Speaking on the “Today programme on the BBC's Radio 4 channel earlier this week, Alexander Stubb MEP stated that as "Scotch whisky has... a very strict definition - it can only be made out of grain and malted grain - and my argument is that we need equality.”

The claims are the latest development in an ongoing feud with Vodka producers as to just what kind of spirits can be sold under the name Vodka. Polish, Balkan and Finish producers continue to claim that true Vodka can only be derived from potato's and grain.

These claims have been disputed however, by a rival delegation of country's including the UK, The Netherlands, and Ireland, who believe that fruit and other ingredients can also be used validly in distillation. Chris Scott-Wilson of The European Vodka Alliance (EVA) agrees with the UK stance and finds the comparison between Whisky and Vodka to be irrelevant to the debate.

Source: CEE-foodindustry.com