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Sun, 06 Jul 2008

Vodka drinks.

Vodka itself is very interesting drink, but depending on situation it can be either the cheapest way to become very drunk, or possibility to have long and fun time in a good company.
Frequently (and likely most of the time) vodka is used for the first case only, which is sad of course.

I do not know, when and how vodka became popular in Russia, but I think it is always associated with my country now. Actually every nation has some kind of vodka in its own history of drinks, and likely still has it. For example UK/Ireland has whiskey, which is effectively vodka, but drawn in an oak barrels. This brings very interesting taste, which allows to use it as a kind of long drink (especially with ice). After having a whiskey shot one can start breathing air in (especially via nose), which brings aftertaste directly into the brain to the every piece of the body. I do not know any coctails based on whiskey.
In my opinion, Irish whiskey is much more tasty and interesting than (probalby originals of) Scotch, although the former has much more labels.
USA also used to drink whiskey, but most of the time it is its own labels, which I did not try yet. USA does not have own popular drink though, or at least I do not know it.

Europe also has lots and lots of different vodka kinds.
Frech drinks cogniak. I do not like it, and belive that it is only coloured non-tasty vodka, even likely the best labels like Remi Martin and Hennesy (although the latter is originated by irelands :), but it is only matter of taste of course. Cogniak creation process is a bit more complex than vodka, and it also has very different taste, which (for me) is very similar to clean vodka. Cogniak is one of the most popular strong drinks. Culture of its drinking is forgotten, but nevertheless it is very interesting. Cogniak should be drunken only with special temperature (16 degress Centigrade) in glass of specail form, which concentrate its airtaste. Cogniak is not swallowed immediately, but 'stored' in a mouth for a while to get all taste.
Frenchmen also created absinthe. This is very strong drink (upto 90 degrees), but its main feature is thujone. History tells us that thujone was the main reason, why absinthe was forbidden in Europe, and it was quite strong hallucinogen. History also tells us that its concentration never exceeded 10%, so it is unlikely that it had some kind of strong effect. Vincent Van Gogh liked it very much, there is even a theory that it cut his ear during absinthe intoxication, but likely it was some special absinthe, since 10% less-to-equal thujone concentration does not have any significant effect. Right now absinthe is allows in most of the countires, where it was forbidden 200 years ago.
Eastern Europe used to drink various kinds of vodka, which are called in local manner.
For example so called Cha-Cha, which is quite strong (upto 80 degrees) drink, but usually very clear, so it can be drunken without dilution.

The New World (most of it is from Mexico) brings us very interesting vodka-like drink called tequila. It is frequently called mexican vodka, although US also produces own labels. There are also types, which are made using french cogniak barrels.
Usually it is drunken with salt, lime (sometimes lemon) and mulatto female. Process is very interesting: you lick mulatto's hip, cover it with salt, lick it, get tequila shot and eat a lime portion. Even without mulatto it is still very tasty drink. Tequila is made out of special agave sorts, the more it has, the higher is quality.

One of the very known vodka-like drinks from Carribean is rum. It is also quite strong drink, but because of its oil-like elements, it is more sweet and very tasty. Rum is likely one of the most widely used strong drinks for coctails.

I know that Koreans also very like own kind of vodka, which has smaller spirit concentration, namely 20 degrees. It is made out of rice. It is very popular drink to be mixed with beer. Drives you roof away just after couple of shots.

Ukrainians have very interesting drink called 'Gorilka', which is effectively vodka with pepper. It is very tasty, but never eat Gorilka pepper, or you are risking to get a peptic poisoning.

There is several vodka mixes.
First and likely the most known, is 'Screwdriver', whcih is vodka mixed with juise. It is not very tasty imho. One of the most strong roof-driving-out drink is so called 'ruff' or mixture of vodka and beer. Do not try it if you do not know what it is.
I also know one vodka long drink: vodka with Martini mixed one to one. Although it looks quite strong, it is very tasty drink with excellent sweet and a bit dry taste.
Using my small cellar I created (at least tried first time) another long drink, which consists of vodka mixed with 'Malibu' rum. It is also possible to add there juice or cold tea.

Weekend...

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