I know what you mean, used to drink Tanqueray like it was going out of style. One night had about 4 too many and can't take the smell of gin to this day (and that was over 25 years ago). Vodka with a multitude of different mixes now unless going hardcore- then a splash of cranberry (barely enough to make it light pink).
OT: Gin or Vodka
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So the hula hoop wasn't a fad either because people were playing with hoops for hundreds of years? Fads can come and go, like bow ties or suspenders. And they have only distilled whiskey for about 600 years, not 1000.
The Arabs (a guy by the name of al-Kindi) were distilling alcohol in the 9th century - he described the distillation of wine into what we know today as brandy.
Whiskey isn't the only spirit to be barrelled and the barreling was used, initially, solely for transport. Locally produced spirits were never aged on wood, in the sense that we know it, until it was discovered that rum, barrelled for transport across the Atlantic, underwent a considerable change in character over the course of the long journey.
Not a hell of a lot of wood for barreling in the middle east...fig or Joshua trees? Glass would be more available given the dearth of sand !!! Must have used African wood !?!
Barrels would have been a purely European thing, at the outset, and probably not used at all until about the 14th century or so, when monks started distilling mead in large enough quantities to ship and sell.
Interesting fact that is more relevant to this thread - distilled mead is just tits. There's no mass-market product (honey is wicked expensive) but a couple of craft distilleries have dabbled in it. There's one in New Hampshire that puts out about 500 cases a year. If you were to, hypothetically, partake of the distilling arts in the comfort and privacy of your own home away from the prying eyes of neighbors, cops and feds, I highly recommend trying a honey wash once you've gained enough experience to deal with the tragically difficult process of fermenting the stuff.
Speaking of Vodka, how many on the board have tried this? Not too expensive, but a personal favorite
I have had it many times a friend of mine used to sell it to bars and restaurants in NYC. Also one of the establishments i frequent down the shore sells it.
I tend to agree about bourbon, though I think it also works on cool spring/summer nights around the campfire.
Please do not joust with Real concerning this topic. He will just pound you with facts as he sits at his kitchen table sipping his wonderful home made hooch.
I prefer whiskey, this is true. I do like gin, however. And there's nothing quite like a Dark & Stormy after a day on the water (dark rum, preferably Pusser's, and ginger beer).
Mostly I just don't like vodka.
Funny thing - I have 5 gallons of plum wine in the fermenter, right now. Just nursing it along. I think it will be quite interesting.
Mostly I just don't like vodka.
Funny thing - I have 5 gallons of plum wine in the fermenter, right now. Just nursing it along. I think it will be quite interesting.
Gin and tonic or vodka and tonic on a warm summer day is truly hard to beat.
One of my former students and current co-authors is from Minsk, and brings me whatever the current best Belarusian vodka is when she comes to visit. I love my job.
One of my former students and current co-authors is from Minsk, and brings me whatever the current best Belarusian vodka is when she comes to visit. I love my job.
I teach in the Ed School. 90% of my students are female. Massive perk of the job! And each year as I get older, they stay the same! Nothing like being a prof at a major research uni. Come to my class sometime on the first warm day of spring.
Vodka, tonic water, the juice of half a lime, and a pinch of Kosher Salt.
I call it the Southern Gentleman. Catchy name huh? LOL
I call it the Southern Gentleman. Catchy name huh? LOL