MetaChat - Warning: alcohol snobbery inside

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30 June 2006

Warning: alcohol snobbery inside →[More:]I found out yesterday that a bottle of Hangar One vodka that I gave as a gift to a friend was used to make Jell-o shots. JELL-O SHOTS. He is twenty-six years old and he chooses to make Jell-o shots. With Hangar One, instead of some appropriate swill sold in a plastic bottle. Angels wept when that happened. I hope those Jell-o shots were good.

That's almost as bad as the time I got someone a bottle of Knob Creek and, before my eyes, even after I explained what it was, she mixed it with Coke. It's like she thought, "My, after what Prospero has told me, it sounds like this small-batch bourbon would be just lovely with just a tiny splash of water or maybe an ice cube, but what would really bring out the flavor is some high-fructose corn syrup."

In short--if it's worth drinking, it's worth drinking straight.

post by: Prospero at: 12:31 | 35 comments

That isn't snobbery; it's common sense.

So people still do jell-o shots? Adult peoples? I don't understand this.

posted by iconomy 30 June | 12:34

There was a booth with Jell-O shots at the Dyke March last weekend. Which I thought was hilarious.

But... yes. On the other hand, I often get yelled at for using decent bourbon in my cooking, which I think is perfectly reasonable (given that I also tend to use decent wine in my cooking when it's for guests), so I may not be the best snobbery buddy here.

posted by occhiblu 30 June | 12:40

I suppose you are not going to want any of this Sangria I made out of a bottle of Chataeu Lafite Rothschild - 1799 and this Cognac that my uncle found in Napoleon's tomb then? Too bad, I made the cutest little cocktail napkins out of this old dusty piece of cloth, kinda had this funny shaped stain on it. Looked like Jesus.

posted by Divine_Wino 30 June | 12:40

This thread has led me to discover that Hangar One vodka is made in Alameda, and that they have vodka and whiskey tastings there, within easy driving distance, in a former Naval base. How neat!

posted by occhiblu 30 June | 12:51

From personal experience, let me tell you that nothing's more irritating than your roommate pilfering your 16 y.o. Lagavulin for a *DIET* coke and whisky cocktail. Bleeaach!

posted by small_ruminant 30 June | 12:51

I mean, within easy driving distance of me. Not of each other. That would be weird.

posted by occhiblu 30 June | 12:51

occhiblu- that is useful information!

posted by small_ruminant 30 June | 12:52

I tend to buy a pretty pricey rye, but I really like my rye mixed with ginger ale. I have had friends chide me for wasting my money on something I am just going to mix anyway, but I figure, fuck it, I like the way it tastes.

Now, having said that, I still wouldn't mix it with coke, or jello. That would be silly.

posted by richat 30 June | 12:52

St. George Spirits

posted by occhiblu 30 June | 12:53

eeeeeeeew.

Jello-shots? *shudder*

Though I'm the girl who, when a guy bought me a vodka I scoffed. "whats this in it?" and he said "uhm.. Ice?" and I replied "did I say ICE? Or did I say vodka?" he then got me a straight vodka which I pretty much downed at once. Holy crap they serve big drinks in the states. Mistake. Whoha.

posted by dabitch 30 June | 13:04

Another person here who can't stand it when people use fine booze for mixed drinks.

Lagavulin is my favorite, and the idea of putting in in diet Coke hurts me. Hurts me!

posted by Specklet 30 June | 13:04

I love my snob drinks, and I have an advanced palate, but:

If you find something you like the taste of, drink it. If it costs more than something you don't like as much, and you can afford it, drink it. If someone tells you you shouldn't drink what you like, offer to buy them what you're having. If they refuse, they can buy their own fucking drink. If they continue to pester you about how much better their taste is than yours, well, that's what the back alley is for. Buy the entire expensive bottle, pour half out, fill 'er up with Coke, and break it over their snotty head.

posted by Hugh Janus 30 June | 13:12

dabitch and I drink vodka the same way!

posted by sciurus 30 June | 13:17

I had a similar experience with bourbon, dabitch. When did "neat" stop being the default???

posted by occhiblu 30 June | 13:20

Actually, I also once made a bartender repour because he assumed I wanted ice (though I had actually said "neat"; I guess he didn't hear me). Which I don't understand at all.

posted by occhiblu 30 June | 13:21

Anyone ever have a mimosa or a bellini made with Dom Perignon or Salon champagne? They're absolutely delicious. You'll never have a better mimosa than one made with the Dom. Yum.

posted by Hugh Janus 30 June | 13:27

When you die, they dunk you headfirst in a barrel filled with all the booze you've spilled; if you drown, then to hell with you.

I think that there should be another barrel filled with all the fine liquor that you've mixed with cheap mixer.

posted by porpoise 30 June | 13:29

OMG Hugh that sounds tasty. But also Trader Joe's has some hawt $7 champagne these days. In case you were wondering.

posted by dame 30 June | 13:29

Hee hee, porpoise! If anyone spills alcohol in the presence of me or my two best frieds, we always say "Oh god, that's terrible! That's alcohol abuse!"

posted by Specklet 30 June | 13:45

Did anyone see the premium vodka blind tastings done by the NYTimes recently? For a joke they threw in Smirnoff's and it won.

Aren't most of these premium vodkas all made from pure alcohol from the same chemical refineries, with water and varying amounts of salt and sugar added?

posted by StickyCarpet 30 June | 13:59

I'll drink anything if it probably won't kill me on the spot, but I do tend to drink it neat or on the rocks. Jack and Ginger is the shit tho, little lime, tall glass. Big ice cubes. Confusion to the pope my friends, here's how!

posted by Divine_Wino 30 June | 14:41

How!

posted by Hugh Janus 30 June | 14:52

Hugh,
That time I drank that with you and Gaspode sorta lodged into my memory as good times and it is all tied up into the taste of the drink, all Proustian and what-what!

posted by Divine_Wino 30 June | 14:58

Ah bless y'all I'm not alone!

We are the neat drinkers who like ours neat! NEAT! NEAT!

Crazy bartenders and their ice, man.

posted by dabitch 30 June | 15:17

Wild Turkey neat please and your coldest bottle of Bud back, thanks.

posted by Divine_Wino 30 June | 15:30

This thread has led me to discover that Hangar One vodka is made in Alameda, and that they have vodka and whiskey tastings there, within easy driving distance, in a former Naval base. How neat!

Let's go! Let's go! And we can go to the cheese board for cheese tastings! And to the sake factory for sake tastings!

Seriously, Bay people, we need to make a day of this.

posted by mudpuppie 30 June | 15:36

I've made rum and coke with 21 year old Appleton Estate, and I liked it. I've served the same thing to a guest who wouldn't have complained if I'd used Captain Morgan. I'd do it again.

I routinely cook with wine that's a lot better than "table wine", and quality spirits. (though I don't use anything ultra-high-end for such purposes.)

But I'd never do such a thing to a bottle that was given to me as a gift.

Never.

(Wishes he was drinking a nice scotch, neat, water back.)

posted by mosch 30 June | 15:36

/wishes she were drinking, period.

posted by matildaben 30 June | 15:50

mudpuppie, that sounds awesome. Except we need a volunteer to be designated driver.

Doesn't Anchor make rye or whiskey, too? We should add that to the list.

posted by occhiblu 30 June | 15:59

Occhiblu, we should just hire one of those stretch Hummer limos for the day!

(Kidding. Maybe.)

(And there's another rye distillery somewhere in the Bay Area, but I can't remember the name of it.)

And to undo the derail I started...

Prosepero, if nothing else, you've learned that this particular friend doesn't appreciate gifts of good booze. Next time just buy him a 12-pack of Coors Light.

posted by mudpuppie 30 June | 16:02

Germain-Robin tastings!

Prospero: Next time, put the box of jello powder in with the already-opened jug of drugstore vodka.

Cretins.

posted by Triode 30 June | 16:29

I like my gin with tonic and my vodka with cranberry juice. Mmm, maybe I should make red, clear, and blue jello shots this weekend :)

And I make Sangria with 2 Buck Chuck, which consts more in Texas. So there.

posted by muddgirl 30 June | 17:28

Aren't most of these premium vodkas all made from pure alcohol from the same chemical refineries,

Well, Smirnoff bottled in North America is. The stuff bottled in Russia is quite good. I wouldn't be surprised if the NA stuff was made from corn (there's a Vodka from Ontario that prides itself from being distilled from corn - resulting in extra sweetness, though their other gimmick is that the water they use is from icebergs).

Fine vodkas are brewed from high quality grains (or potatoes), then distilled. As the various esthers and aromatics from the grain are subtle, excellent water is used throughout the process. Finlandia is a fine and not-overpriced vodka. Wyborova is also in the same category. After this pricepoint, the returns are logorithmically diminishing.

posted by porpoise 30 June | 22:02

I think I heard that Grey Goose uses industrially produced alcohol that is imported to France to be mixed with water, etc., so that it can be labeled as a product of France.

posted by StickyCarpet 01 July | 06:38

When you die, they dunk you headfirst in a barrel filled with all the booze you've spilled; if you drown, then to hell with you.

here's to Doc! *smash*

posted by comments on the world as will 01 July | 11:37

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