[quote name='mykevermin']Honestly, all you get with the high-end vodkas is a fancy bottle and bragging rights. Pay $7-10 less for a fifth of Tito's Handmade Vodka and you not only get a significantly smoother (!) and more subdued vodka, but you lose the pretentious "I think I'm a liquor snob but I just buy what everyone else does" stink.
Without going into *great* detail, absinthe is legal in the states, but not legal for sale. You can own it, you can import it, you can drink it, you can brag about it. The only thing you can't do with it is sell it retail or in a bar.
There is a chemical component of wormwood (the base part of the Absinthe mash) called thujone. Remember it, as there *are* legal absinthes in the states, but they either lack wormwood entirely (and are more akin to the French patisse, which was what was made when Absinthe was briefly outlawed there and in the Czech Republic (well, it wasn't called the Republic then, but you know)). Thujone is legally regulated as a *poison* in the states, so that's why you can't sell it retail/in bars. If you check out your local brewing supply store, they'll invariably have some wormwood with the spices/sugars, and it will have your typical kind of rat poison "do not ingest" sorts of warnings on it. It's a legal necessity, and doesn't need to be strictly heeded.
Now, importing real absinthe is for a true, *ahem*, "balla." The shit isn't cheap. The American substitutes, or at least those that have the thujone-extracted wormwood mash, taste virtually identical, and have the unique aftereffects of genuine absinthe. A less refined palette won't notice the difference between the real thing and the "decaf" version, in flavor or in
ing you up. Be careful to avoid those lacking wormwood, as they won't make you feel as nice.
It does have a righteous
ing hangover, however. Just a forewarning.
As far as rum goes, I will assume you mean dark rums, because clear rum doesn't exist as far as I'm concerned. I've found two that are very excellent dark rums: Sailor Jerry (the best) is a nice caramel color, perfect spice, very little burn, and not too sweet. OTOH, Panama Jack (yes, that
in' 1980's guy) Rum is like Captain Morgan, but with the recipe tweaked to make it slightly smoother and more flavorful. Both are perfectly good neat or on the rocks, which is more than I can say for the ol' cuba libre fave, Mr. Morgan.
Though, someone earlier mentioned that Patron makes a rum. If it's anything like their silver tequila, it's definitely worth trying. By the way, if you shoot Patron, you're an asshole. That's sipping vodka. Go eat the
in' worm with your two-dollar bottle of mezcal. You *savor* Patron. No rocks, though it is nice chilled.
Don't ignore my mentioning Tito's. You will thank me.
So much for being brief. Oh well.[/QUOTE]
Excellent response. Thanks for the explanation. Definitely the kind of insight I was looking for. Although, I will say that I'm strictly interested in taste. Alcohol snobs, IMO, drink wine. I hate that shit.
[quote name='HumanSnatcher']Honestly, if you want a really cheap ass route to good vodka, get some cheap shit and a britta filter. Run the vodka through a few times, and voila, you have a distilled vodka that is like Ketel One and such. Personally, I've never tried it, but know a few that have and claim that it works.[/QUOTE]
Actually, I wasn't looking for a cheap alcohol thrill. I have money now. Not a baller but enough to splurge a little. That's what happens when you hit your thrities.
[quote name='markingsmart']Did your mother put Smirnoff in your bottle when you were a baby?[/QUOTE]
Have you hit 16 yet? That's all we were able to afford back then, especially since we had to shoulder tap for it. :lol: Those shoulder tap tips ate into our booze money.
