It's the only way to be objective.

The big difference between beer and spirits is that spirits like vodka and Scotch offer consumers a wide range of flavors and mixable options and you can buy them in a range of price points.

A middle-class man making $40,000 might not be able to buy a new BMW. But he can buy the occasional bottle of vodka for $35 a bottle. People are drinking less than they once did, but they are drinking better.

Spirits are perceived as affordable luxury. People are more careful with their spending today. Maybe they can't buy a $40,000 BMW but they're willing to buy a good $60 to $70 bottle of Scotch. You don't get that kind of trading-up feeling with beer.

My biggest objection to Marxism has been the presumption that industry should exist at all. I think the unstoppable juggernaut which is global warming demonstrates that processing natural materials on an industrial scale is a suicidal practice.

I did the first album, and it did much better than anyone expected.