See-throughs - long question

In article . com,
says...
If I'm drinking it straight, I want and am willing to pay for
the good stuff (within reason); otherwise I can just buy a jug o'
Popov, 1.75L for $9.99.

Try some experiments:
Go to an expensive yuppy bar that does a brisk trade in brand name
vodkas, and forage a bunch of empty bottles out of their dumpster
(or just give the bartender a nice tip and ask for some empties.)
Take them home and re-fill them with your jug o' Popov. Now gather
a group of purported vodka snobs and ask them to do a comparative
tasting from your bottles (be sure to let them see the labels.)

I betcha one of Wolfgang's shiny new nickels that they will all
taste subtle differences among the samples.

Or you could buy an assortment of vodkas and randomly rearrange
the contents of the bottles, and do the comparison test.

Since cold anesthetizes the taste buds, and vodka is typically
drunk ice-cold, I'd wager that subtle differences among vodkas are
more imaginary than real.

Kevin,
who would be interested in seeing the results of such a test, but
has zero interest in being part of the tasting panel.

Kevin Vang typed:
In article . com,
says...
If I'm drinking it straight, I want and am willing to pay for
the good stuff (within reason); otherwise I can just buy a jug o'
Popov, 1.75L for $9.99.

Try some experiments:
Go to an expensive yuppy bar that does a brisk trade in brand name
vodkas, and forage a bunch of empty bottles out of their dumpster
(or just give the bartender a nice tip and ask for some empties.)
Take them home and re-fill them with your jug o' Popov. Now gather
a group of purported vodka snobs and ask them to do a comparative
tasting from your bottles (be sure to let them see the labels.)

I betcha one of Wolfgang's shiny new nickels that they will all
taste subtle differences among the samples.

Or you could buy an assortment of vodkas and randomly rearrange
the contents of the bottles, and do the comparison test.

Since cold anesthetizes the taste buds, and vodka is typically
drunk ice-cold, I'd wager that subtle differences among vodkas are
more imaginary than real.

I don't think so. When my mother visited a while back, she made us both a
bloody mary. Sight unseen, one sip told me she had bought the cheap crap -
and that was through a spicy mixer. I tossed the Popov bottle after she
left.
--
TL,
Tim
------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj/

Dave LaCourse wrote in
news
The Russian guides in Kamchatka said Stoli was over-rated and wasn't
that good. They recommended Putinka (named after Putin). It was $17
US per .75 liter. Not bad.

For you Dave and others in the Boston area. There is a wonderful
restaurant called Cafe St. Petersburg in Brookline
(http://www.planet99.com/boston/restaurants/14634.html). Has about 100
vodkas from memory, including some homemade ones and an special
horseradish vodka. Top notch Rooshun grub too.

I have often considered setting up a blind taste test at the occasional
family get together, not only for vodka in this case, but also for
other products with "status" brands. For each group of products, I'd
figure on covering the cost spectrum as well as the reputation
spectrum. My in-laws are not heavy drinkers; but there are enough
social drinkers among them to come up with a sample size with possibly
meaningful results.

Serving size would be an issue if too many choices are offered. One
ounce x 6 is still 3 shots of straight vodka. Not so much for me; but
most of 'em don't have my blood volume or stomach lining. I don't want
a house full of puking inlaws at midnight. g

How much would be an adequate taste sample? And what would be a good
"neutralizer" to serve between tastes? Saltines? White bread?

Joe F.

On 12 Dec 2005 12:11:28 -0800, "rb608" wrote:

I have often considered setting up a blind taste test at the occasional
family get together, not only for vodka in this case, but also for
other products with "status" brands. For each group of products, I'd
figure on covering the cost spectrum as well as the reputation
spectrum. My in-laws are not heavy drinkers; but there are enough
social drinkers among them to come up with a sample size with possibly
meaningful results.

Serving size would be an issue if too many choices are offered. One
ounce x 6 is still 3 shots of straight vodka. Not so much for me; but
most of 'em don't have my blood volume or stomach lining. I don't want
a house full of puking inlaws at midnight. g

Kick 'em out at 11:55....

How much would be an adequate taste sample? And what would be a good
"neutralizer" to serve between tastes? Saltines? White bread?

A 1/4 oz. should do it as far as "tasting" unless anyone wants more.
There's very little or nothing to "neutralize," so you don't need
anything (HINT-HINT - notice many labels: "grain _neutral_ spirit(s)").
And save your money, time, and BAC and forget anything made in the US
(absolutely neutral), unless you just want spoilers and/or to **** with
people.

TC,
R

rb608 wrote:
I have often considered setting up a blind taste test at the occasional
family get together, not only for vodka in this case, but also for
other products with "status" brands.
...
How much would be an adequate taste sample? And what would be a good
"neutralizer" to serve between tastes? Saltines? White bread?

You've come to the right place to ask about liquor
tastings. Wayno hosted roff's Single Malt Scotch
tasting and a grand old time was had by all ...
I think ... or so I was told when I woke up to a
Wild Turkey chaser the next morning.

--
Ken Fortenberry

"Ken Fortenberry" wrote

Wayno hosted roff's Single Malt Scotch
tasting and a grand old time was had by all ...
I think ... or so I was told when I woke up to a
Wild Turkey chaser the next morning.

god, what a night...and morning. the sight and sound of pamlico jim
thrusting a bottle of wild turkey into your grey-green visage, while
muttering, darkly, "drink or die, mutha ****er" is forever burned into my
memory.
one of the earliest of roff's "legends of the fall".

yfitons
wayno

On Mon, 12 Dec 2005 16:57:35 -0500, "Wayne Harrison" wrote:

one of the earliest of roff's "legends of the fall".

When Jim came outside he told me that he was disappointed 40 chose to drink.
--
Charlie...
http://www.chocphoto.com

"rb608" wrote in message
oups.com...
It's going to take a few paragraphs to get to the real question, but
as is my habit, I like to include a few hundred words of context.

//snip//
What should I be looking for in the taste of a "good" vodka? What
type/brand do you like?


What a bunch of candyasses!! First of all, the feeling you have the next
morning should be considered just an extension of the prior evening's
exertions. After all, if it's good you wanna remember it, right??

Second of all, there ain't nothing like a mason jar of good old Wilkes
County corn (maize, to some of you'uns) concentrate. Serves the same
purpose - and after one good sniff ain't nobody gonna be able to tell the
difference.

Finally, if you mix it with some good Taiwanese plum wine (ume jo, to the
initiated), you'll be guaranteed an unforgetable experience. Especially if
you're in a bar in Taipei with your invisible friend Harvey.

--
Bob Patton
(change bgzqsdq to charter to reply)
..

On 12 Dec 2005 07:38:15 -0800, "rb608"
wrote:

(snipped)

What should I be looking for in the taste of a "good" vodka? What
type/brand do you like?

Stoli, with a side glance at Stoli Gold.

Cyli
r.bc: vixen. Minnow goddess. Speaker to squirrels.
Often taunted by trout. Almost entirely harmless.

http://www.visi.com/~cyli
email: lid (strip the .invalid to email)