Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/118688
FROM THE EDITOR The Caipirinha War PHOTO: CATHY TWIGG-BLUMEL If you are looking for a prime example of unnecessary and somewhat ludicrous government intrusions, you need look no further than our own industry. No, I'm not referring to nanny Bloomberg's failed ban on Big Gulps. I'm talking cachaça here. On February 25, 2013, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), finally recognized "cachaça" as a unique spirit product of Brazil. Although cachaça has been sold in this country for many years, it was never granted this recognition by law, until now. By law, it had to be labeled "Brazilian rum," which, if you think about it, is a real insult to Brazil and its national drink. After years of bureaucratic dickering undoubtedly involving countless memos, meetings and other communications, the TTB cut a deal. In exchange for Brazil's recognition of "bourbon" and "Tennessee whiskey" as unique U.S. spirits, we would grudgingly accept "cachaça." Whew! Looks like we barely managed to avoid an armed conflict with our former South American allies. The Caipirinha War. I can see it now: an armada of U.S. LSTs storming Ipanema beach. At the very least we probably would have boycotted the Olympics and you know, from previous experience, how effective that can be. At last, we can listen to Jobim, eat feijoada and drink Caipirinhas without feeling guilty. But we should question how we managed to get to the point where dweeby desk jockeys hidden away on obscure corridors of monolithic government office buildings get to decide what a product gets to be called. I'll bet they never even tasted the stuff. C'mon, Big Gov. Spend your time cutting the deficit, creating jobs, improving education. We don't need you to tell us what to eat and drink and what to call it. Most of us are smart enough to figure those things out for ourselves. 4 / the tasting panel / april 2013 CONTRIBUTORS Doug Allard is a Nashvillebased fine art photographer, primarily focusing on cityscape and landscape images. "I enjoy the excitement of traveling to a big city or new place; or I'm just as happy mountain biking or hiking somewhere off the grid. Either way, I always have my camera in tote." Timothy Moriarty is the former managing editor of Wine Enthusiast magazine and features editor of Chocolatier and Pastry Art & Design magazines. He is the co-author of the Grand Finales series of pastry books, the Wine Enthusiast Wine and Food Pairings Cookbook and Chocolate Passion. His most recent novel is The Geezer Elite. Michael Quiet is a Boston-based commercial and editorial photographer. Not only does he enjoy photographing food and beverages, but he really loves to shoot sports and fitness too. Some of Michael's recent editorial clients have been Boston magazine and Muscle & Fitness. Sharon Sampsel has been photographing "Everything Vegas" for over two decades. Educated at the prestigious Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA, making the move to the desert was simply about following a special guy to the middle of nowhere. Twenty-something years ago, this outdoorsy kind of gal was more than a little panicked about living the swinging life in Vegas, yet this move turned out to be a great leap of fortune for both herself and partner Greg Preston. To view their work, visit SampselPreston.com.