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Under pressure from KSA.

That's what a well-informed government source tells me!. Announcement to be made soon!! I’ll get you more details later!!

A pinch and a punch for you too TJ, although you're a little late as tradition dictates you should have posted this before midday!

You nearly got me there TJ! I got quite a panic on when I was reading your post.

@Dillon. It would have been prior to midday in TJ land!

Tom Jones wrote:Under pressure from KSA.

That's what a well-informed government source tells me!. Announcement to be made soon!! I’ll get you more details later!!

Apart from being April the 1st, this one has done the rounds dozens of times since I first came to the UAE in 1977, in the old days it was always the rumour going around during Ramadan, that the Pubs, Clubs etc as well as the Liquor stores would be closed after Ramadan, nice one Tom, happy 01/04 to u 2

Dillon wrote:A pinch and a punch for you too TJ, although you're a little late as tradition dictates you should have posted this before midday!

A pinch and a punch, Dillon.. and everyone!

A local radio station here announced today (yes before noon) that they were giving away 10 I-Pads for the first 10 callers who call as soon as the clock strikes 12 noon.

The people at the satation were true to their word, but the I-Pads turned out to be just little cotton eye pads!!!



-- Sat Apr 02, 2011 1:39 am --

sage & onion wrote:

Tom Jones wrote:Under pressure from KSA.

That's what a well-informed government source tells me!. Announcement to be made soon!! I’ll get you more details later!!

Apart from being April the 1st, this one has done the rounds dozens of times since I first came to the UAE in 1977, in the old days it was always the rumour going around during Ramadan, that the Pubs, Clubs etc as well as the Liquor stores would be closed after Ramadan, nice one Tom, happy 01/04 to u 2

The UAE expats are genuine boozehounds. If you try to mess with their booze, you get their attention real quick!!


Likewise, A pinch and a punch for the first of the month, Mr. Sage!!!!

heh, Better than a rick roll though

Those of us who partake in the odd libation and lived in Qatar, in 1978 would know the impact of the surprise overnight total banning of alcohol sales! Liquor syndicates in Doha at that time only needed a handful of individuals’ licenses to be registered with them in order to obtain an import license and open an outlet in the town, needless to say there were more liquor stores than you could shake a stick at, and a very healthy trade between these smaller syndicates and the unlicensed population, until one fine day following a fatal road traffic accident involving a member of the royal family, his friend, several female Russian (Not Ukrainian ) ‘escorts’ and lots of alcohol. The syndicates were closed overnight.

You could pick out the individuals who it affected most as they were in denial, claiming “It will probably do me good to abstain for a short period” and “Well to be honest I was thinking about giving it up for a while anyway” while they were frantically starting their own home brews in their cool boxes and bath tubs back at home in the evenings

Every available free non-airconditioned space, including wardrobes, in our bachelor mess at that time, was occupied by a brewing/distilling process of one description or another, we had home brews in several cool boxes, a still, to process some of the brews into spirits made by our Chemical Engineer out of a couple of fire extinguishers, and several hanging pumpkins and water melons topped with a demerara yeast mixture which produced the sweetest ‘rum’ that dripped through a hole pierced into the bottom of the fruit/veg into bowl suspended beneath.

This is where breezers were invented! the spirits produced by the still, and the further freeze stilling some of the not-so-pleasant brews we created, ended up anywhere between 20% and 80% ABV so we needed to cut the spirits with something, water didn’t disguise the unique flavour of ‘Maison Weir’ we needed something that would dilute and mask, and fruit juices were the answer.

The Syndicates were rationalised to two, and opened again around six weeks later, much to the delight of our houseboy and cook, who while having to put up with the mess that a cottage industry of micro brewing created, it has to be said benefited from the by products via ‘probably the most fertile vegetable Garden in the world!’

hahaha! Dillon that sounds like us in Iran right now! Well we dont do the brewery, we left that for Armenians in Iran and buy the "Urag" from them. In house we make wines and beers!

melika969 wrote:hahaha! Dillon that sounds like us in Iran right now! Well we dont do the brewery, we left that for Armenians in Iran and buy the "Urag" from them. In house we make wines and beers!

In Saudi Arabia the strong stuff is known as Sadiki, roughly translated from Arabic means friend, what is the translation Urag?

Well, if we need any advice on home brew, we know who to contact, Dillon is the main man!

I have a friend at work who makes Sloe gin. She insists on bringing me a bottle as I provide her with the blackthorn berries from the Ponderosa for her brew. It is absolutely ing. I tried it once and it blew my cap off. Talk about killing off your brain cells! Of course I never tell her it goes straight down the drain.

She brought me a new concoction last week, it was homemade Horseraddish and Beetroot Sauce. I swear to God that girl musn't have any tastebuds. It just about killed, what ever I have left, off for good! I have given her a nice piece of rolled lamb shoulder today, part of BM's rare breed sheep that are now resting in peice in my freezer. BM has never seen so many chops! I don't even like the smell of lamb cooking, it's ing.

Dillon wrote:Those of us who partake in the odd libation and lived in Qatar, in 1978 would know the impact of the surprise overnight total banning of alcohol sales! Liquor syndicates in Doha at that time only needed a handful of individuals’ licenses to be registered with them in order to obtain an import license and open an outlet in the town, needless to say there were more liquor stores than you could shake a stick at, and a very healthy trade between these smaller syndicates and the unlicensed population, until one fine day following a fatal road traffic accident involving a member of the royal family, his friend, several female Russian (Not Ukrainian ) ‘escorts’ and lots of alcohol. The syndicates were closed overnight.

You could pick out the individuals who it affected most as they were in denial, claiming “It will probably do me good to abstain for a short period” and “Well to be honest I was thinking about giving it up for a while anyway” while they were frantically starting their own home brews in their cool boxes and bath tubs back at home in the evenings

Every available free non-airconditioned space, including wardrobes, in our bachelor mess at that time, was occupied by a brewing/distilling process of one description or another, we had home brews in several cool boxes, a still, to process some of the brews into spirits made by our Chemical Engineer out of a couple of fire extinguishers, and several hanging pumpkins and water melons topped with a demerara yeast mixture which produced the sweetest ‘rum’ that dripped through a hole pierced into the bottom of the fruit/veg into bowl suspended beneath.

This is where breezers were invented! the spirits produced by the still, and the further freeze stilling some of the not-so-pleasant brews we created, ended up anywhere between 20% and 80% ABV so we needed to cut the spirits with something, water didn’t disguise the unique flavour of ‘Maison Weir’ we needed something that would dilute and mask, and fruit juices were the answer.

The Syndicates were rationalised to two, and opened again around six weeks later, much to the delight of our houseboy and cook, who while having to put up with the mess that a cottage industry of micro brewing created, it has to be said benefited from the by products via ‘probably the most fertile vegetable Garden in the world!’

LOOOOOL…

That reminds me of the years when I was posted in KSA!

Moonshine was being made in just about every Western compound in town. Sadiki was very popular. They sold it cut and uncut.

Some of the beers were not too bad, but the wine was bad (smelled like rotten eggs).

However, I was very lucky to get my own real (imported) booze from friends at the Embassy. So I didn’t have to drink that bad moonshine much!!




-- Sun Apr 03, 2011 1:26 am --

sage & onion wrote:

melika969 wrote:hahaha! Dillon that sounds like us in Iran right now! Well we dont do the brewery, we left that for Armenians in Iran and buy the "Urag" from them. In house we make wines and beers!

In Saudi Arabia the strong stuff is known as Sadiki, roughly translated from Arabic means friend, what is the translation Urag?

Sage, believe or not, Urag (which tastes just like Sidiki) means “sweat” in Arabic. Yes, that stuff that comes out of your body when you’re hot!

I have no idea why it’s called so, but I've heard that the Lebanese and Syrians also call it Urag!!

Tom is right. Urag (araq) means sweat in Arabic. I think the naming comes from the way they make it. Urag generally made from raisins, they distill raisins to make them “sweat” and get the liquid. So technically its sweat of the raisins!

Real booze is available here too, but in black markets and in a higher price. Besides you must know a trusted dealer so you can get it. Prices start from 40 USD per bottle.

melika969 wrote:Tom is right. Urag (araq) means sweat in Arabic. I think the naming comes from the way they make it. Urag generally made from raisins, they distill raisins to make them “sweat” and get the liquid. So technically its sweat of the raisins!

Real booze is available here too, but in black markets and in a higher price. Besides you must know a trusted dealer so you can get it. Prices start from 40 USD per bottle.

Mel, I am surprised why those kind people sell that poison to you because Armenia in the countries of former Soviet Union has been always famous of the brandy with Ararat mountain on the label. I for one prefer it to French Cognac even at price of latter.

Probably somehow they are involved in EH's crusade.

Hey Chief, Urag is not that bad, it is very strong though! Even before Islamic revolution, when other booze were free, Urag was very popular in Iran, but mostly producers were and still are Armenians. Because Muslims generally don’t make Urag inside homes. I don’t know why we do the wine and beers in house! Maybe because they are easier to make and there is no need for complicated equipments.

Armenians don’t sell any branded stuff from Armenia, they are known for making Urag in Iran. Before revolution they were the main owners of bars ( I was not born back then, just heard of it! )

melika969 wrote:Hey Chief, Urag is not that bad, it is very strong though! Even before Islamic revolution, when other booze were free, Urag was very popular in Iran, but mostly producers were and still are Armenians. Because Muslims generally don’t make Urag inside homes. I don’t know why we do the wine and beers in house! Maybe because they are easier to make and there is no need for complicated equipments.

Armenians don’t sell any branded stuff from Armenia, they are known for making Urag in Iran. Before revolution they were the main owners of bars ( I was not born back then, just heard of it! )

Yes Melika, Urag is sold in commercially produced bottles at licensed liquor stores in Lebanon, Turkey, Greece...etc!