February 22, 2013

Good News.





“You just tell me the brand of whisky Grant drinks; 
I would like to send a barrel of it to my other generals.”
- Abraham Lincoln, November 1863, to an adviser who complained of Grant's drinking habits.



Interesting news from one of my favorite places in the world.
Drinking Scotch can help the environment.


Well, maybe not exactly. Turns out that, two byproducts of the distilling process (pot ale and draff) can be used to produce a biofuel. And that biofuel can be used to power cars without even adapting the engines.

Here's the description from the UK Guardian article: 

"Scottish scientists develop whisky biofuel"

The new method developed by the team produces butanol, which gives 30% more power output than the traditional biofuel ethanol. It is based on a 100-year-old process that was originally developed to produce butanol and acetone by fermenting sugar. The team has adapted this to use whiskey by-products as a starting point and has filed for a patent to cover the new method. It plans to create a spin-out company to commercialise the invention.





This is sheer genius.  Eventually they will find a way to incorporate whisky into every single aspect of daily life. Including driving to work in the morning. So, people, do your part: Buy plenty of imported Scotch whisky to ensure these clever scientists have all the pot ale and draff they could possibly need in order to complete this important research.









10 comments:

Tartanscot said...

This will be a pleasure.

frenchtoast said...

PBS mind in an MTV world?
I second Charles' zeal.

Unknown said...

Whiskey = the glue that holds a nation together.

asterix said...

It gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "one for the road".

Syl v O said...

Would a car still manage a straight line at full tank?

Alistair said...

I will do my patriotic duty and only use the finest single malt biofuels.

Dr. Bunsen and gaggle of fans said...

We are always down for alcoholic beverages,
junk food,
incessant amounts of geek posts,
and
the encouragement of all your bad habits.
Everyone needs friends like us.

C and C said...

What would I not give for one or two weeks in the Scottish Highlands?
Last summer we traveled to Edinburgh and Inverness. I was on cloud nine.
The history,
the greenery,
the rain,
the cold,
the pubs,
the destilleries,
the car emmisions?..
…they suit my temperament to a “T”.

Love the post.

Ms. Edna (squared) said...

Indeed, with friends like you...

Anja said...

Will it work with šljivovica too?