Monday Quick Hits Vol 3

Well, recent news has totally overtaken the Monday Quick Hits.

Unless you live under a rock (RANDY!), you are aware that Osama Bin Laden was killed yesterday.

My Celebratory drinks last night were two-fold. At first it was pretty simple, a (several) pint (s ) of Guinness and then later my last Cohiba Cuban Cigar. Ultimately it lead to a new-

The Osama Bin Laden -

• Crystal Head Vodka
• Spicy V8 Juice
• Stirred with Bacon (sadly, only Microwave Bacon, but it was 1AM at this point).
• On ice and served in a highball glass

Congrats to the my brothers and sisters in the Military (and especially Intel). Great Job.

Now, moving on to my other tidbits from the weekend- We have two bars that I stopped by at locally here in Ashland.

First was El Ranchito, located right off of 63/Route Y Exit next to Moser’s. Obviously, but the name, it is a Mexican Themed Restaurant and is one that we frequent quite often, but I have never thought to write it up.

The food there is really good, and the service is excellent. They have a pretty diverse beer list, the highlight being Dos Equis on tap and their margaritas are pretty good. On Saturday, May 7th, they are having their Cinco De Mayo celebrations starting at 10AM. With live music, I could see this being a pretty happening place. Perhaps we will stop by after the Missouri Beer Fest.

I can’t stress though how much I like the wait staff there. They have gotten to know us on sight, and jokingly refer us to our “Regular Table”. They know the foods and drinks we like, and are always willing make a joke. I even learned that in Mexico, there is a bread company called “Bimbo” and they sponsor a soccer team. I have to get Debi one of those Jerseys

The next place I went was Woody’s Pub and Grub. Also off of 63 (easiest access when going southbound), this is your typical Small Town Bar. Excellent Pub Grub (Huge Portions and try the fried pickles) and Guinness on Tap….I only wish Debi liked this place more (she complains of the smoke).

Saturday night I took Richard and James there, and we were able to watch some PPV UFC, play some shuffleboard (James loves it) and have a great meal (even Richard was full). They also have pool tables and darts…even Kino if you are so inclined.

The bar tab was reasonable and people friendly. A good place for a “Guys Night Out” and definitely worth picking up some takeout.

Next, as a preview….I am working on a story regarding Walmart’s Sales Policy on Alcohol and Tobacco products. I was carded this weekend, and learned their policy is 40 (almost twice the legal age). I’ve already interviewed the Asst Manger (and got some great quotes) and am awaiting a callback from the Store Manager today. This could be really interesting and I look forward to putting it all together. Save your opinions for the upcoming report and survey.

Finally, only one week left before the Missouri Beer Fest on Saturday the 7th. Hopefully you have your tickets….I hope to see you there.

Happy Monday everyone

Monday Quick Hits Vol2

Here we are again, with the latest installment of the Monday Quick Hits, stories or experiences from over the weekend that I was just to lazy (or they don’t warrant) to write a whole blog post about.

The first one I want to speak about is in regards to Bennigan’s and recent my poor experience there. It made the Vol1 of the Quick Hits, and I wanted to say that the Manager has reached out to me and was thankful for the feedback. We had made arrangements to re-try Bennigan’s (as guests of the Manger), but were unable to connect….and this was 100% my fault. I do plan to revisit in the future (after Baseball and Soccer are done) and will let everyone know how it goes.

Next we have more on “The Royal Wedding”. I originally thought I could cover the wedding with ONE POST, but then two new stories came out this weekend that both shocked me and made me laugh.

The Daily Mail is reporting that beer has been banned from the festivities. WHAT??? Ban Beer? The article has some real nuggest of info -

• “Let's face it, it isn't really an appropriate drink to be serving in the Queen's presence at such an occasion.”
• “while the younger royals enjoy a pint from time to time, neither Kate nor William is a big beer drinker so they decided to leave it off the menu.”
• Miss Middleton has never particularly enjoyed drinking - preferring to sip one small glass of wine.

So let me get this straight, beer isn’t good enough for the Queen and Ms. Middleton doesn’t enjoy drinking? There goes the fate of the free world, plus I doubt Windsor Knot will be sending any cases soon.

Which leads me to my next story (also involving the Royal Wedding), where again the Daily Mail reports on a Mr. Cameron Reilly, a member of the Scots Guards, and his opinions of Ms. Middleton, London and Jews.

• Bearskin, 18, called her 'posh b****' and 'stuck-up cow' on Facebook after perceived snub
• Said he fantasized about shooting Jews while on duty
• Described London as a 'Paki holding cell'

Of course, this wouldn’t be Smokes and Booze material unless he was a little off. With a quote of “He's a big boozer and not what you'd call a thinker. He downs Buckfast fortified wine and likes raucous nights out.” and pictures of him kissing a bottle of Vodka….he does us proud.

Finally, I want to give a shoutout to a great local bar, but one that only a few of you can frequent. The bar in question is at the VFW Post 280 in Columbia MO. Stepping into this bar is like stepping into any other bar around the US. There is a jukebox, a pool table and shuffleboard. TVs play sports and they even have free popcorn. What makes this bar special are the people that frequent it. These are the men and women that “have been there and done that”. Some are older, veterans of WWII, Korea or Viet Nam. Others are of my generation, Gulf War 1 or the countless conflicts since (and still ongoing). Walking in, you feel an immediate sense of belonging and everyone there is very accepting. An added bonus, as a private club, it’s one of the few bars in Columbia you can smoke in. This isn’t a place you’ll write home about, and it’s not all flashy….but honestly, I don’t think I (or any of the other patrons) would have it any other way….as long as the beer is cold and keeps on flowing.

If you are a veteran, you should check out VFW.Org and see what they have to offer in your community. You earned it.

Cheers-

Trump Vodka–You’re Fired!

Donald Trump sues Israeli co selling "Trump Vodka"

Trump claims that H. Pixel International Trade is using his name without authorization.

14 April 11 19:04, Tzameret Pernat

Donald Trump was recently surprised to discover that an Israeli company, H. Pixel International Trade Ltd. is using his name and registered trademark "Trump" without his consent and authorization, according to a petition for a temporary injunction filed with the Tel Aviv District Court yesterday.

Trump learned of the vodka from an employee who visited Israel and told him that she saw large advertisements for the vodka, which included Donald Trump's image. She also saw a website, Trump Vodka that used him in its domain name, which included his pictures and links to the Trump Organization. None of this had Trump's authorization.

The court filing states that, during an attempt to talk with Pixel International Trade, it was learned that Pixel had signed an agreement with a US company, which provided Pixel exclusive distribution rights to Trump Vodka in Israel, as well as rights to produce the products and launch advertising campaigns. However, Trump says in the petition for an injunction that, in 2010, the US company stopped producing vodka under the Trump trademark because the company failed to meet the threshold requirements.

Trump states that the license of the US company which marketed the vodka was revoked, and that its transfer of rights to Pixel was not authorized. Trump says that the US company was never authorized in any case to transfer its rights to a third party or subsidiary.

As for Pixel, Trump said that on the basis of the original license, Trump Vodka was to be produced at a Dutch distillery, which Pixel did not use. Trump says that, consequently, he cannot know whether the vodka produced in his name is of the proper quality.

Trump claims that despite extensive correspondence between his representatives and representatives of Pixel International Trade, the necessary documents were not provided to him for considering a possible collaboration. He further claims that his representatives had contacted the US company, which explicitly said that Pixel International Trade had never received permission to change distilleries, produce new vodka, or launch an ad campaign.

The petition for an injunction reveals interesting details about how Trump authorizes use of his name for commercial purposes. The petition states that although Donald Trump is mainly known for his real estate business, he authorized the use of his name for a US television show on education for technology ventures. Products with the Trump trademark include clothing and men's fashion accessories, Trump Vodka, Trump Mineral Water, the "Trump" magazine, Trump Home Furniture, Trump Model Management, Trump Steaks, Trump Chocolate, and Trump Tea.

Trump's name is commercially protected in 80 countries, and he owns over 700 trademarks.

Pixel International Trade said in response, "This petition is baseless because it was not accepted by the district court with ex parte status after hearing Trump's attorney speak on her own behalf. Pixel Trade acted and acts legally pursuant to valid agreements, and it will continue to market the beverages its produces in the future, as it has done successfully until now. Pixel is not a party to the dispute between Trump and other parties in the US, and its name was included in this matter in a way that will be corrected shortly."

http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000638998&fid=1725

It’s gotta be better than the one in Amsterdam

While we were in Amsterdam, we stopped by the Vodka Museum (towards the bottom of THIS PAGE). It was lame and really nothing more than a sales pitch to get you to buy Vodka vs any history.

This one looks more interesting….Road trip to Moscow!

PS- Hey Voda Magazine, did you know that Vodka may come from “Voda”, Russian for Vodka?

­Moscow Museum of Vodka

Although vodka’s origins still remain unknown, it is argued that this bread wine, as it was initially called, appeared in Moscow in the 15th century, while the word “vodka” may have come from “voda” or “water.”

At the Moscow Museum of Vodka, you can learn all about the drink’s 500-year history.

Few foreigners and even Russians know that during the times of Catherine the Great, virtually every nobleman produced vodka on their estate and had their own vodka brand; or that before the late 19th century, vodka was not bottled – instead, it was actually sold by the bucketful.

The legends also say that the perfect alcohol content of vodka (40 percent) was discovered by prominent Russian chemist Dmitry Mendeleev.

However, specialists say, it had more to do with taxes: since distilled spirits were taxed on their strength, 40 was the ideal number to simplify the calculations.

Apart from learning more about history, a visit to this museum brings insight into Russian drinking culture and traditions.

“We have one peculiar custom in Russia that was introduced by Peter the Great: the ‘punishment drink.’ If you’re late for a party, you’re punished by having to down a shot of vodka. Only, if it was Peter’s party, it was a whole goblet – sometimes, guests even fainted because it was too much!” tour guide Mira Yagofarova told RT.

While you explore the world of vodka, you can also have a shot.

Today’s Bizarre Story–Vodka Deodorant

And who else would you expect to be saying this, none other than Joan Rivers.

I can see this working, although I had never heard of it before.

I guess you can say – Booze, is there anything it can’t do?

Joan's cleansing spirit

Joan Rivers claims she never breaks a sweat thanks to vodka. "I always spray my costumes with vodka and water. It's an old Broadway trick -- two-thirds water and one-third vodka, spray your armpits and you'll never smell again," she told attendees at the Night of a Billion Reality stars event in LA. Rivers also told the crowd she occasionally uses the mixture to wash her clothes. The E! fashion commentator is starring in a Funnyordie.com video short produced with Svedka, where she appears as a wise-cracking head in a jar being stalked by paparazzi.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/joan_cleansing_spirit_tgkUMo4GVbMjesSTrEpafN#ixzz1JJqGod8o

Go Wodka

Whenever Glenn sends something over, he just sends a link. Of course he is to lazy to actually send an opinion or maybe some background research….just a link. I guess that’s why he has me, to do the legwork

So, yesterday he send over a link for Vodka in a Tube.

So, here we go.

Go Wodka in a tube has undergone a few transformations since inception in Australia.

Called Go Vodka in Australia, and Go Wodka (as it doesn’t meet the EU Qualifications for Vodka) in Germany, it’s hard to tell if this company is still in business.

The Facebook Group for GoVodka has a last post of January 10th 2010.

There are two websites (Go-more.com for Go Wodka and GoVodka.com.au) both have old content and seem stagnant.

I wonder if the company has closed due to THIS STORY outlining that it is banned in Australia (due to it’s marketing towards kids….geez).

Information is just shaky.

What I am hoping is that my friends in Germany (or Oz/NZ) could track some down and either send it to us or write a review.

It looks interesting and I would love to hear more.

Cheers- E

Vodka + Man + Sheet of Ice = Bad News

 

I just imagine him singing “Two Turntables and a Microphone” the whole time he is floating out to sea.

Man sets sail on ice sheet with only vodka bottle for company
Read more

The 23-year-old was spotted by coastguards as he floated past them off the coast of Gdansk, Poland.

Mr Kawolski had been drinking with friends when, naturally, he decided it would be a good idea to test the strength of the ice that was forming on the shoreline of the Baltic Sea.

One of Mr Kawolski's drinking pals said: 'We dared him to do it and it seemed like a good idea.

'There was a loud crack and then he started to float away.

'We thought it was funny at first but then he started to scream for help.'

The powerful currents pulled him about a kilometre out to sea.  

A rather shaken Mr Kawolski was taken to hospital where he stayed overnight to be treated for hypothermia.

Following the ordeal Mr Kawolski said: 'Well, I won't be doing that again.'

Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/857377-man-sets-sail-on-ice-sheet-with-only-vodka-bottle-for-company#ixzz1G18yMsZX

Vodka in the news and S&B’s new title

We have three stories about Vodka in the news today, and two of them are kinda interesting.

In the first (HERE) we learn of the David Barton gym chain that is hosting cocktail hours after “boot camp” training events.

In the second article (HERE) you have a Protein based Vodka called Devotion.  I have never seen the Jersey Shore, nor do I know who Mike Sorrentino is…..but now we booze at gyms and “healthy” booze, I might have to start working out.

Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

The final story involves our least favorite Vodka and it’s spokesman P-Diddy.

In the past we have written about CIROC Vodka (HERE, HERE, HERE), and now we have them claiming to be “The Official Vodka of Summer” (HERE).  While I think it is great that they are rewarding their loyal fans….isn’t it a bit pretentious to make that claim?  I realize it is all about marketing and since “Summer” is not copy written…..anyone can say anything they want about it.  I guess since it is P-Diddy, it’s cool to do.

Therefore, I declare Smokes and Booze to henceforth be referred to as the Official Blog of Summer, Winter, Spring and Fall.

Sumo Suit, Lesbians and a Smirnoff Ice Bottle….

 

Sometimes, the headlines write themselves.

Police: Woman in Sumo Suit Attacks Ex with Smirnoff Ice for Flirting

Updated: Friday, 25 Jun 2010, 11:06 AM EDT
Published : Friday, 25 Jun 2010, 11:04 AM EDT

(CANVAS STAFF REPORTS) - Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

Especially if that woman is suited up in a bulky sumo wrestling costume and armed with a glass bottle, and she just spotted her ex-lover trying to chat up a man dressed as a giant candy bar.

One woman learned that lesson the hard way when she was bludgeoned by her jilted Irish ex-girlfriend with a Smirnoff Ice bottle and jostled her with a sumo wrestling suit for flirting with a man dressed as a Snickers bar, according to reports.

A Dublin court convicted Sandra Talbot, 32, of assault in connection with a surreal melee that left her former lover Adrienne Martin with a large bump on the side of her head, the Evening Herald reports.

The incident began when Talbot literally bumped into Martin with her with the inflatable girth of her sumo suit during a 2008 Halloween party at one of Dublin's city's best-known gay bars,

The former couple, who had broken up following a tumultuous three-year relationship, exchanged a few angry words. Talbot flew into a fit of rage when Martin began waving at a man dressed as a Snickers bar, eventually striking her on the side of her head with a Smirnoff Ice bottle she had apparently hidden in the sleeve of her costume, according to reports.

Pub workers tried to escort Talbot out of the bar, but first she had to partially deflate her bulky costume so she could fit out of the door, the paper reports.

The court fined €400 ($490) for the assault, which Martin said has left her suffering panic attacks.

For her part, Talbot told the Evening Herald that she wants to move on with her life and concentrate on fulfilling her career dream of becoming a tattoo artist. She denied the allegations, and claimed her ex had "ruined her life."

"I had a big row with her but I didn't touch her," said Talbot.

Skulls and Gimlets

Two things I have written about in the past have appeared in the news and this gives a chance to catch up and also revisit old posts.

The first article involves Crystal Skull Vodka.  As you know, I bought this awhile back and we really liked it.  The bottle was cool and surprisingly, the vodka was some of the best I had tried.

HERE is the original write up.

Well, now it appears that the market has considerably expanded and now they want to push into Canada.  However, they have now been banned by the Liquor Control Board for Ontario (LCBO) due to the fact that “The image of the human skill is the thing that is really problematic for us,” per LCBO spokesman Chris Layton.  “That’s an image that’s commonly associated with death.  It’s especially problematic at a time when there are concerns around binge drinking by younger adults, which in some cases, unfortunately, has resulted in alcohol poisoning”.

The LCBO concerns seem to stop at only the kids, since it has been cleared for restaurant and on-line sales, so once again…a government agency (albeit a Canadian one) punishes the consumers instead of the focusing on punishing the criminals.  TYPICAL.

The second article, “The War of the Rose’s”  is regarding someone’s take on the Gimlet. 

The crux of the page is that bartenders are now using fresh lime juice in their Gimlets, yet that is not what is in the recipe.

2 oz. Gin or Vodka
2/3 oz. Rose's Lime Juice

Combine ingredients in a mixing glass and shake.
Serve in a chilled cocktail glass.
Garnish with a fresh lime wedge

There is also an interesting history of Rose’s which is funny to read (to think Rum was the preservative for lime juice cracks me up still).

HERE was my original post on the subject (I was drinking the correct style of Gimlet).

Of course, I endorse both Crystal Skull and Gimlets…..so to see people messing with either irks me.  So, go online and pick up a bottle of Crystal Skull (it’s also available at GrandCru in Columbia) and also raise a gimlet in silent protest.

Cheers

Another sign of the Apocalypse

Who would have ever expected a Kennedy to be cut off in a Bar?

Only 6 shots of Vodka?  What a lightweight.  The main article can be found HERE.

What I particularly find funny….that he forgot his uncle was the President.

P-Diddy: Part 3

First there was THIS, then there was THIS, and now…..P-Diddy is back in the media again.  I swear, he is becoming the Smokesandbooze Trainwreck.

I love how at one point, he doesn’t even know the brand flavors.

I swear I will never drink this product again (especially after I rated it so poorly). 

It seems the only way they can stay relevant is to keep making stupid statements. 

Oh well…..at least I got to troll Allhiphop.com :P

 

Medea Vodka…to cool for school

A few weeks ago I ran across the Perfect GEEK Gift, Medea Vodka….the only Vodka with a programmable label.

That’s right, a programmable label that allows you to put up to 6 messages (255 Characters ea) in and display in a running loop.

What is really cool, the LED Display is held on by a clear rubber ring, so when the Vodka is finished, you still have a cool toy to put on your desk.

I attempted to make a video of the display, but it didnt come out as good due to lighting and YouTube stripping the music away (2010 Space Odyssey), but I will try and get a better video up soon.

I also want to give a shout to Bowery & Vine Wine and Spirits.  A very fast and professional On-line service that will ship this product. 

Debi and I will taste this and review probably after the weekend.

Cheers :)

Ciroc Vodka Part 2

I’ve already reviewed Ciroc Vodka and voiced my opinion not only how bad it was, but also P-Diddy’s comments.

You can read about it HERE

Well, I’ll just let the video below speak for itself.

Cthulhu and Rangtang – A Deadly Combo

 

After a shitty day at work, I invited Mike over for a few drinks and to watch The Call of Cthulhu.

First, I just can’t say enough regarding how GREAT the movie was.  It was my second time watching it and it was still awesome second time around.  Here is a trailer:

To start off the night, I had picked up a bottle of RangTang.  You might recall, I reviewed the marketing of this product awhile ago (you can read about it HERE) and finally found it at my local.

Here was Mike’s Reaction - “It looks like Tang.  It smells like Tang.  It tastes like Tang.

To me, it reminded me of something I tried in my youth…..where I took some orange chewable aspirin, crushed them up and tried to mix with water like Kool Aide.  Not a great plan.

It does mix well with 7-Up/Sprite and I haven’t tried any other cocktails, but I would have to be hard up to dig into this bottle again.  It was just to TANGY.

Overall, the drink was OK.  Not to be sexist, but it is kinda Girly and was probably designed to hit that market.  It would make good “Foo-Foo” drinks, so maybe if you get someone to drink enough…then you can pull a RANGTANG…..but I got a feeling it will be sitting on my shelf for some time (or at least until Tom comes over).  It didn’t make me show my “O-Face” and aside from the name, I wouldn’t buy it.

Of course, we switched to Beer (St. Patrick’s Best and Legbiter Ale from Strangford Lough Brewing Company) and Laphroiag.  Needless to say, the night improved immediately.

P-Diddy Endorsement, is it worth it?

 

While in South Beach this last week, I had a chance to sample some great drinks (we really mixed it up this time) and party with some friends.

While at the club MANGOS, I saw everyone drinking  a vodka named  Ciroc.  Now, when I say EVERYONE, I mean everyone.  Aside from me ordering Bushmills 16 and my friend Rick eventually buying a bottle of Tequila (I don’t even want to know what SoBe prices were on that), I honestly believe that vodka was the only thing being poured at this place. 

Always the adventurous type, I thought I would try a few.

As a mixer, it seemed to work well in the three local cocktails I had.  No, I didn't drink a Cosmo…..and really the local drink names didn’t stick with me.  Most were very fruity and all seemed to focus on the bartenders ability to use a shaker……vs the drink itself.

I did do an iced shot of Ciroc, and this is where it caught me a little off-guard.  The taste took me back to Katterbach Kaserne. 

Allow me to explain.

Way back in my Army days, we used to have things called “Alerts”.  These were exercises to test our readiness to deploy anywhere (although usually just to our border area) in the world.  It usually involved everyone being awoken at 3:00AM, grabbing all gear and weapons, heading to the motor pool and getting our vehicles deployed.

It was a huge pain in the ass, and intended to be a surprise to catch everyone of guard…..so naturally every knew of them in advance.

Anyway, a typical evening prior to Alerts would be spent at the Enlisted Club, where we would see who could drink the most and still perform the next morning.  The two most popular drinks were shots of tequila and POPOV Vodka.   Yes POPOV, the plastic bottle elixir of death.   A Vodka so horrible, that you can smell it seeping from your pours the next day (as any Soldier who has done an Alert or Friday PT).

Needless to say, the next mornings were rough……with a ghastly aftertaste left in your mouth, and THIS was the first memory invoked by Ciroc.

The taste was similar to a cross between gasoline and rubbing alcohol.  If I hadn’t seen the bartender pour it with my own eyes, I would have sworn he did a bait and switch.

The nose was rough and unfiltered, again taking me back to those days where you could smell people sweating booze during a PT Run.

Without strong overlying mixes to cover it up, this stuff was a train wreck.

Interestingly, I just found a quote from Sean “P-Diddy” Combs, the main spokesman for Ciroc…….

"If you're not drinking Ciroc vodka, then you're drinking pee pee."

Combs has a multiyear strategic partnership worth up to $100 million with Ciroc and receives a 50 percent share of profits, while I don’t get anything from them what-so-ever. 

I don’t know who’s opinion you trust, but if P-Diddy’s Opinion is what counts, I would rather drink THIS.

“Kabbalah” Vodka; With Christian Infants

 

Let’s see….a Vodka that is esoteric, crass and involves eating (drinking) Christian babies.  TommyG is selling his house right now and flying to Russia.

Seriously though, this is probably a hoax….but if not, what a riot.

Here is the link to Kabbalah Vodka and below are the pics from the site before they disappear.

To Funny

 

Hollywood Amateurs

 

I bet you never would have thought you would see the names Madonna and Shia Labeouf on my blog.

To be honest, neither did I (especially after Crystal Skull).

Yet, today we have some news stories from the Oscars that show how Amateur these two are at drinking.

First we have THIS story about Madonna.  Apparently she attended a swank pre-Oscar Party hosted by Elton John. 

Of course when she get’s there, she starts screaming because she cannot have a drink made with her favorite vodka, Belvedere.

Did I fail to mention that the party was sponsored by Grey Goose?

Holy crap.  If someone invited me to a party that  had a booze sponsor and was FREE…..the last thing I would do is cry because my favorite mixer wasn’t available.

I’m sure Belvedere is happy though about the publicity.  I’d wager that Madonna gets several cases free for this little tryst.  Hell, they might include her in the adds……she airbrushes well.

 

The next story pertains to our Hollywood Goldenboy Shia Labeouf.  We all know what a horrible actor he is (See Crystal Skull or the Transformers movies), but I never knew he was a boozer as well.

It seems that Oscar-nominated actress Carey Mulligan is dating Shia and had warned him about drinking at the Oscars, saying he needed to be on his best behavior.

Well, if it’s on my blog….you know where this goes.

I guess when you sneak a bottle of whisky into the event and drink alone in a corner, some people don’t see that as best behavior.  Myself, I call him an Amateur because he could have been livening it up, socializing and really making a name for himself….Hollywood needs another Dean Martin or WC Fields. 

Hopefully he learned a lesson from this, if you are at a party….nobody likes a Debi Downer.  Who knows, at the rate Hollywood is going, he could have gotten drunk, destroyed the bar and then been cast as a young Tony Stark in Ironman 6. 

He started off well with an earlier interview, where he said

“I had to give up scotch, because it turns me into a werewolf - and cigarettes too.”

Now dude, if you are going to make claims you are a werewolf….you gotta back that up, not sit alone and drink in a corner.

Amateurs.

Is it a Vodka or a Sex Act?

*****Warning, this one could be considered sexually Graphic*****

I want to get into marketing.  It seems like the greatest job in the world, almost as good as NASA, where you just sit around and think things up……and believe me, I HAVE Ideas.  However, nothing as good as the Einsteins at 3-Olives.

Thee Olives Vodka is an ENGLISH (I know, I struggle with that as well) Vodka that began production in 1989. Since then, they have expanded into over 17 flavored Vodkas, of which…..I have tried none.

This is going to change with their newest flavor…..RANGTANG.

RANGTANG is a “Delicious blend of outrageously juicy oranges and tangerines”.  I could see it making really good screwdrivers…..especially since the marketing team didn’t do a Google Search to see if the name had any other connotations.

You see, Rangtang has another meaning.  I point you over to Urban Dictionary to read it yourself, so please consider yourself warned…….HERE

Now, you see why Screwdrivers are even funnier.

But it doesn’t stop there……not only did the Marketing staff come up with a doozie name, but their advertising campaign rocks as well…..

When you go the the Thee Olives Vodka website, you are greeted by a woman with bulging eyes and a ball-gag in her mouth…….saying “Open Wide”.  The screen fades to then ask you “What’s your RANGTANG O-FACE?”. 

I can’t make this up.  It’s awesome. 

Click the screencaps below to enlarge.

 

 

Given all these innuendos, I find it hard to believe that those Marketing guys are not just laughing their asses off right now at an inside joke.  I know I would be.  I also know that the first time I see this stuff, I am picking up a bottle and reviewing…….the name is to great.

Man, I can’t wait until someone makes some DVDA Gin.

Patriotism and Drinking on a Budget

Hey, the economy is down and you can’t always afford to hit the top shelf liquors every time.

In fact, there are days that you just go out and buy a 6-pack of Stag and let it go at that. 

But what about when you are in the mood for some hard liquor and your wallet is a little light?  Well, I might have the answer.

I had seen FRÏS Vodka several times at my local store out here in the sticks.  I kinda passed over it on my way to the bourbons, especially since Vodka is not my thing and I have to be careful what I pour for Debi, or else she gets headaches from the impurities.

Anyway, for Christmas I had gotten her a Vodka Infuser so she could make her own flavored vodkas (That is her own story and maybe she will write about it someday).  After I had bought it, I spoke with Randy from MySideofthebar and found he does vodka infusions…in fact, he wrote about it HERE. 

If you notice in that blog, you can see a bottle of  FRÏS (and Skull Head as well…which I introduced him to).  When I queried him as to whether it was a quality vodka…he replied it is great.  The wheels were moving for me to try some.

A few weeks later, I am back at my local Moser’s and I see FRÏS on the rack again….and it was only $11 a bottle?  What the hell, I grabbed one, only to find out when I got it home…..it was Grape flavored. 

I know what you are saying….wasted money.  But in reality, it was REALLY REALLY GOOD.  This 40% bombshell tasted exactly like grape KoolAid and could be drank straight or on ice (I preferred it cold).  You don’t even realize you are drinking Vodka.  The company is owned by Absolute, and the name FRÏS (pronounced "freeze") comes from Danish words for "frost" and "Ice". Fris Vodka is the only vodka in the world produced with a patented Freeze Distilled process and this is the reason (according to them ) for it’s smooth velvety taste.  In fact, this vodka is so good…it was Awarded a Gold Medal in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2 years in a row, 2000 and 2001.

Overall….A C+/B- : A great every-so-often drink.

Now I needed a mixer.

Again I was back at Moser’s (you have no idea how much time I spend there), when I was drawn to a can with an American Flag paint scheme and the words Ol’ Glory on it.

WHAT???

Ol’Glory claims to be “America’s Energy Drink” and comes in 16oz cans……for ONLY $.99 ea, how bad could this be? Of course, vigilant readers of this blog might recall moving day with TommyG and THIS ENTRY. 

But anyway, the can also has the Pledge of Allegiance and Army National Guard Toll Free Number on it……there is no way I could pass this up.

I was almost giddy going home, wondering how well this would mix with my FRÏS Grape Vodka.

Before I mixed it, I took a taste just to see how it was.  Surprisingly, it was comparable with Red bull….although not as heavy on the Taurine.  It was actually a workable substitute.

Here is the drink -

Red, White and WOW

2oz FRÏS Grape Vodka

4oz Ol’ Glory

Grenadine

Pour the FRÏS and the Ol’ Glory in a shaker with ice and mix well.

Pour into a tall glass over crushed ice and drizzle with grenadine.

Give it a try and let me know your opinions……I’m biased since I invented it :) 

I know after drinking 3 of these……I was singing this song…

 

Finally, all joking aside….Ol’ Glory was a great mixer (IMO) and when I was researching for this post, I found out that a portion of every purchase goes towards Operation Homefront, a great cause.  You can read about that on their website HERE.  For the price, it blows the doors off of Red bull and you get 16oz per can vs the 8.4oz in Red Bull.  When you are drinking on a budget, it’s those little things that really count….and for that, I salute you Ol’ Glory.

Until next time ….Cheers.