Scoville Units Unite » Vodka http://agraham.org/blog reviews, rants and random chilli ratings Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:39:21 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= Is it a whisky, is it a bourbon, no – it’s Valt Vodka http://agraham.org/blog/2011/01/24/is-it-a-whisky-is-it-a-bourbon-no-its-valt-vodka/ http://agraham.org/blog/2011/01/24/is-it-a-whisky-is-it-a-bourbon-no-its-valt-vodka/#comments Mon, 24 Jan 2011 19:40:48 +0000 Alan G http://agraham.org/blog/?p=769 I had heard of Valt Vodka a few weeks back but didn’t want to throw down £25-£30 on a rash buy.

Well Genna dragged me round the Scottish Trade Fair on Sunday as a recce mission for future exhibiting and I spotted their stand. Disciplined we wandered round the rest of the food section before reaching it.

I got a wee sample and it was very strange. Vodka made from malted barley so it smells and tastes like whisky. Was not unpleasent, although I’m unsure if I could drink much of it. Certainly not in one sitting.

The fair was very strange, a mixture of jewellery, textiles, greeting cards, novelty condom wrappers, seats made from highland cow horns and t-shirts with anti-English slogans on it. And more tartan than you could shake a stick at.

]]> http://agraham.org/blog/2011/01/24/is-it-a-whisky-is-it-a-bourbon-no-its-valt-vodka/feed/ 0 Neglect http://agraham.org/blog/2010/04/03/neglect/ http://agraham.org/blog/2010/04/03/neglect/#comments Sat, 03 Apr 2010 16:31:40 +0000 Alan G http://agraham.org/blog/?p=629 I have been kind of swamped lately so haven’t been updating this much. What hasn’t helped is I used to think oh post that up and expand in a blog post. I find myself compressing things into Twitter instead.

So random media etc I have been enjoying over the last wee while:

Films and TV

Kick-Ass

Does what it says on the tin! Really enjoyed it, was a bit longer than expected. Unsurprisingly the Daily Mail have went apoplectic with rage. Surprisingly by accusing the makers and fans of being paedos or some other weird projection from the reviewer.

I think the basis is that adults occasionally dress in school girl outfits to be sexy and as there is a girl in the film of 11 (played by a 13 year old) wearing one they are trying to make her look sexy and hence promote paedophilia or something. Missing the step that maybe she wears it cos she is a child…

Youth In Revolt

Quite funny, enjoyable and would definitely watch again. The closest Hollywood has come to the premise of Science of Sleep in a long time.

Music

The most recent albums of Fun Lovin Criminals and Frightened Rabbit are the last things I have bought. Both were really good. Missed going to see Fun Lovin Criminals tour though, first tour I have missed in about 10 years.

Books

Recently been reading some books by Kathy Reichs. She writes stories about Brennan. In the TV series Bones, she writes the stories of Brennan who’s character writes books about Kathy Reichs. Most amusing.

Just finished Craig Murrays Murder in Samarkand this morning and it was really interesting. The very fact that he makes himself sound like a total dick in various places makes you inclined to believe the rest of the stuff he is writing about (no matter what that scum sucking torture advocating cunt Jack Straw says to the contrary).

Food

I grabbed a bottle of Eristoff Vodka when I saw it cheap. It suddenly appeared on the shelves of supermarkets with large amounts of shelf space. Given the faux Russian style of the labelling I was put off (normally a sure sign of shitness) but it was quite nice. Certainly better than Smirnoff.

We popped into Duke’s Corner having heard really good things about the food. I got a burger and it was pretty meh. Genna got some chicken thing with nice big chips. After eating the chicken she tucked into the chips to find then still uncooked in the middle. Slightly concerning after eating chicken. If you can’t even cook chips how can you manage a food that is notorious for giving food poisoning if not cooked correctly.

Since then we have heard even more good reviews so hopefully it was a one-off. Will go again at some point for a second chance but it better be really good to get back to even favour.

]]> http://agraham.org/blog/2010/04/03/neglect/feed/ 0 Vodka Breaking News! http://agraham.org/blog/2010/02/27/vodka-breaking-news/ http://agraham.org/blog/2010/02/27/vodka-breaking-news/#comments Sat, 27 Feb 2010 11:15:46 +0000 Alan G http://agraham.org/blog/?p=622 Last night at Duke’s Corner I sampled the DQ vodka and it was immense. Will definitely look forward to buying a bottle at some point.

This morning I was digging through old posts, spotting errors etc when I noticed one about Blackwoods going into administration.

It appears they have licenced their vodka to Blavod

I repeat, Blackwoods vodka is now available again. This stuff is amazing. Must buy.

]]> http://agraham.org/blog/2010/02/27/vodka-breaking-news/feed/ 0 Blackwood vodka http://agraham.org/blog/2009/07/27/blackwood-vodka/ http://agraham.org/blog/2009/07/27/blackwood-vodka/#comments Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:06:40 +0000 Alan G http://agraham.org/blog/?p=461 On a trip to the Ferry on Saturday I popped into Aitkens Wine. Looking at their vodka shelves I noticed 3 bottles of Blackwood Vodka.

Yoink.

I had a bottle before after searching for a few years and it was gorgeous. Later spotted some in a wine shop in Edinburgh for £20. Thought sod that and now managed to score these for £16 each. Seeing as they are now in administration I will need to keep one but one was opened Saturday night and was as good as I remember. mmmm.

]]> http://agraham.org/blog/2009/07/27/blackwood-vodka/feed/ 2 Victory is Mine! http://agraham.org/blog/2009/02/08/victory-is-mine/ http://agraham.org/blog/2009/02/08/victory-is-mine/#comments Sun, 08 Feb 2009 18:05:43 +0000 Alan G http://agraham.org/blog/?p=191 Yesterday we were walking up from Morningside to Marchmont and saw a fancy booze shop. Saw Blackwoods vodka in window, ooooh! Unfortunately it was £19! Outrageous but also, I later found out, discontinued. Crossed road and spotted Oddbins. Cogs started wheelin’ so I popped in.

Spotted a lone Reyka vodka reduced to £16.19.

How many bottles of that do you have?
I’ll just check, replies the salesman.

Six says he.

I glanced at Genna, seeing the look I’ll have 2 please. We were already overloaded with bags unfortunately and still had about a mile to walk.

I was so tempted though.

One was cracked open in celebration. They also stocked an Uluvka box set which was really cool. Really nice bottle, nice glasses, no idea what it tastes like so I wasn’t risking £50 on it.

]]> http://agraham.org/blog/2009/02/08/victory-is-mine/feed/ 0 Disaster http://agraham.org/blog/2008/12/18/disaster/ http://agraham.org/blog/2008/12/18/disaster/#comments Thu, 18 Dec 2008 20:59:06 +0000 Alan G http://agraham.org/blog/?p=107 In Glasgow and the shop that I used to buy SKYY no longer stocks it. In Edinburgh the next week and not only did the swanky hotel only have Vladivar (at four bloody pounds!), Oddbins have been having trouble buying in Reyka.

If Brown’s ridiculous use of anti-terrorism laws against Iceland have stopped this beautiful drink getting into the country it will be the straw that broke the camels back. I’ll oppose you privatising public services, march against the wars and bailouts you have bottomless pits of money for, but deny me good vodka and you’re beyond the pale sunshine.

In other news this week, a tanned celebrity going into Big Brother house has caused much mirth in lefty circles and an Iraqi with a pretty good aim has caused many cheers.

]]> http://agraham.org/blog/2008/12/18/disaster/feed/ 0 Vodka Reviews http://agraham.org/blog/2008/11/09/vodka-reviews/ http://agraham.org/blog/2008/11/09/vodka-reviews/#comments Sun, 09 Nov 2008 17:02:22 +0000 Alan G http://agraham.org/blog/?p=31 I have started throwing up some quick vodka reviews. More will follow as I can be bothered. Some vodkas I haven’t had in a while so will need to buy again so as to take a picture of the bottle. Others I don’t want to buy again (Stoly I’m looking at your overrated ass).

Tried a bottle recently and will review at some point:

  • 42 Below
  • Absolut
  • Blavod
  • Crystalnaya
  • Finlandia
  • Ketel One
  • Luksusowa
  • Reyka
  • Smirnoff
  • Smirnoff Blue
  • Stolichnaya
  • Svensk
  • Wyborowa
]]> http://agraham.org/blog/2008/11/09/vodka-reviews/feed/ 2 Russian Standard http://agraham.org/blog/2008/11/09/russian-standard/ http://agraham.org/blog/2008/11/09/russian-standard/#comments Sun, 09 Nov 2008 16:54:41 +0000 Alan G http://agraham.org/blog/?p=27 Russian Standard

Russian Standard

Russian Standard has been heavily advertised in the media lately*. Tesco for a while were punting it at £25 for 2 litres which is pretty good. It has quite a nice flavour to it so I try to make sure I have a bottle in (although I don’t just now).

Volume: 1L
Alcohol: 40%
Cost: £12.50
Cheapest spotted: £12.50/litre Tesco deal.

Normally:
Cost per nip (25ml): 44p
Cost per proper nip (35ml): 62p

* Although I had bought my first bottle of it months before that campaign, trendsetter that I am etc etc.

]]> http://agraham.org/blog/2008/11/09/russian-standard/feed/ 0 SKYY Vodka http://agraham.org/blog/2008/11/09/skyy-vodka/ http://agraham.org/blog/2008/11/09/skyy-vodka/#comments Sun, 09 Nov 2008 16:49:25 +0000 Alan G http://agraham.org/blog/?p=21 SKYY Vodka

SKYY Vodka

SKYY has been my favourite vodka for a while now. The other half brought me back a bottle from New York and it was gorgeous. Was a bit of a nightmare to find locally though, online it was costing £22 for a 70cl!

On the recent holiday to Mexico I made sure to grab 2 litre bottles on the way back, especially at £7 each.

The odour is amazing and it is so smooth, I normally add a mixer but can happily drink this straight.

Volume: 1L
Alcohol: 40%
Cost: £7
Cheapest spotted: £15 for 70CL in Threshers, Glasgow

Normally:
Cost per nip (25ml): 53p
Cost per proper nip (35ml): 75p

]]> http://agraham.org/blog/2008/11/09/skyy-vodka/feed/ 0 Smirnoff Black http://agraham.org/blog/2008/11/09/smirnoff-black/ http://agraham.org/blog/2008/11/09/smirnoff-black/#comments Sun, 09 Nov 2008 16:41:00 +0000 Alan G http://agraham.org/blog/?p=17 Smirnoff Black

Smirnoff Black

I picked up a bottle of Smirnoff Black a while back and finally popped it open. They market it as:

Crafted in small batches, using a copper pot-still, a centuries-old distillation method, smirnoff black recaptures the rounded, lasting, uncompromising smootness once savoured by the people and the czars of old Russia.

It was ok, a bit smoother than normal Smirnoff with the same odour. Probably wouldn’t buy again as it’s expensive for what you get and there are better ones for less.

Volume: 70CL
Alcohol: 40%
Cost: £20
Cheapest spotted: £18.29

Cost per nip (25ml): 71p
Cost per proper nip (35ml): £1

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