[deeferty]

Are you saying all Frank Lin products are made with the same grain ethanol and just different flavourings? I'd be astounded if that's the case. I thought things labelled as for example 'wine' or 'rum' had legal definitions. Can you really sell flavoured grain ethanol as unqualified 'wine'?

[GeorgeBeech]

If you look at their site, it's all college rot gut, and well liquor level stuff. It's the brands that you go and get a giant 1 Gallon handle for 10$. Which makes sense given their business model.

This is the stuff you'll get at a corner bar when you say "I don't care." When they ask what kind of vodka you want.

[deeferty]

It looks like it would be illegal to market grain ethanol as rum in the US, no matter how downmarket

http://www.robsrum.com/RumBasics.html

I think the grandparent isn't right.

[dredmorbius]

Skyy Vodka isn't well-level.

And about three seconds' thought would tell you: "GeorgeBeech, no idiot running a 'premium' liquor brand would allow their product to be featured on a bulk purveyor of flavored methanol products manufacturer website."

Brand appearances are tightly controlled. The message is as much about what you want to be known as what you want to be concealed.

[dredmorbius]

You're welcome to tell me which of the following brands you consider "college rot gut". Though it's all just flavoured ethanol:

http://sourmashed.com/american-whiskey-database/frank-lin-di...

A R Morrow Brandy, Lejon Brandy, Potter’s Finest Brandy, Montanac Brandy, Maraska Brandy, Busnel Calvados, Menorval Calvados, 1st Cru Collection Cognac, Francious Voyer Napoleon Cognac, Maison Prunier Cognac, Marthe Sepia Cognac, Menuet Cognac, Aubade & Cie. Cognac, Francois De Lyon Cognac, Jules Domet Cognac, Maison Prunier Cognac, Café Del Amor, Curacao Liqueur, Destinee Liqueur, Gran Citron, Grand Marquette, Holly Toddy, Jules Domet Orange Liqueur, Kona Gold Coffee Liqueur, Maraska Cherry & Pear Liqueurs, Potter’s, Potter’s Long Island Iced Tea, Potter’s Sour Splash, Vice Rei – Portugal Passion Fruit, Duggan’s Irish Cream, Barrett’s London Dry Gin, Bellringer (England) Gin, Cossack Gin, Martini London Dry Gin, Potter’s London Dry Gin, Classik Grappa, Jules Domet Grand Orange, Agwa, Arak Razzouk – Anise Liqueur, Par-D-Schatz, Ramazotti, Arak Razzouk, Don Antonio Aguilar, Diamond Head Rum, Havana Bay Rum, Moraga Cay Rum, Potter’s Specialty Rums, Potter’s West Indies Rum, Prichard’s Rum, Tanduay Rum, Glenalmond Scotch, Glen Ranoch Scotch, Muirheads Speyside Scotch, Angus Dundee Scotch, Tambowie Scotch, Blackburn’s Scotch, Duggan’s Dew Scotch, Lloyd & Haig Scotch, Potter’s Scotch, Maraska Kosher, Subovorska, Defrost Schnapps, El Tirador Tequila, Arette 100% agave Tequila, Baja Tequila, Baja Tequila Liqueur, Don Diego Santa Tequila, Potter’s Tequila, Puente Grande Tequila, Puerto Vallarta Tequila, Quito Tequila, Señor Rio Tequila, Sol De Mexico Tequila, Baronoff Vodka, Beyond Vodka, Charodei-Russia Vodka, Cossack Vodka, Crown Czar Vodka, Crown Superior Vodka, Ed Hardy-France Vodka, Haamonii-Schochu Vodka, Maggy-Russsia Vodka, Monnema Vodka, Monopolowa Vodka, Monopolowa-Austria Vodka, Potter’s Vodka, Purity-Sweden Vodka, Royal Czar Vodka, Spirit of Santa-Finland Vodka, Tamiroff Vodka, Vampyre-Transylvania Vodka, White Wolf Vodka, Bourbon Age – Ky Bourbon, Bourbon Club Bourbon, Buck Bourbon Bourbon, Clyde Mays Conecuh Ridge Whisky Bourbon, Joshua Brook Bourbon, Potter’s Bourbon, Wathen’s Bourbon, Barret’s Blended Whiskey, Glenwood Blended Whiskey, Potter’s Blended Whiskey, 8 Seconds Canadian Whisky, C.E.O. Canadian Whisky, Campbell & Cooper Canadian Whisky, Canadian Crown Canadian Whisky, Potter’s Crown Canadian Whisky.

[kyllo]

Wine is fundamentally different from liquor, but he's probably referring to fortified wine, which is cheap wine with neutral grain spirits added to it.

[dredmorbius]

That's something I'd like to dig into.

It's an open secret in the wine industry, though, that a large quantity of grapes for California wine -- even of Napa Valley product (though I'm not sure how strict the rules are for appellations) are sourced from elsewhere in the state, much of it from near Fresno and Clovis. There simply isn't enough acreage within Napa Valley to supply production.

How much individualized production Frank-Lin does would be quite interesting to establish.