Comments on: Independent 8207 / Nimrod (2/2/13)

By: MikeC

MikeC — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 10:04:04 +0000

Thanks Gaufrid and Nimrod. Just about completed this but needed your help to explain some of the answers. Btw, the Welsh malt whisky is called “Penderyn”. It’s distilled not far from where I live and is rather good, though a bit expensive imho.

By: beermagnet

beermagnet — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 09:51:53 +0000

Many thanks to Gaufrid for producing the blog at such short notice.
And sorry to him and everyone for failing to write it – I just completely missed that it was my turn. No excuses, just simple incompetence. I’m going to make damn sure that doesn’t happen again.

A fantastic Nimrod too – What a fool I feel.

By: Wil Ransome

Wil Ransome — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 22:03:26 +0000

“There once for a time was ‘Welsh’ whisky, manufactured, I suppose, under the mistaken belief that Celtic surroundings would suffice, but we will not reason of it, only mention it and pass” [Saintsbury, Notes on a Cellar Book, 1920]

By: Gaufrid

Gaufrid — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 18:59:59 +0000

Hi sidey
“I suppose there could also be French vermouth, (Old) English terrier and Welsh whisky.”

You are right on all three counts. I had previously only ever heard of Italian vermouth but a google confirms there is a French version. Wikipedia confirms the existance of the old English terrier and, despite my strong liking for the amber nectar, and have drunk it for many, many years, I was not aware that there was a distillery in Wales. However, there is.

By: sidey

sidey — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 18:41:49 +0000

Thank you for the elucidation Gaufrid. This very firmly nailed the lid on the worst solving week I’ve ever had so I’ve been doing old Listeners for some light relief. An extremely cleverly constructed puzzle nevertheless and deserves a place in the puzzle of the month list. I would suggest that 16d is a semi &lit clue as I understand that bingo involves the numbers being selected with balls.

I suppose there could also be French vermouth, (Old) English terrier and Welsh whisky.

By: crypticsue

crypticsue — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 18:15:27 +0000

It seemed ages since we last had a Nimrod and I thought this one was well worth the wait. From the giggle as I solved 6a right down to the last penny drop, I thought this a great puzzle. So many clues were solved and then I re-read the wordplay and ah yes! 20a being a prime example of that phenomenon. Interestingly, it was only spotting some of the links that enabled me to solve 7d.

Thanks to Nimrod for a great puzzle and to Gaufrid for the review – I think you have all the links.