Guys:

I might sound a little dumb here, but I was wondering if tonic gives
that sweetness to Gin and Tonic?

Ronnie

Ronnie Rao wrote:

> Guys:
>
> I might sound a little dumb here, but I was wondering if tonic gives
> that sweetness to Gin and Tonic?

There's no sweetness in tonic that I've ever noticed. It's quinine
water, which is very bitter. The gin was added to make taking medicine
palatable. Quinine is a specific for malaria.

Pastorio

>(Ronnie Rao) writes:
>
>I might sound a little dumb here, but I was wondering if tonic gives
>that sweetness to Gin and Tonic?

The flavor of tonic is derived primarily from quinine, the sweetness is from
sugar (I believe some use non caloric sugar substitute).

tonic water [TAHN-ik]
Also called quinine water, tonic is water charged with carbon dioxide and
flavored with fruit extracts, sugar and usually a tiny amount of quinine (a
bitter alkaloid). It's especially popular as a mixer, such as with gin to
create the gin and tonic cocktail.

© Copyright Barron's Educational Services, Inc. 1995
based on THE FOOD LOVER'S COMPANION, 2nd edition, by Sharon Tyler Herbst.


---= BOYCOTT FRANCE (belgium) GERMANY--SPAIN =---
---= Move UNITED NATIONS To Paris =---
*********
"Life would be devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation."
Sheldon
````````````

"Bob (this one)" wrote:

>
> > I might sound a little dumb here, but I was wondering if tonic gives
> > that sweetness to Gin and Tonic?
>
> There's no sweetness in tonic that I've ever noticed. It's quinine
> water, which is very bitter. The gin was added to make taking medicine
> palatable. Quinine is a specific for malaria.
>

It may not be particularly sweet, but there is sugar in it to counteract
the bitterness of the quinine. Tonic water has about the same amount of
sugar in it as ginger ale.

PENMART01 wrote:

>
>
> The flavor of tonic is derived primarily from quinine, the sweetness is from
> sugar (I believe some use non caloric sugar substitute).

My wife buys sugar free tonic water. Personally, I think it is disgusting. I
much prefer a good quality sugar sweetened tonic water with my gin.

"Bob (this one)" > wrote in news:109qvujscqtqi75
@corp.supernews.com:

> Ronnie Rao wrote:
>
>> Guys:
>>
>> I might sound a little dumb here, but I was wondering if tonic gives
>> that sweetness to Gin and Tonic?
>
> There's no sweetness in tonic that I've ever noticed. It's quinine
> water, which is very bitter. The gin was added to make taking medicine
> palatable. Quinine is a specific for malaria.
>
> Pastorio
>
>

While you're absolutely right, Bob, I find that tasting quinine water alone
has a very slight underlying sweetness beneath the bitterness. I suppose
it differs amongst tasters.

Wayne

"Bob (this one)" > wrote in message
...
> Ronnie Rao wrote:
>
> > Guys:
> >
> > I might sound a little dumb here, but I was wondering if tonic gives
> > that sweetness to Gin and Tonic?
>
> There's no sweetness in tonic that I've ever noticed. It's quinine
> water, which is very bitter. The gin was added to make taking medicine
> palatable. Quinine is a specific for malaria.

The day I found out that tonic tastes the same whether there's gin in it or
not (and btw, my gin of choice was Gordon's) was the day I stopped buying
gin and started drinking my tonic straight. Saved myself both money and
embarrassment.

Gabby

Tonic water and lime is delicious.

--
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
Louis Cohen
Living la vida loca at N37° 43' 7.9" W122° 8' 42.8"


"Gabby" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Bob (this one)" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Ronnie Rao wrote:
> >
> > > Guys:
> > >
> > > I might sound a little dumb here, but I was wondering if tonic gives
> > > that sweetness to Gin and Tonic?
> >
> > There's no sweetness in tonic that I've ever noticed. It's quinine
> > water, which is very bitter. The gin was added to make taking medicine
> > palatable. Quinine is a specific for malaria.
>
> The day I found out that tonic tastes the same whether there's gin in it
or
> not (and btw, my gin of choice was Gordon's) was the day I stopped buying
> gin and started drinking my tonic straight. Saved myself both money and
> embarrassment.
>
> Gabby
>
>

"Gabby" > wrote in message

> The day I found out that tonic tastes the same whether there's gin in it
or
> not (and btw, my gin of choice was Gordon's) was the day I stopped buying
> gin and started drinking my tonic straight. Saved myself both money and
> embarrassment.
>
> Gabby

If you can't tell a good gin (Gordon's is not) in the tonic, it is best to
save your money. Or you did not put enough in to make a difference. Try
Hendricks, or Malacca, or similar and you have a real treat. Be sure to put
in enough also. .
Ed

http://pages.cthome.net/edhome

Ronnie Rao wrote:
> I might sound a little dumb here, but I was wondering if tonic gives
> that sweetness to Gin and Tonic?

Tonic water has sugar added, but you can buy whatever kind you want. I
find that mixing sugar with alcohol gives me problems (waking up with my
heart beating a million miles per hour) so I try to go with low sugar
mixed drinks (i.e. diet coke, aspartame may be toxic but not as bad as
fructose syrup).

--
John Gaughan
http://www.johngaughan.net/

"John Gaughan" > wrote in message
> Tonic water has sugar added, but you can buy whatever kind you want. I
> find that mixing sugar with alcohol gives me problems (waking up with my
> heart beating a million miles per hour) so I try to go with low sugar
> mixed drinks


Sugar helps to give you a stronger hangover also. Better to drink good
whiskey with water.
Ed

>Dave Smith
>
>It may not be particularly sweet, but there is sugar in it to counteract
>the bitterness of the quinine. Tonic water has about the same amount of
>sugar in it as ginger ale.

Tonic/quinine water ("mixer") does indeed contain sugar (except for those made
with sugar substitutes).

http://www.coca-cola.co.uk/nutrition/smixers.asp


---= BOYCOTT FRANCE (belgium) GERMANY--SPAIN =---
---= Move UNITED NATIONS To Paris =---
*********
"Life would be devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation."
Sheldon
````````````

>Dave Smith
>X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.75 [en]C-SYMPA (Win98; U)
>X-Accept-Language: en,fr-CA
>MIME-Version: 1.0
>Newsgroups: rec.food.cooking
>References: >
>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
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>Date: Sat, 08 May 2004 21:21:10 -0400
>NNTP-Posting-Host: 69.157.108.113
>X-Complaints-To:
>X-Trace: news20.bellglobal.com 1084065766 69.157.108.113 (Sat, 08 May 2004
>21:22:46 EDT)
>NNTP-Posting-Date: Sat, 08 May 2004 21:22:46 EDT
>Organization: Bell Sympatico
>
>
>
>PENMART01 wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> The flavor of tonic is derived primarily from quinine, the sweetness is
>from
>> sugar (I believe some use non caloric sugar substitute).
>
>My wife buys sugar free tonic water. Personally, I think it is disgusting. I
>much prefer a good quality sugar sweetened tonic water with my gin.

No one gives a rat's b-hind what your wife buys or what you prefer... quit
personalizing... just stick to the facts.


---= BOYCOTT FRANCE (belgium) GERMANY--SPAIN =---
---= Move UNITED NATIONS To Paris =---
*********
"Life would be devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation."
Sheldon
````````````

John Gaughan wrote:

> > I might sound a little dumb here, but I was wondering if tonic gives
> > that sweetness to Gin and Tonic?
>
> Tonic water has sugar added, but you can buy whatever kind you want. I
> find that mixing sugar with alcohol gives me problems (waking up with my
> heart beating a million miles per hour) so I try to go with low sugar
> mixed drinks (i.e. diet coke, aspartame may be toxic but not as bad as
> fructose syrup).

I never did enjoy mixed drinks, except for gin and tonic. Rather than buy
mix, I spend the money on better quality liquors and drink them straight.
Gin is good with a little bit of ice and a twist of lemon.

"Bob (this one)" > wrote in message
...
> Ronnie Rao wrote:
>
> > Guys:
> >
> > I might sound a little dumb here, but I was wondering if tonic gives
> > that sweetness to Gin and Tonic?
>
> There's no sweetness in tonic that I've ever noticed. It's quinine
> water, which is very bitter. The gin was added to make taking medicine
> palatable. Quinine is a specific for malaria.
>
> Pastorio
>

Not correct - tonic water contains quite a bit of sugar. Since quinine is
bitter the sugar was added to make the anti-malaria medicine palatable. Then
some unsung genius thought to add gin and the rest is history. FYI rum and
tonic makes a nice drink too.


--
Peter Aitken

Remove the crap from my email address before using.

"Edwin Pawlowski" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Gabby" > wrote in message
>
> > The day I found out that tonic tastes the same whether there's gin in it
> or
> > not (and btw, my gin of choice was Gordon's) was the day I stopped
buying
> > gin and started drinking my tonic straight. Saved myself both money and
> > embarrassment.
> >
> > Gabby
>
> If you can't tell a good gin (Gordon's is not) in the tonic, it is best to
> save your money. Or you did not put enough in to make a difference. Try
> Hendricks, or Malacca, or similar and you have a real treat. Be sure to
put
> in enough also. .
> Ed

Gordon's is actually a very good gin. It is gin as gin is supposed to be -
not super-refined and with a touch of roughness to it. I refuse to buy into
these "sissy" overpriced gins like Tanqueray and Bombay whose ads should
really say "gin for people who don't like gin."


--
Peter Aitken

Remove the crap from my email address before using.

>Dave Smith writes:
>
>I never did enjoy mixed drinks, except for gin and tonic. Rather than buy
>mix, I spend the money on better quality liquors and drink them straight.
>Gin is good with a little bit of ice and a twist of lemon.

It's silly, and wasteful, to use good gin to mix with tonic. And anyone who
knows anything about good gin knows it's served with a whiff of dry vermouth.


---= BOYCOTT FRANCE (belgium) GERMANY--SPAIN =---
---= Move UNITED NATIONS To Paris =---
*********
"Life would be devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation."
Sheldon
````````````

Ronnie Rao wrote:
>
> Guys:
>
> I might sound a little dumb here, but I was wondering if tonic gives
> that sweetness to Gin and Tonic?
>
> Ronnie

It might... American tonic water often has a sweetener in it.
But tonic water has quinine. I've been told tonic water is an
Anglo-Indian invention to prevent malaria, as quinine is specific for
malaria.

"Dave Smith" > wrote in message
...
> John Gaughan wrote:
>
> > > I might sound a little dumb here, but I was wondering if tonic gives
> > > that sweetness to Gin and Tonic?
> >
> > Tonic water has sugar added, but you can buy whatever kind you want. I
> > find that mixing sugar with alcohol gives me problems (waking up with my
> > heart beating a million miles per hour) so I try to go with low sugar
> > mixed drinks (i.e. diet coke, aspartame may be toxic but not as bad as
> > fructose syrup).
>
> I never did enjoy mixed drinks, except for gin and tonic. Rather than buy
> mix, I spend the money on better quality liquors and drink them straight.
> Gin is good with a little bit of ice and a twist of lemon.


I never cared for Gin (or so I thought) until a friend brought over a bottle
of Kensington Gin. I asked what we should mix it with and he let me know
rather pointedly, that it should be served over ice w/lime. It was so good.
Have you heard of this Gin? If so, what do you think of it?

Suzan

>"Orion" writes:
>
>>"Dave Smith" wrote:
>>> John Gaughan wrote:
>>>
>>>>I was wondering if tonic gives
>>>>that sweetness to Gin and Tonic?
>> >
>> > Tonic water has sugar added, but you can buy whatever kind you want.
>>
>> I never did enjoy mixed drinks, except for gin and tonic. Rather than buy
>> mix, I spend the money on better quality liquors and drink them straight.
>> Gin is good with a little bit of ice and a twist of lemon.
>
>
>I never cared for Gin (or so I thought) until a friend brought over a bottle
>of Kensington Gin. I asked what we should mix it with and he let me know
>rather pointedly, that it should be served over ice w/lime. It was so good.
>Have you heard of this Gin? If so, what do you think of it?

"Taste" is subjective.

Alphabetical listing of gins: http://www.internetwines.com/spirits-gin.html



---= BOYCOTT FRANCE (belgium) GERMANY--SPAIN =---
---= Move UNITED NATIONS To Paris =---
*********
"Life would be devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation."
Sheldon
````````````

<large snip>
I said....................
>I never cared for Gin (or so I thought) until a friend brought over a
bottle
> >of Kensington Gin. I asked what we should mix it with and he let me know
> >rather pointedly, that it should be served over ice w/lime. It was so
good.
> >Have you heard of this Gin? If so, what do you think of it?

Sheldon replied.....................
> "Taste" is subjective.
>
> Alphabetical listing of gins:
http://www.internetwines.com/spirits-gin.html
>
>
>
> ---= BOYCOTT FRANCE (belgium) GERMANY--SPAIN =---
> ---= Move UNITED NATIONS To Paris =---
> *********
> "Life would be devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation."
> Sheldon
> ````````````

and I agree, yes it is. Have you tried this Gin? What is your opinion of
it?

Suzan

>"Orion" SAYS:
>>penmart01 wrote:
>> >"Orion" wrote:
>> >I never cared for Gin (or so I thought) until a friend brought over a
bottle
>> >of Kensington Gin. I asked what we should mix it with and he let me know
>> >rather pointedly, that it should be served over ice w/lime. It was so
>good.
>> >Have you heard of this Gin? If so, what do you think of it?
>
>Sheldon replied.....................
>> "Taste" is subjective.
>>
>> Alphabetical listing of gins:
>http://www.internetwines.com/spirits-gin.html
>
>and I agree, yes it is. Have you tried this Gin?

Nope.

>What is your opinion of it?

From it's fancy schmancyd price and packaging my first thought is it would be
nicer on the shelf than in a glass. Why don't you buy a bottle and let us
know.

For Mar2nis I like Boodles. For collins, tonics, and that ilk Fleischmann gin
is fine, any sundry bathtub brew is fine for sweetish cocktails... I mean like
what's the point to mixing $30/L gin with say grapefruit juice when the result
will be exactly the same had it contained the low priced house label... like
dabbing cleavage with Opium Parfum and then a big splash of Jean Nate terlit
water.


---= BOYCOTT FRANCE (belgium) GERMANY--SPAIN =---
---= Move UNITED NATIONS To Paris =---
*********
"Life would be devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation."
Sheldon
````````````

Peter Aitken wrote:

>
>
> Gordon's is actually a very good gin. It is gin as gin is supposed to be -
> not super-refined and with a touch of roughness to it. I refuse to buy into
> these "sissy" overpriced gins like Tanqueray and Bombay whose ads should
> really say "gin for people who don't like gin."

Sissy gin? I don't think so. Bombay is my favourite gin and Tangery is a close
second. Both are much better than Gordons.

"PENMART01" > wrote in message
...
> >"Orion" SAYS:
> >>penmart01 wrote:
> >> >"Orion" wrote:
> >> >I never cared for Gin (or so I thought) until a friend brought over a
> bottle
> >> >of Kensington Gin. I asked what we should mix it with and he let me
know
> >> >rather pointedly, that it should be served over ice w/lime. It was so
> >good.
> >> >Have you heard of this Gin? If so, what do you think of it?
> >
> >Sheldon replied.....................
> >> "Taste" is subjective.
> >>
> >> Alphabetical listing of gins:
> >http://www.internetwines.com/spirits-gin.html
> >
> >and I agree, yes it is. Have you tried this Gin?
>
> Nope.
>
> >What is your opinion of it?
>
> From it's fancy schmancyd price and packaging my first thought is it would
be
> nicer on the shelf than in a glass. Why don't you buy a bottle and let us
> know.
>
> For Mar2nis I like Boodles. For collins, tonics, and that ilk Fleischmann
gin
> is fine, any sundry bathtub brew is fine for sweetish cocktails... I mean
like
> what's the point to mixing $30/L gin with say grapefruit juice when the
result
> will be exactly the same had it contained the low priced house label...
like
> dabbing cleavage with Opium Parfum and then a big splash of Jean Nate
terlit
> water.
>
>
> ---= BOYCOTT FRANCE (belgium) GERMANY--SPAIN =---
> ---= Move UNITED NATIONS To Paris =---
> *********
> "Life would be devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation."
> Sheldon
> ````````````

I didn't know about the price as a friend brought the bottle over. Coctails
are fine, but I mostly drink straight up. On the rocks sometimes. The only
mixed drink that I regularly will drink is a greyhound. Martoonis are okay
too, I'll have to try the Boodles. I went to a martini/poker party Friday
night and the host served 'apple martinis'. Didn't care for them much.

Suzan

>Dave Smith writes:
>
>Peter Aitken wrote:
>>
>> Gordon's is actually a very good gin. It is gin as gin is supposed to be -
>> not super-refined and with a touch of roughness to it. I refuse to buy into
>> these "sissy" overpriced gins like Tanqueray and Bombay whose ads should
>> really say "gin for people who don't like gin."
>
>Sissy gin? I don't think so. Bombay is my favourite gin and Tangery is a close
>second. Both are much better than Gordons.

"Better", better for what... depends on use... for a mar2ni Bombay may have the
edge (if that's someone's subjective taste preference), but for mixer cocktails
such as is the topic of this thread (Gin n Tonic) then Gordons is the better
choice, both for price and its more intense flavor. To use expensive premium
gins for summer mixed quaffs (a gin and tonic is essentially punch) is
tantamount to using costly vodkas for bloody marys and caesars.


---= BOYCOTT FRANCE (belgium) GERMANY--SPAIN =---
---= Move UNITED NATIONS To Paris =---
*********
"Life would be devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation."
Sheldon
````````````

> I went to a martini/poker party Friday
>night and the host served 'apple martinis'.
>
>Suzan

Great concept... get your guests zonked and win all the gelt. And as far as
apples, they're okay but what I'd call a mere mouthful... me, I prefer at least
grapefruit sized... preferably all natural honeydews!

I happen to like mixed melon balls and mixed berries macerated in gin.


---= BOYCOTT FRANCE (belgium) GERMANY--SPAIN =---
---= Move UNITED NATIONS To Paris =---
*********
"Life would be devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation."
Sheldon
````````````

PENMART01 wrote:
>
> "Better", better for what... depends on use... for a mar2ni Bombay may have the
> edge (if that's someone's subjective taste preference), but for mixer cocktails
> such as is the topic of this thread (Gin n Tonic) then Gordons is the better
> choice, both for price and its more intense flavor. To use expensive premium
> gins for summer mixed quaffs (a gin and tonic is essentially punch) is
> tantamount to using costly vodkas for bloody marys and caesars.
>


I've been wondering what the difference is between good vodka and cheap
vodka -- besides $20. Both are supposedly just "neutral grain spirits".
I've bought some moderately priced Russian vodka, and it tasted good
straight. I stored it in the freezer and drank it in shots. Recently I
bought a bottle of cheap vodka, and it's kind of rough. It gets syrupy
in the freezer just like the more expensive stuff, but the taste still
has an unpleasant edge to it. It's probably just fine for mixing with
tonic; I haven't tried it yet.

I understand the "get what you pay for" principle, but what is the
actual difference? Does the cheap vodka have more higher alcohols in it
where the expensive vodka is more purely ethanol (and water)?

Best regards,
Bob

"PENMART01" > wrote in message
...
> > I went to a martini/poker party Friday
> >night and the host served 'apple martinis'.
> >
> >Suzan
>
> Great concept... get your guests zonked and win all the gelt. And as far
as
> apples, they're okay but what I'd call a mere mouthful... me, I prefer at
least
> grapefruit sized... preferably all natural honeydews!
>
> I happen to like mixed melon balls and mixed berries macerated in gin.
>
>
> ---= BOYCOTT FRANCE (belgium) GERMANY--SPAIN =---
> ---= Move UNITED NATIONS To Paris =---
> *********
> "Life would be devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation."
> Sheldon
> ````````````

yeah, yeah, yeah... I won $150 in the poker game. Approx. The gin/fruit
combo sounds good, maybe with a few sprigs of fresh mint. Time for the
beach, bye-bye.

Suzan

zxcvbob > wrote:

> I've been wondering what the difference is between good vodka and cheap
> vodka -- besides $20.

In principle, none.

> Both are supposedly just "neutral grain spirits".
> I've bought some moderately priced Russian vodka, and it tasted good
> straight. I stored it in the freezer and drank it in shots. Recently I
> bought a bottle of cheap vodka, and it's kind of rough. It gets syrupy
> in the freezer just like the more expensive stuff, but the taste still
> has an unpleasant edge to it. It's probably just fine for mixing with
> tonic; I haven't tried it yet.

Good vodka is supposed to have no taste at all, it is really 'neutral'.
Of course, whatever you do with it, there is still *some* taste left,
which is liked by some, disliked by the others. I usually find the
cheapest vodka available to be just fine for my rather spicy Bloody
Marys. I very rarely drink vodka neat and then it is usually
pepper-flavoured vodka.

Moskovskaya Osobaya Vodka is the model of what classic Russian vodka is
supposed to be. I understand it is not widely marketed in the USA for
some reason. I have always detected a lot of unpleasant taste in it.
Stolichnaya (made by the same people as Moskovskaya), which is
ubiquitous in the USA, is very similar but has some sugar added to it,
which makes 'softer' but also renders it not a classic vodka (and the
unpleasant taste is still there). The most 'neutral' vodka I have ever
tasted was Kremlyovskaya.

Drinking pure, unflavoured vodka, i.e. consuming alcohol for its own
sake only, is as barbarous as could be, as far as I'm concerned. Still,
some occasions, particularly the available food of the Russian of Polish
variety - could justify it... maybe...

> I understand the "get what you pay for" principle, but what is the
> actual difference? Does the cheap vodka have more higher alcohols in it
> where the expensive vodka is more purely ethanol (and water)?

Good vodka, expensive or not, is supposed to be as free of congeners as
possible, particularly of erucic oil. Grain vodka is supposedly much
easier to get rid of congeners than potato vodka. The 'cleaner' the
vodka, the less hangover it is supposed to cause.

Victor

Dave Smith > wrote in message
...
> Peter Aitken wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Gordon's is actually a very good gin. It is gin as gin is supposed to
be -
> > not super-refined and with a touch of roughness to it. I refuse to buy
into
> > these "sissy" overpriced gins like Tanqueray and Bombay whose ads should
> > really say "gin for people who don't like gin."
>
> Sissy gin? I don't think so. Bombay is my favourite gin and Tangery is a
close
> second. Both are much better than Gordons.
>

BOODLES!!!! AND NO GODDAMN FRUIT!!!!

Sorry, I got all excited.

Dunty Porteous

--
"It tastes like burning..... waaaaa!!!!"
-Ralph Wiggum

"Ronnie Rao" > wrote in message
om...
> Guys:
>
> I might sound a little dumb here, but I was wondering if tonic gives
> that sweetness to Gin and Tonic?
>
> Ronnie


By 'Tonic'. I assume you are referring to quinine water. In different parts
of the US, 'tonic' refers to soda in general.
Quinine water does have a sweetener, usually sugar.

>"Kswck"
>
>"Ronnie Rao" wrote:
>>
>> I was wondering if tonic gives
>> that sweetness to Gin and Tonic?
>
>
>By 'Tonic'. I assume you are referring to quinine water. In different parts
>of the US, 'tonic' refers to soda in general.

Tonic can mean a hair application... tonic can mean most anything.

M-W

[2]tonic
noun

1 a : an agent (as a drug) that increases body tone b : one that invigorates,
restores, refreshes, or stimulates <a day in the country was a tonic for him> c
: a liquid preparation for the scalp or hair d : chiefly New England : a
carbonated flavored beverage e : TONIC WATER
2 : the first tone of a diatonic scale : KEYNOTE
3 : a voiced sound
---


---= BOYCOTT FRANCE (belgium) GERMANY--SPAIN =---
---= Move UNITED NATIONS To Paris =---
*********
"Life would be devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation."
Sheldon
````````````

"Dave Smith" > wrote in message
...
> Peter Aitken wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Gordon's is actually a very good gin. It is gin as gin is supposed to
be -
> > not super-refined and with a touch of roughness to it. I refuse to buy
into
> > these "sissy" overpriced gins like Tanqueray and Bombay whose ads should
> > really say "gin for people who don't like gin."
>
> Sissy gin? I don't think so. Bombay is my favourite gin and Tangery is a
close
> second. Both are much better than Gordons.
>

I have nothng against Tanqueray and Bombay - in fact I like them both. My
point is that they are not authentic gin. They both taste like a very
pleasant mixed drink that contains gin and various other flavors. Very
nice - but not gin any more than a scotch and ginger ale is scotch.

Peter Aitken

zxcvbob > wrote:
>I've been wondering what the difference is between good vodka and cheap
>vodka -- besides $20.

Flavor. Ostensibly.

>Both are supposedly just "neutral grain spirits".

Neutral gain spirits distilled to regular market proof.
Everclear is undiluted vodka base. Basically, anything
fermentable and distillable can be distilled and filtered
multiple times to give 95+% alcohol neutral spirits.
Add your favorite (or cheapest) water, pay the local
revenoors, and you're in the vodka business.

As you might guess, the quality of the water used is
a huge factor.

> I've bought some moderately priced Russian vodka, and it tasted good
>straight.

There's a formerly (maybe currently) state-brewed vodka
called Russian Standard that costs roughly $2/bottle and
is reputed to make Stoli taste like cat-****.

And there are a *lot* of ridiculously overpriced vodkas
from just about everywhere in baroquely decorated bottles
that seemed designed to taste like cat-****.

>I understand the "get what you pay for" principle, but what is the
>actual difference? Does the cheap vodka have more higher alcohols in it
>where the expensive vodka is more purely ethanol (and water)?

Theoretically, it's the quality of the water and the filtration
that do it.

Most of them also contain trace flavorings, like good manufactured
bottled waters.

My favorite is Ketel One, which is technically almost a Jenever
(which is technically almost Gin) because it contains the barest
hint of juniper berries. But it comes off as buttery and smooth
when drunk from the freezer.

Almost nobody makes real Potato vodka, and it was
never really the biggest source of the stuff anyway.
The canonical version of vodka is supposed to be Polish
Potato Vodka and the best is supposed to be Luksusowa,
but I'm not impressed with it. It's a very clean taste,
which to me is almost metallic, and it has more of a bite
than I like.

--Blair
"Some places, even the water tastes good."

Victor Sack wrote:

> zxcvbob > wrote:
>
>
>>I've been wondering what the difference is between good vodka and cheap
>>vodka -- besides $20.
>
>
> In principle, none.
>
>
>> Both are supposedly just "neutral grain spirits".
>> I've bought some moderately priced Russian vodka, and it tasted good
>>straight. I stored it in the freezer and drank it in shots. Recently I
>>bought a bottle of cheap vodka, and it's kind of rough. It gets syrupy
>>in the freezer just like the more expensive stuff, but the taste still
>>has an unpleasant edge to it. It's probably just fine for mixing with
>>tonic; I haven't tried it yet.
>
>
> Good vodka is supposed to have no taste at all, it is really 'neutral'.
> Of course, whatever you do with it, there is still *some* taste left,
> which is liked by some, disliked by the others. I usually find the
> cheapest vodka available to be just fine for my rather spicy Bloody
> Marys. I very rarely drink vodka neat and then it is usually
> pepper-flavoured vodka.
>
> Moskovskaya Osobaya Vodka is the model of what classic Russian vodka is
> supposed to be. I understand it is not widely marketed in the USA for
> some reason. I have always detected a lot of unpleasant taste in it.
> Stolichnaya (made by the same people as Moskovskaya), which is
> ubiquitous in the USA, is very similar but has some sugar added to it,
> which makes 'softer' but also renders it not a classic vodka (and the
> unpleasant taste is still there). The most 'neutral' vodka I have ever
> tasted was Kremlyovskaya.
>
> Drinking pure, unflavoured vodka, i.e. consuming alcohol for its own
> sake only, is as barbarous as could be, as far as I'm concerned. Still,
> some occasions, particularly the available food of the Russian of Polish
> variety - could justify it... maybe...
>
>
>>I understand the "get what you pay for" principle, but what is the
>>actual difference? Does the cheap vodka have more higher alcohols in it
>>where the expensive vodka is more purely ethanol (and water)?
>
>
> Good vodka, expensive or not, is supposed to be as free of congeners as
> possible, particularly of erucic oil. Grain vodka is supposedly much
> easier to get rid of congeners than potato vodka. The 'cleaner' the
> vodka, the less hangover it is supposed to cause.
>
> Victor
OTHOH, your dissertation not withstanding, I prefer a cold vodka along
with my caviar. And the better it is, the less likely there to be any
taste that would interfere with the caviar.
--
Alan

"If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion, and
avoid the people, you might better stay home."
--James Michener

On Sun, 9 May 2004 23:40:09 +0200, Victor Sack wrote:

> zxcvbob > wrote:
>
>> I've been wondering what the difference is between good vodka and cheap
>> vodka -- besides $20.
>
> In principle, none.
>
>> Both are supposedly just "neutral grain spirits".
>> I've bought some moderately priced Russian vodka, and it tasted good
>> straight. I stored it in the freezer and drank it in shots. Recently I
>> bought a bottle of cheap vodka, and it's kind of rough. It gets syrupy
>> in the freezer just like the more expensive stuff, but the taste still
>> has an unpleasant edge to it. It's probably just fine for mixing with
>> tonic; I haven't tried it yet.
>
> Good vodka is supposed to have no taste at all, it is really 'neutral'.
> Of course, whatever you do with it, there is still *some* taste left,
> which is liked by some, disliked by the others. I usually find the
> cheapest vodka available to be just fine for my rather spicy Bloody
> Marys. I very rarely drink vodka neat and then it is usually
> pepper-flavoured vodka.
>
> Moskovskaya Osobaya Vodka is the model of what classic Russian vodka is
> supposed to be. I understand it is not widely marketed in the USA for
> some reason. I have always detected a lot of unpleasant taste in it.
> Stolichnaya (made by the same people as Moskovskaya), which is
> ubiquitous in the USA, is very similar but has some sugar added to it,
> which makes 'softer' but also renders it not a classic vodka (and the
> unpleasant taste is still there). The most 'neutral' vodka I have ever
> tasted was Kremlyovskaya.
>
> Drinking pure, unflavoured vodka, i.e. consuming alcohol for its own
> sake only, is as barbarous as could be, as far as I'm concerned. Still,
> some occasions, particularly the available food of the Russian of Polish
> variety - could justify it... maybe...
>
>> I understand the "get what you pay for" principle, but what is the
>> actual difference? Does the cheap vodka have more higher alcohols in it
>> where the expensive vodka is more purely ethanol (and water)?
>
> Good vodka, expensive or not, is supposed to be as free of congeners as
> possible, particularly of erucic oil. Grain vodka is supposedly much
> easier to get rid of congeners than potato vodka. The 'cleaner' the
> vodka, the less hangover it is supposed to cause.
>
> Victor

I don't know what Vodka is supposed to taste like, but in Europe Vodka
tastes a whole lot like Gin and is a bunch better than the Vodka in the US.
I have no desire to ge to Russia to try Vodka, there are too many places
more interesting for me to visit.

--
JakeInHartsel

Food, The Art Form that You Can Eat

Victor Sack wrote:
>
> Drinking pure, unflavoured vodka, i.e. consuming alcohol for its own
> sake only, is as barbarous as could be, as far as I'm concerned. Still,
> some occasions, particularly the available food of the Russian of Polish
> variety - could justify it... maybe...
>

The previous bottle of good vodka was smooth and had very little taste
except ethanol. Shots, poured straight out of the deep freezer, tasted
very good with hot garlicky peppery shrimp. Mmmmm.

(I don't remember the brand; it was in an obnoxiously tall bottle that
didn't fit on shelves well, and the top of the bottle was shaped kind of
like the onion dome of a Russian Orthodox church)

The cheap American vodka is wretched as shots, but it mixes well.

-Bob

On Sun, 09 May 2004 01:35:23 GMT, Wayne >
wrote:

> "Bob (this one)" > wrote in news:109qvujscqtqi75
> @corp.supernews.com:
>
> > Ronnie Rao wrote:
> >
> >> Guys:
> >>
> >> I might sound a little dumb here, but I was wondering if tonic gives
> >> that sweetness to Gin and Tonic?
> >
> > There's no sweetness in tonic that I've ever noticed. It's quinine
> > water, which is very bitter. The gin was added to make taking medicine
> > palatable. Quinine is a specific for malaria.
> >
> > Pastorio
> >
> >
>
> While you're absolutely right, Bob, I find that tasting quinine water alone
> has a very slight underlying sweetness beneath the bitterness. I suppose
> it differs amongst tasters.
>
> Wayne

Is that a bad thing? Doesn't everyone put lemon in it?
I like that sweet/sour taste!


Practice safe eating - always use condiments

On Sun, 09 May 2004 15:51:18 GMT, "Peter Aitken"
> wrote:
>
> Gordon's is actually a very good gin. It is gin as gin is supposed to be -
> not super-refined and with a touch of roughness to it. I refuse to buy into
> these "sissy" overpriced gins like Tanqueray and Bombay whose ads should
> really say "gin for people who don't like gin."

What do you think of Beefeaters?
It was the first gin/tonic I ever had and I still like it.


Practice safe eating - always use condiments

On 09 May 2004 01:07:47 GMT, (PENMART01)
wrote:
>
> © Copyright Barron's Educational Services, Inc. 1995
> based on THE FOOD LOVER'S COMPANION, 2nd edition, by Sharon Tyler Herbst.

This is my burning question... why does carbonated water
taste salty?


Practice safe eating - always use condiments