November 18, 2005 at 05:50 AM