1. Grappa and Rakia are also good. They are not rubbish as you said. Rather tasty and healthy drink. :)

2. Mix your old shoes with sugar and make vodka from them. That is how we did being students in St.Petersburg  Absolutely wonderfull drink!

 

They got nice article in wikipedia about vodka:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vodka#Vodka_and_the_EU - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vodka#Vodka_and_the_EU

 

 

Here it is well described with all th details and nice pics:

 

http://www.european-vodka-alliance.org/documents/visual_resource_190606.pdf - http://www.european-vodka-alliance.org/documents/visual_resource_190606.pdf

 

 

And all this noise is about Polish-Swedish-Denish-Finnish-Estonian attempt to monopolise word "Vodka".

 

But i wont buy vodka which was made from crap anyway.

 

I will only drink this:

 

 

 

and sometimes this:

 

 

The Danes seem to get away with calling their cheese Feta.

 

That's not true, wheat vodka can taste different from potatoe and rye vodkas. 

 

Those look like expensive vodkas, are they high shelf in Poland?

 

I tend to not drink vodka very much because the cheap vodka for Americans, Aristocrat Vodka, tastes like rubbing alcohol, and the mid- and high shelf brands are too expensive in my opinion for what you get.  I personally prefer rum and gin to vodka, but I would hate to see any brewing or distilling industries standards compromised in the least.

 

I didn't say it. It was said by Polish Agriculture Ministry. I even have grappa in my house.

 

These are not vey expansive vodkas but very popular in Poland. The second one is one of most famous vodkas and it is well know world wide. There is bison grass in it and it should be drink with apple juice. I know it is very popular in France. My co-worker from France is always telling me he will do anything for this vodka.

Que? We mostly drink Finnish, Swedish, German, Belgian and Dutch beer here. And the Swedish and Finnish beers are based on German.

 

European Vodka alliance is right. It doesnt matter what raw materials are used to make vodka. From the chemical point of viev it is the same. And all this noise is about Polish-Swedish-Denish-Finnish-Estonian attempt to monopolise word "Vodka".

 

Just as the words whisky, cognac, champagne etc etc have been monopolised. I don't see why this shouldn't apply to vodka as well. The noise is about that certain southern countries want to produce liqour and profit on the name vodka, while keeping brand names as those above for themselves.

Originally posted by mosquito I just saw in TV that there will be some sort of compromise. Alcohol made of beet melasa (or whatever it is, iv never heard before about such drink)also will be called vodka.

 

I think beet melasa is a pulp made from crushed sugar beets.

 

 

Originally posted by majkes These are not vey expansive vodkas but very popular in Poland. The second one is one of most famous vodkas and it is well know world wide. There is bison grass in it and it should be drink with apple juice. I know it is very popular in France. My co-worker from France is always telling me he will do anything for this vodka.

 

I'm sure I've drank that one with the grass in poland... I was 13 so cant remember too well, but I think it was good...

 

They actually call it "white cheese". They have lost their appeal to the EU court.

 

 

 

Unless they've already inserted the word 'style' between the words 'Feta' and 'cheese' so small no-one even notices it.

 

Btw, I was discussing some months ago with a fiend of mine who is a chemist, specialised in wine production (enologist ?) and the writer of two books on alcohol production and history. The discussion was precisely about Vodka and his comments were that "you can make vodka from anything that has either sugar or (I don't remember what he said is in cereals that produce alcohol), there's nothing that implies that Vodka comes from a specific fruit or cereal. When the USSR had plenty of sugar coming almost for free by Cuba, they were simply distilling Vodka directly from sugar. Best Vodka ever! Only reason people don't continue to do it is because sugar is too expensive compared to corn or fruit" 

 

Well, the thing is that the use of the name 'vodka' differs in different places. Some nationalities would agree with you, for some vodka only means spirits from rye or wheat.

 

Yes, and in some cases I see instead of "Greek Feta" word "Mediterranian Feta".

 

Well, i would never call Sliwowica - a vodka.

 

Im not going to admit anything. You need to take statistics on the alcohol consumption in Europe. Im not able to say if we in Poland really drink a lot or not.

 

 

 

 

As for your question about vodka's from high shelf Genghis there is no such thing. I just prefer the purest alcohol so i buy vodka's which was destilled at least 3 times, like Luksusowa, Wyborowa or Chopin.

 

All vodka's are moreless the same. Russian vodka is not very good because its not often really pure. They never make it in the process of tripple destilation. But its a just alcohol and water and really nothing else. So called vodka's of high shelfs are just a product of marketing and thats all story. You advertise somthing as luxury product and can sell it for much better monay. For example: I can buy bottle of Polish vodka in Poland for 10-20 $. The same bottle of polish vodka is being sold in USA for 100-150$ as vodka from high shelf. Only Americans belive in such crap. But it were also Americans who invented such good marketing lol

 

 

It is normal vodka, made in Poland, no really different than any other vodka. Well it got nice looking bottle. But americans belive in such idiotic stories.

 

http://www.chopinvodka.com/ - http://www.chopinvodka.com/

 

 

I couldnt stop laughing when i saw the TV comercial which you can see there http://www.chopinvodka.com/ - http://www.chopinvodka.com/

 

All those people drinking vodka in wine glasses and doing it moreless in the same way as they were testing wine

 

And bravo for the actors playing Polish paesants who make vodka "in traditional way" for centuries. I guess in this way you can sell in the USA even crap and convince Americans that they buy somthing unique.

If they showned this TV comercial in Polish TV, people would die laughing and authors would be jailed for massmurder.

 

The truth is that all European countries are selling in the USA normal products which in the USA are considered as high shelf, because are expensive and we sell them together with nice stories about past.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Śliwowica is a very strong alcohol, stronger than vodka. It is made from plums so we don't call it vodka as Polish vodka can be maid from cereals or potatoes. It is produced only in southern part of Poland if I remeber correctly. I don't know how it tastes I've never drunk it. Generally I don't like vodka. For me it doesn't have any taste and I don't understand how some guys are tasting it and saying about vodka's beautiful colour or smell. I just drink vodka cause I'm Polish and like we say in Poland: "Pole is not a camel and must drink". I drink my cup in one gulp as it is most popular way of drinking vodka in Poland.

 

As for what Mosquito wrote I see the diffrence between vodkas but betwen lower class vodkas and normal vodkas. This first are sometimes really difficult to drink and can be dangerous for health. I agre with Mosquito that it would be rather hard to distinguish betwen Chopin for 100 dollars ( I don't know how much does it cost but Mosquito claims that it is a price - very expansive ) and Luksusova for 10 dollars or rather even less.

 

As for Polish drinking a lot it is a true. We had stronger alcohols even polish beer is stronger than in other countries and we need more to drink to get drunk. I think we are getting more civilized in matter of drinking. After what I saw in England I must say that we don't have a chance in this competition with English people.

 

 

When it comes to binge-drinking, no-one can beat the English... It is amazing...

Ther's a world of consoling to be done.

And i would like to start. I've got some ice for your last drink.

 

 

so boys, don't cry...

We still have Tequila! And Tequila is made of the blue Agave only, otherwise could be whiskey or vodka 

 

Just kidding. No offense is intended

 

Pinguin

 

BTW Majkes i was wrong about price of Chopin in USA. Someone simply misguided me. I found it on the online store in USA and looks like it is 35 $ for bottle.

 

"Beautifully soft and delicate nose. Good intensity of flavor in the mouth, smooth, and well balanced with the sweetness of the rye counterbalanced by a slight, background alcohol burn which is by no means unpleasant. Middle-length aftertaste. This is an excellent Polish vodka, expertly distilled, the type that first persuaded me that the Poles can make the best vodkas in the world." Rating : **** - Desmond Begg, The Vodka Companion < =http://order.store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/wg-order?randalls+mb17100274 method=post>rws7620$35.81, 3 for $102.03, 6 for $193.32, 12 for $365.16

 

They've even done blind taste tests with vodka and shown that no one can tell the difference between all the brands, except for the really impure ones.

 

Americans are bad at finding good alcoholic drinks.  We like overpriced vodka, and watery beer.  Our only hope is the microbrewery movement.

 

 

In alcoholic drinks, for an excelent ballance between price and quality, Chilean wines are the best.

 

 

Now, why to buy Vodka when you can replace it with Tequila or American Corn Whisky? Besides, excelent quality Piscos of Peru and Chile (pure grape brandies) are also available in the market.

 

Jesus! It seems I am doing publicity. Sorry. 

 

Pinguin

 

I'm sure they are good, but I'm not a very big fan of wine, it just doesn't appeal to my palate very much.  My father would certainly like them though, he is a big wine fan.

 

The reason, I'm sure, that most American college students like vodka is because it doesn't have any flavor and it's easier to chug vast quantities of it than something with more bite like gin, rum, or whiskeys.  Girls especially prefer vodka for this reason.

 

I never like doing that though so that's why I prefer gin, so I have something flavorful to sip on.

 

It's not popular at all here. We drink beer.

Heresy!

 

Yes, I've watched it but You said it all about it. It is very funny though.

 

 

(runs rapidly from the thread, closely followed by a mob of enraged Europeans)

 

This is a scandal. You will burn in hell. There is only one vodka - Polish vodka. I drunk bimber two days ago. It is polish vodka domesticaly made, 60% of alcohol. Before we drunk Swedish vodka - Absolut, which is considered very good in Poland. Bimber was much better. It was made by friend's granfather ( hah this old reciepies)

 

If us Polish drink it with apple juice it means it should be drink with apple juice says I.

 

I so second that. Why do people insist on ruining perfectly good alcohol by pouring in all sorts of nasty fruit-juices and other crappy herbal extracts. Sacrilege!

 

Originally posted by maharbbal Finally Chile wine is crap (just look at the bottle it looks awful!). The only real good wines are French and THAT'S A TRUTH. Who ever says the countrary has never tried a great Bourgogne... At more afordable price you may also get Italian white wines and Spanish red (also the good one are very very very rare). All the rest doesn't even worth being considered, Australian, NZ, Californian, Argentinian or Chilian wines are disgusting: proof is the English like it. It is not wine, it is marketing.

 

Sorry mate, the days of French wine are over. You will have to face the fact that others can do it just as well...

I prefer Italian red myself, nice and round. Much better than that acid and bitter stuff from the bordeax. I must admit the occasional Bourgonge can be allright, as long as they skip the cabernet sauvignon. That is one grape which should never be used for consumption...

 

Vodka sucks. Its really only spiritus + water and nothing else.

 

How can you say such stupidity!

 

You very well know French wines don't exist anymore. Your originial parrs where destroyed last century during a catastrophic ephidemic. You replanted them with cheap parrs.

 

And you know who got the original French parrs which are still producing wine? CHILE!

 

You French guys are just the name. And your wine industry is in decadence. Expensive and bad. We, the downplayed countries, are going to destroy every single of your famous produce, from cheses to perfumes, to whatever, in the same way we kick the back of Norway in the salmon industry.

 

France! You just got a name. A commercial brand name. There are not even French people in France anymore.

 

Pinguin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Didn't they just find a variety of grape in Chile they thought had been lost for over 100 years. It resembles a Merlot or something like that.

 

edit- British Columbia also has some good wines from the Okanogan region but the amount is fairly limited. I think there's only 5000 acres or so under production, so they tend to produce specialty wines like Ice wine.

 

Yes. It was merlot that many growers confussed with cabernet souvignon.

 

The best wine producing regions in the Americas are in the zones that have mediterranean weather. In North America the best fields are in California (perfect), and in South America they are in central Chile and Argentina, although many other regions can produce good wines as well.

 

 

 

 

The advantage of Chile and Argentina is that there is lots of territory capable of producing good wines, so the scale is large, therefore the prices are cheaper that what they should be. However, no matter you can find a bottle of good chilean wine for US$5, if you really want to try an outstanding chilean wine they could coast more than US$200 the bottle.

 

 

Pinguin

 

 

Australia also produce fine wines, and California as too. It is just time the rest of the world knows there are good wines "down under" , and that not only France produce something

 

And, of course, there are wine tours in Chile, with skycars and touristic railroad (the wine train) included. Wine is serious business in Chile, and we are proud of our "reds".

 

Pinguin

 

 

 

Chile weather is too dry? Where do you get that! Goodness.

 

Have you seen the map of Chile? We have plenty of different weathers! From desert to the Antarctic, and from oceanic to upper mountains! I don't know where you can get more variety in a single country. Do you know how much it rains in souther chile? Do you really believe the country is dry?

 

Chile is not a continental country like the U.S. but you can put France, several times on it! There is no way a country like France, Italy or Spain have more variety of climate and better conditions than Chile or Argentina.

 

Look, these countries are a paradise for agriculture. And I am not kidding at all.

 

And we have plenty of different tipes of wines.

Well, if you don't like wine perhaps you could try PISCO, make of moscatel grapes.

 

 

 

 

Pinguin

 

 

I once met a wine expert and he gave me some sound advice. Don't drink French wine its overpriced. If you take two bottles of wine one French and one Australian, equal in quality, the French one will have a price tag double that of the Australian. So basically whatever amount of money you choose to budget on your wine, if buy French you'll be buying a wine lower quality than any other country because of the inflated prices.

 

 

 

Great modern British historian Norman Davies stated in his "Europe: a history" that good wine is made only in those places in Europe where it is made since times of Roman Empire.

 

Nope. I didnt say that wheater is too dry.  All i said is that wine is too dry.

 

Nothing wrong with that; potato spirits has an interesting history too. The women who invented it was that first female elected into the Swedish Academy of Sciences (of that reason)

 

I can accept that. Most Chilean wines are still produced to meet the Chilean tastes, and we traditionally preffer wines that are dry and acid, particularly the red ones.

 

Today, Chile is in a campain to produce wines more in the international market tastes, indeed.

 

Pinguin

 

Ntl tiswin is limited to the right type and regular availability of 'blessed corn'....at least for us traditonalists.

 

Conseqquently a good winter evening drinking is 'sugared, buttered rum with lemon'.

 

 

 

It once, in various preparations, was the standard drink of the founding fathers and layman alike.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR_37f6hHTE - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR_37f6hHTE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ2N6A6LyTA - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ2N6A6LyTA