WHISKY: A NO-NO

Like Joseph Connelly (“My interiors

life”, Dec/Jan), I frittered away many hours in the 1950s and 60s watching (mostly) low budget films. I also noted the contents of the ubiquitous drinks tray. Yes, the Scotch was usually Johnny Walker. What was really odd was the way it was drunk. Invariably, the man poured about four fingers for himself, and the same for the lady. They drank it without ice, without a mixer, without water. Neat.

It saved the director needless time fiddling about with ice and soda, but who drinks whisky neat? Not the Scots. Only in films. And only in films do they pour whopping great glugs of the stuff, about ten pub measures, enough for the lady and her chap to forget their lines. Nicholas A. Bird

London