Last night was the Spirit of Mount Vernon dinner held on the grounds of George Washington’s estate, an annual gala sponsored by the Distilled Spirits Council and other associations to benefit the new George Washington National Library (some $200,000 was raised). The crowd included distillers large and small, distributors, diplomats, and members of Congress. A Washington impersonator, rather tall and with a booming voice, was on hand during the auction and there were even fireworks. But for a while, there was a sense of anticipation. Then came news that members of the Senate were being briefed on Iran. “That’s not good,” said one industry insider.

Not good because the situation was escalating? “Not good because this is delaying the vote on free trade,” the insider explained. The big deal was South Korea, which, like other Asian nations, is just getting their drink on. Sales of wine and liquor are already high in the Pacific’s emerging markets. But if the trade deal were to pass, a 20 percent tariff on bourbon and Tennessee whiskey would be lifted in South Korea—and as it happens, South Koreans are discovering they really like bourbon and whiskey.