Beer, Wine, & Spirits

[Don Alexander]

Threadlich!

I KNEW we had an alcohol thread floating around here, fermenting and waiting to be uncapped...

At the Halloween party a week ago, someone had brought a bottle of Absinthe. Now, I never got to look at the bottle, but I'm pretty sure it was German-made, and thus reduced in Thujon, but it still sported 68% alcohol, making it the hardest stuff I had ever drunk. alas, la fée verte was not consumed in the traditional manner with a spoon and a cube of sugar, instead, the guy watered it down to about 1/4 of it's power.

So I demanded pure. No fucking water. If I'm going to drink this legendary stuff, I want full impact.

Due to lack of glasses, I got my swig in a wine glass that was shaped similarly to a cognac snifter. So when I raised it to my lips, the alcohol fumes hit and burned my eyes... The first sip was pure liquid fire in my mouth, I think it cauterized everything. After that, the taste of the anise, vermouth and the other herbs came forth, and wow. This stuff is really quite yummy! I'd still say I'm a cheap wino and prefer Jägermeister, but if I'm ever on another party that has this, sign me in!

I also later drank some of the watered-down stuff, and it was just gross!

[GothPoet]

edit: And... EuroTrip

[Gil Hamilton]

Absinthe is really an acquired taste. At one of the department parties, one of the guys got his hands on a bottle of absinthe and was giving people shots. Most people didn't like it.

Fun thing last night at the physical chemistry party was the horrible Chinese liquor that someone brought which was 58% alcohol. Disgusting, but entertaining to ignite with a match. Didn't quite have enough alcohol by volume to sustain an alcohol vapor pressure to stay lit for more than a few seconds, but bit was cool watching a thin blue flame flick across the surface of the liquid.

[Radbaron]

Few seconds? Heh. We used to make homebrew for private consumption (allowed in Canada) that could burn for 30 seconds from one tablespoon.

[Azrael]

Radbaron is a moonshiner. Somehow I just knew that.

[Radbaron]

Actually, I don't drink. But you should see the firewater and wine the household can produce.

[GermanMerc]

@ Gil Hamilton

I know Absinthe, living near France gives u contact with it and for all who don´t know it just tastes like cat pee.

[TheDude]

In other words: it's an acquired taste.

(and I'd like to see those wondrous cats!)

[Don Alexander]

Look at my cat, my cat is amazing...

... where the absinthe is made!
Sweet absinthe, sweet, sweet absinthe...

[GermanMerc]

Yeah, much like Bitburger you know.

[Iceman]

Which do you think is worse, Merc, Absinthe or Brennivín?

[GothPoet]

@ Gil Hamilton

I know Absinthe, living near France gives u contact with it and for all who don´t know it just tastes like cat pee.

Just out of curiosity, how would you know? Unless...

[Gil Hamilton]

Wait gets me is the notion that the best way to drink absinthe is by drinking it mixed with sugar and in fact have elaborate rituals and specialized spoons for the task. It was kind of weird.

[CyanideAngel]

Yeah you melt (?) Sugar on a spoon...Shot the absinthe with the sugar. I like Absinthe. Forgive my fuzziness on the prep. I was already drunk at the time I tried Absinthe and so my memory is of open flame,sugar,Absinthe and spoons.

[GermanMerc]

@ Iseman

Actually i like Brennivín, but i like most stuff up there like Akvavit and the like.

@ Goth Poet

That is a childhood story u have to pay to hear ;)